PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing offers several advantages over culture testing, particularly in certain situations and applications. Some of the key advantages of PCR testing over culture testing are:

PCR testing gives speed and rapid results within hours unlike culture testing can take hours to days sometimes even weeks for microorganisms to grow and become visible. This makes it crucial for timely diagnosis and decision-making, especially in situations requiring quick responses. It is highly sensitive and can detect even a small amount of target genetic material. This is particularly useful when dealing with infections where the microorganism may be present in low quantities or when early detection is critical. The high sensitivity and rapid results of PCR testing enable early detection of infections, which can be crucial for initiating appropriate treatment and preventing the spread of the disease. It can provide genetic information about the microorganism’s strain, subtype, or other genetic markers, allowing for more precise epidemiological and research analyses.

PCR tests have high specificity and are designed to target specific DNA or RNA sequences unique to the microorganism of interest. This high specificity reduces the chances of false positives or false negatives, which sometimes occur with culture testing. It occurs due to cross-reactivity or other factors. PCR can detect genetic material from microorganisms that may not be viable or culturable. This is particularly important when dealing with microorganisms that are difficult to culture. It is important when investigating infections that have been treated with antibiotics, which can affect the viability of the microorganism.

It doesn’t require live organisms to be present in the sample. This is especially advantageous for diagnosing infections where the microorganism is challenging to culture or where the patient has received antibiotic treatment. Real-time PCR variants allow for quantitative analysis, measuring the amount of target genetic material present in the sample. This can provide insights into the severity of an infection or the progression of a disease. It can be automated and scaled up to process a large number of samples simultaneously. This is advantageous for large-scale screening and surveillance efforts, such as during disease outbreaks.

While both culture and PCR require technical expertise, PCR can be performed by technicians with specialized training. They don’t need extensive experience in microbiology techniques like culturing and sub culturing. This testing involves working with DNA or RNA samples rather than live microorganisms. It reduces the risk of biohazard exposure to laboratory personnel.

AMMAGENOMICS offers PCR-based tests to find the root cause of all health ailments and gives results in a quick turnaround time. We help to detect all the microorganisms in the case of sepsis and septic shock . Based on the test results further treatment can be done. We also have our panel of health experts who can suggest further treatment.

   Early detection is better to cure any disease!