Fundamentals of the polymerase chain reaction: a future in clinical diagnostics?

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an example of a technique that is having a profound impact on both fundamental and applied clinical science research. The availability of PCR-based diagnostic kits for the detection of polymorphisms within the HLA-DQA1 locus portends a technology that will undoubtedly become part of the clinical laboratory's diagnostic arsenal, and will extend and/or refine laboratory-based diagnosis in many areas. With current research effort directed to increase our knowledge of the overall structure of the human genome, and the identification of disease-associated genes and sequences, we can anticipate correspondingly rapid advances in its applications. This paper briefly reviews the basic facets of the PCR, which suggest it will fulfill such a role in future clinical diagnosis.