[Real-time polymerase chain reaction--applications in research and clinical molecular diagnostics].

Resent years have brought fast development of one of the molecular biology methodology, real time polymerase chain reaction. It has been introduced in common use. Real time PCR allows to detect and qualify very small amounts of specific nucleic acid sequences. As a research tool, a major application of this method is the rapid and accurate detection of genes expression changes as a result of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. In clinical diagnostics, this method is used to measure viral or bacterial load or to assess cancer status.