PCR past, present and future

• Published in: BioTechniques Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 317 - 325
• Main Authors: Zhu, Hanliang, Zhang, Haoqing, Xu, Ying, Laššáková, Soňa, Korabečná, Marie, Neužil, Pavel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Science Ltd 01.10.2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Animals; Betacoronavirus - genetics; Betacoronavirus - isolation & purification; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - instrumentation; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; digital PCR; Equipment Design; Humans; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; microfluidics; Pandemics; PCR; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; point-of-care diagnostics; Point-of-Care Systems; Polymerase Chain Reaction - instrumentation; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; portable systems; reverse transcription PCR; Review; RNA virus diagnoses; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; digital PCR; reverse transcription PCR; point-of-care diagnostics; portable systems; RNA virus diagnoses; microfluidics; PCR
• ISSN: 0736-6205; 1940-9818
• DOI: 10.2144/btn-2020-0057

PCR has become one of the most valuable techniques currently used in bioscience, diagnostics and forensic science. Here we review the history of PCR development and the technologies that have evolved from the original PCR method. Currently, there are two main areas of PCR utilization in bioscience: high-throughput PCR systems and microfluidics-based PCR devices for point-of-care (POC) applications. We also discuss the commercialization of these techniques and conclude with a look into their modifications and use in innovative areas of biomedicine. For example, real-time reverse transcription PCR is the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnoses. It could also be used for POC applications, being a key component of the sample-to-answer system.