Nucleic Acid in Diagnostics

Nucleic acids are the blueprints that coordinate the cellular activities of organisms. Research and understanding of nucleic acids have paved the way for nucleic acid-based diagnostics in the recent century. Clinical laboratories and diagnosis have focussed on the rapid detection, identification and prognosis of various diseases using nucleic acid testing, involving the extraction of DNA or RNA, followed by nucleic acid amplification and detection. Nucleic acid-based diagnosis is an indispensable tool for clinicians to identify and establish treatment strategies for various diseases like genetic disorders, prenatal testing, COVID-19, HIV, etc. These methods have significantly contributed to precise treatment approaches and the development of point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medication.