Use of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP) technique to detect parasitic infection

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP) is a sensitive,specific,convenient and rapid DNA amplification technique that has developed rapidly over the past few years.Unlike conventional PCR,LAMP is an isothermal amplification assay that does not require an expensive thermocycler.Moreover,the LAMP reaction produces a large amount of magnesium pyrophosphate,a white precipitate by-product,that makes results easier to judge with the naked eye.If dye is added before or after reaction,the results are readily visible so further electrophoretic analysis is not needed.Therefore,LAMP is an efficient nucleic acid amplification assay with a high level of sensitivity and specificity;the technique is convenient and is suitable for rapid detection of parasitic diseases during field surveys or in poorly equipped laboratories.Numerous reports have described using LAMP to detect parasitic diseases.This paper reviews recent advances in the use of LAMP techniques to rapidly detect parasitic diseases.