Researchers in Massachusetts have developed a rapid technique to detect disease-causing DNA in the field, without the need for sophisticated and expensive PCR equipment. They say the inexpensive method could help detect neglected tropical diseases, such as river blindness.
The technique, developed at New England BioLabs (NEB), Inc. (Ipswich, MA), works by removing the buffer normally used in PCR testing and adding a robust enzyme to a sample, be it blood, serum, or human skin. The reaction produces multiple protons, changing pH levels dramatically to indicate large quantities of amplified DNA made visible by traditional dyes, according to the researchers. An article on their research appeared in the journal BioTechniques in February.
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