A crucial part of health care is an accurate diagnosis. Without this, patient management, however thorough, will be futile or even harmful. Over the decades, scientists have worked tirelessly to develop more innovative ways to increase the efficiency of disease detection. Laboratory molecular diagnostic is an area that comprises various top-notch innovations in the medical fields.
Of all the noteworthy technological advancements, one that stands out is the use of High throughput methods in molecular diagnosis of diseases.
What is High throughput Screening?
High throughput screening can be defined as the use of automated molecular equipment to swiftly run tests on a large amount (thousands to millions) of samples to observe the biological activity.
The use of high throughput molecular diagnostic provides an extensive insight into how a disease works and also allows the detection of disease predisposition.
Why is throughput molecular diagnostic special?
- High level of Sensitivity
Molecular diagnosis detects a fewer amount of microbial in a sample than was formerly possible. This increase in Sensitivity is highly significant in blood screenings. The need for cultures in order to isolate a causative agent is no longer crucial, as with this innovation in the medical field makes detection of a minimal amount of microbes possible.
- High-level Specificity
In the past, human error was an inevitable downside all clinicians had to accept. A percentage of false positives could not be avoided. Still, with an automated throughput molecular diagnostic system, the degree of specificity has been dramatically improved with quick detection of the particular desired molecule.
Due to the fastidiousness of some organisms, culture may not yield substantial amounts sufficient enough to be detected
- Broad-spectrum application
Throughput molecular diagnostic method covers a broader spectrum of organisms than the traditional culture techniques. It isn’t only restricted to infectious disease detection but also plays a role in other fields like;
- Forensic Science
- Genetic study
- Drug resistance study
- Detection and monitoring of tumour markers
- Shorter Testing time
This is a significant advantage as early detection of many diseases is vital to the prognosis. With throughput molecular diagnostic equipment, turnaround time is shorter than traditional methods.
What is the main application of Throughput molecular diagnostic?
Its utilization varies widely but its mainly used in infectious disease. Gone are the days when antibiotics were all that was needed to eradicate an infection, with the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistance, more scrutiny during disease detection is crucial to patient management.
A few diseases that can be detected using throughput molecular diagnostic are;
SARS-Cov-2
The COVID 19 is an excellent example of the application of an automated molecular diagnostic equipment; The BD MAX System. This throughput screening device can test a wide array of samples and provide quick results.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
This virus is responsible for different infections depending on the strain, some of which can result in cervical cancer. Other types of cancer that have been linked to HPV infection include Oropharyngeal cancer. Early detection is one major determining factor of a patient’s prognosis.
Detection of diseases is one thing that can’t be carried out solely by the human intellect. The invent of imaging modalities was the start of an era that is revolutionized by high throughput molecular diagnostic equipment. This article has shown the positive impact of this innovation in health care. Now patient care is more sensitive, more specific, and faster
