Nucleic Acid Amplification Technologies

From The Critics

Reviewer: Mark A. Jandreski, PhD(Loyola University Medical Center)
Description: This new book contains information regarding some of the amplification technologies and techniques for the analysis of diseases by targeting nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Purpose: According to the editors, the purpose is to provide readers "with state-of-the-art information on the basic techniques, their applications in various clinical settings, as well as issues related to sample treatment and automation." These are worthy objectives because many of the molecular biological techniques are finding their way into the clinical laboratory, and new information is constantly coming from the academic and industrial research arenas with regard to molecular pathology techniques. This book meets many of the goals set forth by the editors and authors, but it falls short in some areas. Two chapters are sorely lacking from this book, one regarding signal amplification techniques and another regarding the use of nucleic acid based signal amplification (NASBA).
Audience: The authors do not specifically state their audience, but the book would be of use to residents and fellows as well as pathologists and experienced clinical and academic investigators. The book is geared toward someone who has a working knowledge n the field of molecular pathology.
Features: The book contains many pertinent and high-quality black-and-white illustrations. The references are current, ample, and pertinent. The layout of the table of contents is simple, but the chapter titles give the reader a good indication of the material in each section. The index is only fair. It has too many entries under main words, making it difficult to find information. The overall appearance of the book is very appealing.
Assessment: This book is well written by a number of experienced academic, industrial, and government authorities from around the world. Basic researchers and clinical laboratories will find this a useful reference. However, the book does not completely live up to its title, because it lacks detailed information regarding signal amplification techniques and the NASBA methods. University medical centers may wish to have this book in their libraries.

Mark A. Jandreski

This new book contains information regarding some of the amplification technologies and techniques for the analysis of diseases by targeting nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). According to the editors, the purpose is to provide readers "with state-of-the-art information on the basic techniques, their applications in various clinical settings, as well as issues related to sample treatment and automation." These are worthy objectives because many of the molecular biological techniques are finding their way into the clinical laboratory, and new information is constantly coming from the academic and industrial research arenas with regard to molecular pathology techniques. This book meets many of the goals set forth by the editors and authors, but it falls short in some areas. Two chapters are sorely lacking from this book, one regarding signal amplification techniques and another regarding the use of nucleic acid based signal amplification (NASBA). The authors do not specifically state their audience, but the book would be of use to residents and fellows as well as pathologists and experienced clinical and academic investigators. The book is geared toward someone who has a working knowledge n the field of molecular pathology. The book contains many pertinent and high-quality black-and-white illustrations. The references are current, ample, and pertinent. The layout of the table of contents is simple, but the chapter titles give the reader a good indication of the material in each section. The index is only fair. It has too many entries under main words, making it difficult to find information. The overall appearance of the book is very appealing. This book is well written by a number ofexperienced academic, industrial, and government authorities from around the world. Basic researchers and clinical laboratories will find this a useful reference. However, the book does not completely live up to its title, because it lacks detailed information regarding signal amplification techniques and the NASBA methods. University medical centers may wish to have this book in their libraries.

Booknews

Providing current guidance on the uses of various nucleic acid amplification technologies for clinical laboratory diagnosis, contributors go beyond the Polymerase Chain Reaction to explore a broader range of important alternative DNA/RNA amplification methods including the Ligase Chain Reaction, Replicase Assays and TMA. Eighteen chapters cover uses of these methods in clinical situations such as detection of food pathogens, viral infections, STDs, mycobacteria drug resistance mutations, and heritable diseases. Automation, diagnostic test evaluation, and the synthesis of artificial DNA are also discussed. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

3 Stars from Doody