Multiplex Realtime PCR at Sterling Accuris lab detects rare virus early

Dr. Sanjeev Shah, Clinical Director, Sterling Accuris

Ahmedabad : The importance of receiving quick and precise results from medical tests cannot be overstated when it comes to making an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner. It aids the treating physician in making educated judgements and initiating fast, precise therapy.

When it comes to diagnosing respiratory and central nervous system infections, Sterling Accuris Pathology has been at the forefront in developing the Multiplex Realtime PCR test. Clinicians strongly advise doing this test on patients who have persistent fever, sore throat, shortness of breath with respiratory distress, and cough despite receiving therapy.

A 64-year-old male patient from Ahmedabad was recently recommended to undertake a battery of specialist tests at Sterling Accuris Diagnostic Lab due to his high-grade fever and other clinical indicators of infection (such as sore throat, cough, etc.). However, the findings were not definitive, so the consulting physician asked the pathologist at Sterling Accuris to do more tests. The passing of time was a determining issue since the patient’s symptoms were deteriorating.

For this reason, the pathologist at Sterling Accuris used a Multiplex Realtime PCR test, which can detect numerous infections in a single run and allows for more rapid results reporting and more precise diagnoses. The test results showed that the subject was positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is responsible for a wide variety of illnesses, including but not limited to Infectious Mononucleosis, Burkitt’s lymphoma, autoimmune disorders, and so on.

The patient responded well to a tailored regimen for the same prescribed by the consulting physician and made a complete recovery in the days that followed.

Both the suspected virus and the patient’s symptoms have a role in deciding whether or not to utilise multiplex PCR for diagnosis.

“The multiplex Realtime PCR, often abbreviated as Realtime m Realtime PCR, is an excellent variant of the conventional PCR in which using different sets of primers, different DNA templates or various regions of a gene can be amplified, in a single reaction,” Dr. Sanjeev Shah, Clinical Director, Sterling Accuris, said in response. Multiplex PCR’s advantages include early detection of the infectious virus and a speedy report, both of which aid in the patient’s speedy recovery. The diagnostic process for contagious illnesses may be sped up significantly by using this technique.

Think of it like a jigsaw with lots of little parts that you have to put together to see how it works. It is more effective to utilise many hands to work on various aspects of the problem at once than than individually placing each component in place. Multiplex PCR is a kind of PCR in which several sets of primers are used to simultaneously amplify various DNA sequences corresponding to the same set of target genes. Primers are little pieces of DNA that bind to certain spots on the DNA template and kick off the replication process.

By designing different sets of primers that bind specifically to different target DNA sequences, scientists can amplify all the target sequences in a single reaction. This saves time, reduces reagent costs, and minimizes sample handling, making the technique highly efficient and cost-effective.

Sterling Accuris Wellness Pvt Ltd was founded in 2015 and is one of India’s fastest-growing chains of diagnostic labs, with more than 60 labs and 150 collection centres. Over time, it has become one of the fastest-growing chains of NABL-accredited pathology laboratories, with a strong presence in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and the NCR. It offers more than 2000 different tests, using the most advanced state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled professionals.

As the world advances in the field of diagnostic pathology with molecular and cytogenetic techniques, India is also on the same wave-length as the rest of the world. Sterling Accuris is a home-grown diagnostic chain making significant technological advances in diagnostic pathology at affordable rates.