Laboratory Diagnosis: Molecular Techniques

Topic: 
Laboratory
Format: 
Informational Brief
Time: 
40 minutes
Level: 
Introductory
University: 
University of North Carolina
PERLC: 
University of North Carolina PERLC
Bundles: 
Public Health Laboratory Testing

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Description: 

This issue of FOCUS, offered by the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, takes a closer look at the molecular techniques most commonly used in public health: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and ribotyping.

Learning Objectives: 
  • Provide an overview of DNA and why DNA fingerprinting is important to an epidemiological investigation
  • Describe the molecular technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and how it is used in an outbreak investigation
  • Describe the molecular technique of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and how it is used in an outbreak investigation
  • Describe the molecular technique of ribotyping and how it is used in an outbreak investigation