Vol.68 No.3 May 2020
Paradigm shift in the management of infectious diseases with the introduction of rapid molecular identification systems
1)Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine/Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, 1-3-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
2)Tsukuba Medical Laboratory of Education and Research
Abstract
Dramatic developments in rapid molecular identification have been made in the field of infectious diseases due to the automation of molecular identification systems and improvements in nucleic acid amplification and microarray technologies. In Japan, comprehensive molecular identification techniques for bloodstream infections and severe respiratory infections have been approved for reimbursement under the national health insurance system. In addition, reimbursement has also been approved for rapid molecular identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Bordetella pertussis. Even clinics and smaller health care facilities have considered introducing molecular identification systems for infectious diseases. This review summarizes the current status of use of rapid molecular identification techniques for infectious diseases and its clinical implementation in Japan.
Key word
laboratory diagnosis, nucleic acid amplification test, point-of-care testing, point-of-care molecular diagnostics, automated molecular diagnostic instrument
Received
January 18, 2020
Accepted
February 26, 2020
Jpn. J. Chemother. 68 (3): 360-370, 2020
