Molecular Diagnostics

If you wish to view a complete table, with information about all tests available from the Division of Molecular Diagnostics, please click here.

If you wish to see a list of tests which are in development within the Core PCR Laboratory, please click here.

The following tests are now available from the Core PCR Laboratory:

Lyme disease

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Assay used for individuals with tick bites or clinical symptoms consistent with Lyme disease
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue, CSF, synovial fluid
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Detection of CMV infection prior to seroconversion and following CMV reactivation
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue, CSF
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Molecular Analysis: RT-PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Determination of an active infection and effectiveness of antiviral drug therapy
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Determination of an active infection and effectiveness of antiviral drug therapy
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Detection of circulating virus in the bloodstream, discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue, CSF
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-II (HTLV-II)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Detection of circulating virus in the bloodstream, discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue, CSF
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-I)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Assay used for individuals with exposure history or for neonates born to HIV-seropositive mothers
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue, CSF
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Quantitative hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Molecular Analysis: RT-PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance: Quantitative tests of viral load for optimized timing of hepatitis virus treatment or for assessing efficacy of antiviral treatments
Specimen Types: Blood, tissue
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Quantitative cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Influenza virus

Molecular Analysis: RT-PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Parainfluenza virus

Molecular Analysis: RT-PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Adenoviruses (types 2 + 5)

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

HSV

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

VZV

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

HPV generic

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

HPV 6,11,16,18,31,33

Molecular Analysis: PCR-based amplification followed by detection using a liquid hybridization/gel retardation format
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Moraxella catarrhalis

Molecular Analysis:
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Streptococcus pneumonia

Molecular Analysis:
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Haemophilis influenza

Molecular Analysis:
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Bordetella pertussis

Molecular Analysis:
Clinical Significance:
Specimen Types:
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Legionella spp.

Molecular Analysis: DNA probe of Legionella ribosomal RNA
Clinical Significance: Diagnosis of pulmonary Legionnaires' disease
Specimen Types: Respiratory specimens
Contact Person: Garth Ehrlich, PhD -- (412) 648-9064

Please call (412) 648-9112 if you require more information about this laboratatory and/or its policies, or call the contact person listed for your specific test(s) of interest. A listing of contacts for each laboratory is located in the faculty index, here.