Molecular Diagnostics

Amazon S3 and Google’s DNAnexus may not yet be familiar services, but they exist as businesses and for $800 they will store and allow retrieval of completely sequenced genomes.  And they are a small part of a dramatic change in laboratory diagnostics that includes nucleic acid amplification, high throughput sequencing, companion diagnostics for drugs (40, at present), and automated systems.  As this piece concludes: “In the near future, the evolution likely will involve a shift from a strong focus on PCR-based assays, with one test yielding one result, to technologies that generate more information, such as sequencing and other multiplex assays. Other likely developments include more centralized platforms with random access testing and the capability to work in concert with other laboratory technologies with full automation on the front and back end. Molecular test results will continue to play an increasingly important role in the overall diagnosis of disease, individualization of patient management, and value-based medicine.”   MORE

Image Credit: Roche Diagnostics and IVDTEechnology.com