Taking molecular diagnostics into the field - the PortCheck experience

摘要

In the diagnostic laboratory, there has been an ongoing need to develop ever more rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods, generating the impetus to develop technologies that are both generic and able to complement traditional skills and techniques. Afurther driver is the need to make more rapid decisions at the point of entry of imported material and anywhere where control measures may need to be implemented, thus point of inspection or field-testing is also becoming more important. Whilst antibody-based lateral flow devices are still the mainstay of field testing, real-time PCR is starting to make inroads as portable instrumentation becomes more readily available. Progress in the field detection of plant pathogens and pests is reviewed, and results presented from the EU FP6 project PortCheck -'Development of generic on-site molecular diagnostics for EU quarantine pests and pathogens'.