During the past few decades, the rapid development and wide application of novel molecular techniques have resulted in unprecedented advances in animal disease diagnostics. The possibility of detecting and identifying infectious agents through the presence of their nucleic acid molecules in clinical samples has been exploited by various molecular diagnostic methods, including nucleic acid hybridisation, several ampli? cation methods and nucleotide sequencing. The OIE has actively supported the development and use of these molecular techniques in the ? eld of veterinary medicine, not only in the OIE Reference Laboratories but also through the establishment of OIE Collaborating Centres focused on biotechnology-based diagnosis.
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