LAMP - a method of isothermal DNA amplification

摘要

Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an innovative technique of gene amplification and a simple diagnostic tool for the early detection and identification of diseases. The whole process of LAMP is easy and fast; amplification can be performed in less than one hour under isothermal conditions using a set of six specifically designed primers acting on eight different sequences of the target gene by incubation in a single tube. Products of amplification can be detected using agarose gel electrophoresis as well as monitoring without optical instruments or by a turbidimeter. The LAMP technique does not require a thermocycler and it can only be applied using a heating block or hot water bath. Given the benefits of rapid amplification, simplicity of the procedure and easy detection, as well as the lack of the need for specialized equipment or qualified staff, LAMP has potential application for clinical diagnosis and even in control of communicable diseases, contributing in this way to the development of personal medicine.