High-sensitivity real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of nucleic acids

摘要

The invention features methods based on PCR that are capable of detecting single target molecules in a sample input volume of, e.g., 5 l, and of quantifying organismal, e.g., chlamydial, DNA with high accuracy. Desirably, these methods employ a single tube format coupled with real-time fluorescent detection of amplicons. This approach facilitates the application of quantitative PCR (qPCR) to microbiological diagnosis in clinical settings. The invention also features primers and probes for the detection of Chlamidia. The use of specific hybridization probes with qPCR amplification provides the ability for identification of individual species or strains of microorganisms.