The molecular diagnostics department is where molecules like DNA and RNA are tested to produce diagnostic results. Molecular diagnostics focuses on three clinical areas: genetics, infectious diseases, and tumor markers. With new genetic testing improving each year, molecular diagnostics is the fastest growing section of the clinical laboratory. Traditionally, molecular diagnostics has been reserved for reference labs, but it has recently expanded its utility within the scope of routine clinical laboratories. Molecular diagnostics can be utilized by both small and large laboratories and can be found in virtually every department of the clinical laboratory.
One of the most common tests in the molecular diagnostics department is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In PCR, patient, viral, or bacterial DNA is extracted from a specimen and replicated to create several copies. That DNA is tested against known DNA samples to find a match. This allows for identifying various bacterial and viral infections, such as human papillomavirus (HPV).
