[Laboratory tests using genes].

Abstract

Gene diagnosis has been introduced into clinical laboratories these several years. After the initial phase of confusion, the technique has settled to play an indispensable role in clinical medicine. Both exogenous and endogenous pathogens are currently the target of gene diagnosis. Recently, the use of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique broadened remarkably the applicability of genes to diagnosis of various diseases. Along with this wider use of gene diagnosis, several new problems have emerged to be solved in near future. As examples of gene diagnosis, analyses of MRSA mecA gene and Alzheimer's disease genes are presented.