EN
In recent years a considerable improvement has been reported in the field of molecular biology. New molecular methods have replaced classic diagnostic techniques. Apart from pathogen detection, they also allow pathogen quantification in a relatively short time. For instance, real time PCR, thanks to using DNA-binding fluorophores or labelled oligonucleotide probes, allows the detection of virus and monitoring of each cycle of reaction. The use of complementary probes makes this method sensitive and specific. Real time PCR is widely applied, especially in microbiological and virological laboratories, also for rabies diagnostics. Additionally, it is an excellent tool in biomedical and molecular research. For example, it is used for relative and absolute quantification of gene expression and the identification of mutations that might be a key issue in some diseases. Recently, real time PCR seems to become a standard technique in many diagnostic laboratories.