Automation of polymerase chain reaction-based systems for detection of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Polymerase chain reaction-based molecular assays are gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases. Over the past several years, the development and application of these techniques has initiated a revolution in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatitis C infection. Presently, molecular assays are exclusively done in especially dedicated laboratories. Advances in automation will bring these technologies into routine diagnostic laboratories and will make them widely used.