Comparison of two molecular methods, PCR and LAMP

In the PCR method, pages of the genome of any living organism are copied and multiplied. Then they can be seen through electrophoresis. The PCR method has many advantages. For example, this method uses 30 to 40 thermal cycles for reproduction. In this method, the samples are checked in one day and it is not very difficult to do the work.

The device used in this method is called thermocycler, which has a high price and is costly to prepare. The detection and detection method of PCR product is mainly associated with problems such as the use of toxic and dangerous substances such as bromidatidium. These problems have made it impossible to use this method everywhere, it requires well-equipped laboratories, specialized people and suitable equipment.

Advantages of the LAMP molecular method

But the replacement method of PCR, which was presented in 2000, the LAMP method, does not need continuous temperature cycles. This method is single-temperature and is performed at a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees. The molecular PCR method requires equipment such as thermocycler and electrophoresis, but in the LAMP method, these equipments are not needed, and therefore the work is done faster, especially in critical conditions and less equipped laboratories. The reagents used for detection in this method are not expensive and there is no need to manipulate the tests in the next steps. Also, the amplification pattern in the LAMP method is different from the PCR method. In the LAMP method, dyes reactive with DNA are used, which is one of the advantages of this method compared to the PCR method.

The sensitivity of the LAMP method is higher than the PCR method in some amounts of DNA. Reports have also shown up to 10 times more sensitivity. Due to the existence of a large number of primers, the specificity of this method is higher than PCR, and there are fewer interferences. Also, in the LAMP method, unlike the PCR method, it is possible for the experimenter to directly extract the sample from the material, and there is no need for isolation conditions from nucleic acids.

The LAMP method is used to detect microorganisms because due to the conditions of low permeability, low temperature and constant temperature, this method causes less damage to bacteria than the PCR method. This method is used to detect gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. One of the most important differences between these two methods is the cost of using them. The PCR method has a much higher price than the LAMP method due to the thermocycler and the need for an equipped laboratory. The LAMP method is faster and cheaper. According to these differences, the LAMP method can be used to detect a wide range of pathogens.