VosBio™ has developed molecular detection assays using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR takes place while temperatures cycle repeatedly using 2 – 3 oligonucleotides that bind to the target sequence.  Two of these oligonucleotides, known as primers, are necessary to exponentially replicate the target sequence, and an optional fluorescently tagged nucleotide called a probe can be used for real-time detection.

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PCR can be extremely sensitive, able to detect a single copy of DNA or RNA if it is present.  Due to the controlled thermal-cycling, real-time fluorescent data can be used to quantify the initial amount of target nucleic acid, as the number of copies doubles every cycle.  This allows not only sensitive, but quantitative detection of nucleic acid targets.  PCR is the gold standard of molecular detection.

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PCR is an excellent approach for research with Exhaled Breath Condensate to detect and quantify any nucleic acid of interest in the breath.  This includes respiratory pathogens and the microbiome of the lungs, or human DNA or RNA which may be exhaled under some circumstances.