Approaches to Quantification of RNA Targets by PCR Based Techniques

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques are increasingly used for the quantification of gene transcripts. Compared to other methods permitting relative or absolute quantitation of mRNA, the RT-PCR approach offers the advantages of superior sensitivity, high specifity, and great versatility. In this review, we discuss different approaches to PCR-based quantification of gene expression including comparative, competitive, and real-time PCR. Different formats of fluorescence-based real-time PCR and their applications in clinical diagnosis and research are presented.