Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has been developed over many years to provide amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences to allow detection of DNA at low concentrations in medical, environmental, food and other samples. Although PCR is a powerful technique, a drawback is that it relies on thermal cycling, which can be slow, making the overall detection process take hours. Isothermal amplification of nucleic acid sequences does not employ heating and cooling cycles and can therefore be carried out more quickly. In many cases one can expect results in well under and hour and possibly even in minutes.

Avacta has a proprietary isothermal amplification method which it is seeking to develop into rapid diagnostic/detection products with commercial partners. For further information please contact us at .