CAP Pro Course - Immunology - Molecular Amplification Methods for Detection of Infectious Diseases (2025 & 2026)

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours -
  General (Serology/Immunology): 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Identify the advantages of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for detection of infectious diseases and discuss factors that could limit effectiveness.
• Explain the difference between target amplification and signal amplification and give examples of each method.
• Describe the principles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
• Identify procedural processes that are necessary when using amplification methods to ensure reliable test results.

Course Outline

• Identify the advantages of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for detection of infectious diseases and discuss factors that could limit effectiveness.
• Key Benefits of Molecular Methods
• Key Benefits of Molecular Methods: Improved Sensitivity of Detection
• Key Benefits of Molecular Methods: Reduced Turnaround Time
• Key Benefits of Molecular Methods: Ease of Performance
• Specificity and Sensitivity of Laboratory Methods for Detection of Bordetella pertussis as an Example
• Preanalytical Factors Affecting Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT)
• You receive a nasopharyngeal swab for a flu test in your rural hospital laboratory. Upon inspection of the specimen, you realize that it was collected...
• Lucy is a technologist at a molecular reference laboratory. Today, she received a shipment of patient specimens collected in EDTA tubes to be tested b...
• What is one disadvantage to using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for the detection of B. pertussis?
• You are instructing a patient on how to collect an unpreserved urine specimen for Chlamydia nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Which of the fo...
• You are describing the advantages of PCR over viral culture for the detection of influenza. Which choice represents the best explanation?
• Explain the difference between target amplification and signal amplification and give examples of each method.
• Categories of Molecular Assays
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
• Other Target Amplification Methods
• Examples of Signal Amplification Methods
• Newer Assays
• Multiplexing
• From the listed target amplification methods, which one can be utilized to detect either target DNA or target RNA?
• If N represents the number of cycles in a PCR program, which formula determines the approximate number of amplicons present once all the cycles of the...
• Of the following molecular methods, which one is more susceptible to residual DNA contaminating a work surface?
• Which of the following assays requires thermocycling at multiple temperatures?
• What kind of amplification occurs in a reverse transcriptase chain reaction?
• Which type of nucleic acid molecular methodology mimicks the in vivo process of DNA replication?
• Describe the principles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
• Detection of PCR Products
• Microarrays
• Real-Time PCR
• Melt Curve Analysis
• What is the method in which amplification and detection occur simultaneously within the same reaction tube, contributing to a shortened turnaround tim...
• Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) is used for the detection of viruses that have an RNA genome. Which of the following is not an RNA virus?
• In which of the following PCR steps is the reaction mixture cooled to a temperature between 50° and 70°C?
• When using melt curve analysis, all PCR products for a specific primer pair should have the same melting temperature unless which of the following occ...
• Identify procedural processes that are necessary when using amplification methods to ensure reliable test results.
• Concerns for Cross-Contamination
• Designated Work Areas and Processes
• Required Work Skills and Process Controls
• A new medical laboratory science student is being trained in the molecular laboratory. Her trainer is going over potential cross-contamination causes ...
• While preparing her materials for tonight's shift in the molecular laboratory, Jen spilled a tube of positive control in the reagent preparation area....
• You are evaluating results from a PCR assay. The positive and negative controls are acceptable; there are 10 negative samples and three positive sampl...
• How could the presence of hemoglobin in a sample affect a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)?
• If a reagent blank yields a positive result, which of the following would not be an appropriate action?
• You are working in a molecular laboratory and are tasked with preparing reagents. Which of the following pipettes is recommended for such a task?
• While preparing to run today's batch of automated NAAT HIV testing, you are training a new technologist. In which order should you tell the new techno...
• References
• References

Additional Information