Nucleic acid diagnostic biosensors

Abstract

On the basis of the numbers of scientific articles published using different approaches, use of biosensors is the fastest growing technology for pathogen detection. Biosensor use still lags behind the established technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional microbiology but has already surpassed the techniques including gel electrophoresis and ELISA based immunoassays. This chapter provides an overview of nucleic acid diagnostics technologies for pathogen detection with a special emphasis on biosensor technologies including optical, piezoelectric, and electrochemical detection formats. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.