Documented Limitations of
Culture Based Stool Assessment

Summary

Comparing and contrasting the DNA/PCR method of stool assessment to the older culture method. Elizabeth Redmond, PhD, MMSc, RD, J.Alexander Bralley, PhD, CCN

This content was created by the Metametrix Institute

Download

Redmond E and Bralley JA, "Documented Limitations of Culture Based Stool Assessment", 2009

Details

In the last decade, DNA sequencing has played a pivotal role in our knowledge of microbial diversity providing an outstanding tool for the detection, identification, and characterization of microorganisms. DNA assessment has greater efficiency, reliability, and reproducibility, as well as providing both qualitative and quantitative data. DNA analysis is the new gold standard for identification of bacteria in clinical microbiology and has greatly facilitated the identification and classification of intestinal microbiota composition. Much of this has been done with techniques based on 16S rDNA gene, which include fluorescent in situ hybridization, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis...