Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, is the most established nucleic acid amplification method in molecular biology. It uses repeated cycles of heating and cooling to denature double-stranded DNA, allow primers to bind the target sequence, and extend new strands using a heat-stable polymerase. Each cycle doubles the amount of target DNA, so a standard 30 to 40 cycle reaction can turn a handful of starting copies into billions.

While PCR requires a thermocycler, which sets it apart from isothermal methods like LAMP and RPA, it remains the benchmark against which other amplification methods are typically compared, thanks to its well-established reliability, sensitivity, and specificity.

Traditionally, confirming a PCR result meant running the amplified product through gel electrophoresis, a process that takes time, requires equipment, and involves handling of intercalating dyes. Lateral flow offers a faster, simpler alternative for reading a PCR endpoint. By incorporating tagged primers, commonly biotin paired with FAM or DIG, into the PCR reaction, the resulting amplicons can be applied directly to a lateral flow strip for a visual result in minutes, without gels or imaging equipment.

Attogene’s Universal Lateral Flow kits use a streptavidin and anti-tag antibody capture format that works the same way for PCR amplicons as it does for LAMP and RPA amplicons, capturing biotin, FAM, or DIG labeled products as they migrate across the strip.

Kits compatible with PCR-based detection include:

AU2034 series (01, 02, 03, 04, 05): supports up to four capture lines for DNP, FAM, and DIG tagged targets, enabling multiplex detection of multiple PCR targets on one strip.

AU2037: Attogene’s fluorescent Universal Lateral Flow kit, offering a projected 10 to 300-fold sensitivity improvement over standard colloidal gold strips. Testing has shown particle detection as low as 3.9 femtomoles and tagged oligonucleotide detection down to 19 femtomoles under a standard black light, with further sensitivity gains available using a fluorescent lateral flow reader.

Additional compatible kits: AU2049, AU2053, AU2054, AU2059, AU2061, AU2063, AU2064 (01, 02, 03), AU2065, EL2021_LF, EL2054, EL2055, EL2059, EL2060, and NA2021.

All Attogene lateral flow strips for PCR detection are available in both dipstick and cassette formats. Specialized lateral flow running buffers and blood separation pads are also available upon request for applications working directly with whole blood samples.

PCR paired with lateral flow detection is widely used in research and diagnostic labs looking to simplify their endpoint readout, replacing gel electrophoresis with a faster, equipment-light alternative while retaining PCR’s established sensitivity and specificity.

Need a strip configuration built around a specific PCR target or multiplex panel? Attogene’s custom lateral flow development services can help. Learn more about our custom NAAT lateral flow services.