A specific applicable advantage of DNA probe is used for infectious diseases, genetic diseases, periodontal diseases, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, HLA typing, forensic testing, etc. However, laboratories must consider these issues when using a test other than the current gold standard (i.e., culture). DNA probe technology is with us and expanding rapidly. The intelligent application of this new technology will require communication between laboratories and clinicians and careful consideration of the many advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of DNA probe

• Rapid detection and identification of infectious agents
• The ability to screen selected specimens using batteries of probes
• The detection of non-viable or difficult-to-culture organisms

Disadvantages of DNA probe

• Use of isotopic detection methods for optimum sensitivity
• Limited diagnostic sensitivity of the current assays
• Slow turnaround time for some assay formats
• Expense of current reagents
• Limited availability of many probes
• Lack of technical expertise in most diagnostic laboratories
• Requirement for antimicrobial susceptibility testing

On the basis of application, the global DNA probe-based diagnostics market is segmented into infectious diseases, cancer, genetic predisposition, identity/forensics and others. In infectious diseases DNA probe is used as a definite diagnostic test for identification of microorganisms. For instance identification of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria. Even radioisotope labeled DNA probes is accessible for analysis of HIV DNA. Diagnostic tool for tuberculosis is developed by genetic engineering in bacteriophage by means of luciferase enzyme; this encompasses flash of light which confirms tuberculosis. Likewise, infections for example Lyme, periodontal, and Chagas’ have been detected using PCR amplification, DNA probes, and genetically engineered DNA probes. Cancer is mediated by either activation of proto-oncogenes and/or loss of tumor suppressor genes. Activation of a proto-oncogenes can also introduce karyotypic abnormalities as a result of the amplification of DNA. DNA probes are used to detect mutation, chromosomal translocation, and detection of leukemia.

In the global DNA probe-based diagnostics market, Asia-Pacific is set to grow at the highest CAGR by 2028. Nearly 3 out of 5 inhabitants in the world live in the Asia and Pacific region. Within Asia, this large population is rapidly migrating to cities. Already, 9 of the world’s 14 cities with over 10 million people are in Asia; by 2020, 55% of Asians will live in urban centers. However, the population growth rate (between 1985 and 1990) has already slowed to 1.85%, compared with earlier growth rates as high as 3.5% and 4%. Such changes in growth rates are fundamentally influenced by changes in fertility, childhood deaths, and communicable diseases. This demographic transition has given rise to an aging population. The transition is also the primary determinant of the epidemiologic change in disease patterns seen in Asia. As the number of older people increases relative to the number of young, diseases associated with insufficient nutrition and infection give way to degenerative diseases. In addition, many diseases are being influenced by concurrent changes in behaviors associated with increased personal wealth.