What is RT-LAMP technology?

RT-LAMP (Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) is a novel one-step DNA amplification technique that’s used to multiply specific RNA sequences. It combines reverse transcription (RT) with the LAMP DNA-detection technology. The RT-LAMP technique uses two pairs of specifically designed primers - one pair of inner primers and one pair of outer primers. The reaction is carried out at a constant temperature between 60°C and 65 °C by a polymerase with high strand displacement activity. RT-LAMP is used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases caused by RNA viruses. This technique is preferred over more conventional diagnostic techniques because it allows for faster analysis of genetic material. Lately it has been used in the detection of the COVID-19 virus with a high success rate.