branched DNAassay

branched DNAassay

A signal amplification (vs target amplification) assay used to detect and quantify nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), based on their hybridisation with long-branched side chains of synthetic DNA containing thousands of chemiluminescent tags. The BDA is used to quantify HIV (limits of detection 100 copies of HIV/mL of blood), HBV, HCV and other viruses; monitor antiviral therapy; and monitor activation of genes in tumours associated with disease progression.