What is end-point RT-PCR?

RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) is a technique used for quantification of RNA, involving reverse transcription of an RNA template into a complementary DNA strand, followed by amplification using PCR. In end-point RT-PCR, PCR products are quantified after total completion of PCR, by staining the products with a fluorescent dye such as ethidium bromide, and then analyzed using gel electrophoresis; in comparison, products are analyzed during every cycle when conducting real-time RT-PCR, through use of fluorescent probes.