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Is LAMP the same as PCR?
Posted June 17, 2022
Answer
No, Lamp (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) is not the same as PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Although they are both DNA amplification techniques, there are several differences between the two. We’ve highlighted the differences between LAMP and PCR below:
| Basis of Differentiation | LAMP | PCR |
| Temperature requirements | Is an isothermal process, reaction occurs over a single consistent temperature of 60°C to 65°C throughout | Requires numerous cycles of heating and cooling - reaction occurs over varying temperatures |
| Number of primers used | Uses 4 to 6 primers to recognize 6 to 8 distinct regions | Uses two primers to recognize 2 regions |
| Reaction time | Rapid reaction, takes less than thirty minutes | Slow reactions, typically takes over one hour |
| Sensitivity to sample matrix inhibitors | More tolerant towards sample matrix inhibitors | Highly sensitive to sample matrix inhibitors |
| Visual detection | Amenable to visual detection based on certain factors such as turbidity among others | Not amenable to visual detection |
| Typical yield | Approx. 10 mg – 20 mg | Approx. 0.2 mg |
| Equipment needed | Equipment is simpler | Equipment is more complex to accommodate the recurring heating and cooling cycles |
Additional resources
Diagnostic accuracy of LAMP versus PCR over the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Helixyte™ Green dsDNA Quantifying Reagent *200X DMSO Solution*