National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction
A laboratory procedure in which an RNA strand is first transcribed into a DNA complement and then subjected to PCR amplification. Transcribing an RNA strand into a DNA complement is termed reverse transcription and is done by the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
Review and references
Automated source check (NCI definition)
2026-10-18
2026-10-19
professional use
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (C18136)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C18136. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Measles (rubeola) virus qualitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay: development and clinical validation on an automated workflow. — Lab Med, 2026-10-01 (PMID 42854184; literature)
- Diagnostic Accuracy of Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction for Chikungunya Virus Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. — Trop Med Int Health, 2026-07-15 (PMID 42456764; literature)
What it is
A laboratory procedure in which an RNA strand is first transcribed into a DNA complement and then subjected to PCR amplification. Transcribing an RNA strand into a DNA complement is termed reverse transcription and is done by the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C18136. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Compliance note
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.