Molecular tests utilize nucleic acid amplification technologies to amplify a DNA or RNA template from a few copies to billions of copies in a short period of time, allowing highly sensitive and specific detection of the targeting organisms.  

Traditionally, molecular testing is performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, which is aided by the heat-stable Taq DNA polymerase or similar enzymes.  The purified DNA template is heated to denature, allowing two or more primers to bind and extend when the reaction mixture is cooled.  This thermal cycling process is repeated many times; the template is amplified exponentially to be detected using a variety of methods, including electrophoresis, fluorescent dyes specifically binding to double stranded DNA, and oligo-probes associated with a variety of fluorescent dyes and quenchers.  RNA cannot be amplified by PCR without a separate step of reverse-transcription first.

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP*) is a single temperature, strand displacement amplification using four different primers recognizing six distinct regions of the target, making it highly specific. LAMP uses efficient Bst DNA polymerase, amplifying target nucleotides 10⁹ - 10¹⁰ times in 15 to 60 minutes, resulting in high sensitivity. Any verified commercial purification kits or laboratory method, some as simple as a heat extraction, can be used to extract DNA or RNA. The test results can be read in real-time using a simple, economical turbidimeter with easy- to-use software, or at the endpoint with an indicative dye using a basic heat block.