Applications and challenges of isothermal amplification (LAMP, RPA, NASBA) in clinical virology

Abstract

The rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral infections is essential for effective public health responses, particularly during epidemics and pandemics. Although polymerase chain reaction remains the gold standard, its high costs, long processing times, and reliance on sophisticated laboratory infrastructure limit its use in many settings. Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Technologies (INAAT), including Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification, Recombinase Polymerase Amplification, and Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification, have emerged as promising alternatives. These methods amplify nucleic acids at a constant temperature, simplifying workflows and enabling point-of-care testing, especially in resource-limited environments. This editorial examines the principles of INAAT, their clinical applications in virology, particularly for respiratory and tropical viruses, and the main challenges to their broader adoption. Key advantages such as speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness are discussed alongside limitations related to sensitivity, specificity, and standardization. Future perspectives for optimizing INAAT and improving their integration into clinical diagnostics are also outlined.