I think PCR will stick around for a while, but you’re right — isothermal amplification and CRISPR diagnostics are making waves. Our lab actually tested a CRISPR-based kit last year and it was surprisingly simple, no thermocycler needed. That’s a big advantage for smaller labs or field testing. But the big hurdle is still validation and regulatory approval. We’ve had good luck sourcing updated kits and tools from https://gentaur.co.uk/ , since they keep track of emerging technologies alongside the traditional ones. It feels like we’re slowly moving toward a mix of platforms rather than one single “replacement.”

I’ve noticed that universities are pushing students to train not just on PCR, but also on newer techniques like loop-mediated amplification and digital assays. It seems like the idea is to prepare future researchers for a landscape where multiple methods coexist. That shift in education usually signals that the field is preparing for broader adoption of alternatives, even if it takes time before they become standard in routine labs.