text: Currently there are many methods used to determine the zygosity status of a gene at a particular locus.  These methods include the use of PCR with specifically designed probes to detect the variants of the genes (SNP typing is the simplest case).  In cases where longer stretches of variation is implicated, post PCR analysis of the amplicons may be required.  Changes in enzyme restriction, electrophoretic and chromatographic profiles can be measured.  These methods are usually more time-consuming and increase the risk of amplicon contamination in the laboratory, due to the need to work with high concentrations of amplicons in the lab post-PCR.  The use of HRM reduces the time required for analysis and the risk of contamination. HRM is a more cost-effective solution and the high resolution element not only allows the determination of homo and heterozygosity, it also resolves information about the type of homo and heterozygosity, with different gene variants giving rise to differing melt curve shapes.  A study by Gundry et al. 2003, showed that  fluorescent labelling of one primer (in the pair) has been shown to be favourable over using an intercalating dye such as SYBR green I.  However, progress has been made in the development and use of improved intercalating dyes  which reduce the issue of PCR inhibition and concerns over non-saturating intercalation of the dye.