DROPLET DIGITAL PCR

This method leverages water-oil emulsion droplet technology, wherein a sample is partitioned into 20,000 droplets, with PCR amplification occurring in each individual droplet. The ddPCR technology employs reagents and workflows analogous to those used in standard TaqMan probe-based assays, with massive sample partitioning being a critical feature of the ddPCR technique.

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ddPCR is particularly advantageous in scenarios where PCR inhibitors may be present, such as in faecal samples. It has been effectively used in wastewater testing for COVID-19 detection, where both template quality and quantity are low, and PCR inhibitors are prevalent. A significant benefit of ddPCR over qPCR is the elimination of the need for a standard curve, as ddPCR directly counts template molecules, providing an absolute measure of concentration.

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The ddPCR System can be used to:

• detect rare DNA target copies

• determine copy number variation

• measure gene expression levels.

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Applications of the QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System include:

• cancer biomarker studies and copy number variation 

• pathogen detection

• next generation sequencing

• gene expression analysis

• environmental monitoring

• food testing.