Digital PCR basics

Digital PCR (dPCR) is a specialized approach to nucleic acid detection and quantification that is not reliant on standard curves. Instead, the quantity or numbers of molecules present in a reaction is determined by digitizing a traditional bulk PCR reaction into many thousands of nanoliter-sized microreactions and then amplifying those reactions to endpoint. Absolute rather than relative quantification is achieved by counting the number of positive and negative microreactions at endpoint and applying simple statistical methods. While dPCR uses the same fundamental chemistry as qPCR, dPCR offers higher precision and improved precision when measuring rare targets, heightened sensitivity when testing highly heterogenous mixtures, and improved reproducibility for standard-curve free quantification. Join our technical expert Dr. Dave Bauer in this webinar which will cover the fundamental principles of digital PCR, discuss how it compares to and is complemented by real-time or quantitative PCR methods, and describe which use cases are well suited for digital PCR across common research areas such as cancer research, cell and gene therapy development, and environmental sample testing.

 

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