Digital PCR

Digital PCR (dPCR) partitions a nucleic-acid sample and assay mixture into a large number of individual reactions. After endpoint amplification, each partition is simply scored positive or negative for the target. Because the number of partitions is known, the target concentration is estimated statistically from the distribution of positive and negative partitions — enabling absolute quantification without reliance on a conventional external calibration curve.

This makes digital PCR useful wherever precise, reproducible quantification matters more than high-throughput screening.

For pathologists, laboratory managers, oncologists, medical microbiologists and science officers, the practical characteristics of digital PCR include:

• Absolute quantificationPartition-based target quantification without reliance on a conventional external calibration curve.
• Rare target detectionConfident detection of low-abundance targets against a high background of wild-type nucleic acid.
• Precise quantificationReproducible measurement at low target levels, where quantitative PCR variability becomes limiting.
• Low-frequency variantsUtility for measuring minor variant and low-level residual target fractions.

Digital PCR and quantitative PCR each have a role in the molecular laboratory. dPCR complements qPCR for applications that benefit from absolute quantification or rare-target detection; it is not a universal replacement.

The cartridge-based workflow keeps hands-on steps and reagent wastage to a minimum — sample preparation, partitioning, amplification and endpoint analysis all take place within the cartridge-based run.

Accuflex DX supplies RainSure digital PCR systems to laboratories across Malaysia, and provides the surrounding application consultation, evaluation, installation, training, method implementation and technical support.