The QX Continuum™ Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™) System is an all-in-one instrument from Bio-Rad, designed to provide a user-friendly, qPCR-like workflow that combines simplicity, performance, and flexibility for researchers. This system offers the simplest ddPCR workflow by eliminating the need for standard curves and extensive training, enabling researchers to easily integrate it into their existing research operations.
The novel system features fully automated operation using a standard PCR plate format, which can accommodate up to 96 samples per run. It also includes an intuitive software interface designed for straightforward run setup and data analysis, allowing researchers to complete an entire experiment and obtain results in approximately six hours.
In terms of performance, the QX Continuum provides absolute quantification with the precision and sensitivity characteristic of droplet digital PCR technology. This level of quantification accuracy has been validated using traceable material from the National Measurement Institute (NMI) in Australia, ensuring reliable and certified measurement standards. The system generates up to 25,000 droplets from a 16 µL sample, facilitating the detection and precise quantification of nucleic acids at low abundance.
The system supports 4-color multiplexing, allowing simultaneous detection of multiple targets within a single well, and it offers up to eight discrete thermal profiles per plate. This flexibility supports a broad range of assay types and experimental optimizations on the same run. Additionally, the QX Continuum system is compatible with Bio-Rad’s extensive portfolio of qPCR and ddPCR assays, benefiting researchers with established workflows or those looking to adopt new assays.
The QX Continuum ddPCR System serves a wide variety of applications within life sciences and translational research. Among these are gene expression analysis, which provides sensitive measurement of transcript levels; copy number variation analysis, useful in genetic and cancer research; mutation detection, supporting identification of rare DNA variants; and pathogen detection, enabling quantification of viral or bacterial nucleic acids even at low concentrations. The system can also be used to increase the efficiency and accuracy of next-generation sequencing (NGS) by amplifying target libraries, providing accurate quantification of NGS libraries, and validating sequencing results.
In summary, the QX Continuum Droplet Digital PCR System delivers absolute quantification of nucleic acids with a simplified, all-in-one workflow that minimizes manual steps, accelerates time to results, and ensures precise and reliable measurements. Its design and compatibility with a vast assay library enable researchers to address a spectrum of experimental needs, making the system ideal for translational research applications.