Digital PCR (dPCR) is a powerful, highly sensitive technique that partitions samples into thousands of tiny reactions to deliver precise, absolute quantification of nucleic acids. This resource covers dPCR basics, compares its advantages over qPCR, and showcases its diverse applications in research and diagnostics. The number one cause of dPCR experiment failure is poor assay design, which makes careful planning essential. So an overview of platform choices, workflow optimization tips, and data analysis best practices are also provided to help you generate reliable, reproducible measurements to advance your research.
Digital PCR’s popularity and usefulness stems from its resolution of PCR’s long-standing absolute quantification challenge. It does this by partitioning DNA into thousands of individual reactions for precise copy-number counts via Poisson distribution, no standard curves required. This article explores dPCR’s core strengths, how it outperforms qPCR in precision for tough samples like liquid biopsies, and key applications from ctDNA monitoring, CNV analysis, to pathogen detection. Read on for guidance in making smarter PCR choices. Read more
Poor assay design is the number one cause of dPCR experimental failures.This guide was written to help you failproof that process. It walks you through dPCR platform selection, explains how to optimize primers/probes and amplicon design, and gives tips on mastering the complete workflow from DNA input to partition validation. A comprehensive checklist is also included to help you plan your next dPCR run and avoid common pitfalls like saturation, rain, or edge effects. Read more
Learn how to analyze and interpret digital PCR (dPCR) results from start to finish. This article explains the four universal analysis steps, signal detection, quality control, threshold setting, and Poisson-based quantification, and also provides suggestions on how to check the quality and validity of your data. You will also find out when to use open-source tools like R instead of manufacturer software for dPCR analysis. Read more