Digital PCR (dPCR) service

When digital PCR is the right choice

qPCR reads your sample against a standard curve. Digital PCR does not: the reaction is split into thousands of partitions, each scored positive or negative, and the concentration is read directly from the proportion. Three consequences matter in practice.

• Absolute quantification, so results compare across runs, operators and laboratories without a calibrator.
• Better sensitivity on rare targets and low-abundance variants, because a rare template is no longer diluted in one bulk reaction.
• More tolerance to inhibitors, which counts on difficult matrices where qPCR efficiency drops.

qPCR remains the better tool for relative quantification at higher throughput. When both fit your question, we say so rather than pushing the more expensive assay.

What we run

On the same platform, with the same sample intake:

• Absolute quantification of DNA and RNA targets, on small sample volumes.
• Rare target and low-abundance variant detection.
• Copy-number assays.
• SNP genotyping.
• Targeted detection assays for infectious agents.

Relative and absolute quantification by qPCR is available on the same samples, with high reproducibility, when the design calls for it.

What we need from you

Input requirements depend on the target and the matrix rather than on the assay. General values are on the DNA and RNA sample requirement pages. For a dPCR assay specifically, tell us the expected abundance of your target: it drives the amount of input needed far more than the technique does.

Not sure whether qPCR or dPCR fits? Describe your target and your matrix and we will tell you which one answers your question, and which one does not.