Compare and contrast: qPCR vs dPCR
Real-time PCR/ qPCR | Digital PCR |
---|---|
Quantitative, relative or absolute but standard curves or reference samples needed |
Quantitative, absolute and no standards or references needed |
Bulk PCR
|
Sample partitioning
|
Measures PCR amplification at each cycle | Measures at the end of the PCR cycles |
Detects mutation rate at >1% | Detects mutation rate at ≥ 0.1% (high signal-to-noise ratio) |
Well-established protocols | Higher precision for higher reproducibility across laboratories |
Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), one of the earliest forms of digital PCR, could already offer advantages over qPCR for most of the applications above. In ddPCR vs qPCR, qPCR is suitable for applications that require a broad dynamic range, whereas ddPCR is for those applications that require higher precision or analysis of fractional abundance.
The evolution from ddPCR to nanoplate dPCR has widened the scope of this technology to include more applications. The nanoplate dPCR workflow is substantially faster thanks to the simultaneous reading of all sample partitions, front-end automation, and an easy qPCR-like plate set-up. This added speed makes it suitable for screening and high-throughput applications without compromising precision, accuracy and sensitivity.