New Digital PCR Assays Enable Accurate and Sensitive Detection of Critical Pathogens

QIAGEN (Venlo, the Netherlands) has introduced 100 new assays for its QIAcuity digital PCR (dPCR) platform, aimed at advancing research in areas such as cancer, inherited genetic disorders, and infectious disease surveillance. These new assays are part of QIAGEN's comprehensive GeneGlobe platform, which combines pre-designed assays with a database containing over 10,000 biological entities, including genes, miRNAs, and pathways.

The newly released assays include dPCR LNA (locked nucleic acid) Mutation Assays and dPCR CNV (copy number variation) Probe Assays, specifically designed to investigate mutations and CNVs linked to cancer. This includes mutations associated with colorectal cancer, sarcomas, and thyroid cancer. Additionally, the new dPCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays target key pathogens that cause infectious diseases, tropical diseases, sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and genes related to antibiotic resistance. In 2024 alone, QIAGEN has launched over 130 new assays, adding to its portfolio of more than 2,300 validated assays.

Image: The new assays will run on the QIAcuity digital PCR (dPCR) platform (Photo courtesy of QIAGEN)

The QIAcuity digital PCR platform uses nanoplates to partition samples into thousands of micro-reactions, detecting even the smallest traces of DNA and RNA. This platform integrates partitioning, thermocycling, and imaging into a streamlined multiplex workflow, cutting processing time from six hours to just two. It is available in one-, four-, and eight-plate configurations to accommodate different lab sizes and throughput needs. Looking ahead, QIAGEN plans to launch an in-vitro diagnostic version of QIAcuity in the fall of 2024, enabling clinical applications such as diagnosing infectious diseases and monitoring cancer progression and treatment responses using less invasive liquid biopsies.

“This important expansion of the menu for QIAcuity digital PCR underscores how QIAGEN is addressing the urgent needs of our customers for new solutions to help use this powerful technology in research and applied testing applications,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President, Head of the Life Sciences Business Area at QIAGEN. “QIAcuity is proving to be a valuable tool for a broad range of applications requiring accurate and sensitive detection of genetic targets, driving the development of new multiplexed assay capabilities. Our efforts won’t stop here as we look to further expand QIAcuity into clinical and biopharma applications as well as new areas of Life Sciences research.”

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