What The Advantages Of PCR Test

Digital PCR can directly measure the number of nucleic acid molecules in the initial sample, which is the absolute value quantification of nucleic acid concentration, and is an epoch-making nucleic acid detection technology.

Compared with qRT-PCR, the core advantages of digital PCR are reflected in high detection accuracy, high sensitivity, simple overall operation, stable system, excellent repeatability, and can effectively avoid cross-contamination between samples, specifically:

(1) The reported result is the copy number of the target gene, which provides a more accurate nucleic acid quantification basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment;

(2) The detection gray area is greatly reduced. By intuitively reading the quantitative results, human errors are avoided, and the high reliability and repeatability of the detection results are guaranteed;

(3) It can eliminate the interference of samples with complex components such as feces on the experimental results, and avoid false negative results caused by component inhibitors.

In conclusion, digital PCR can effectively avoid the missed detection of patients with low viral load, and help to detect the disease as soon as possible and take isolation measures.

Recently, the Frontier Center of the Chinese Academy of Metrology has successfully developed a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection reagent based on digital PCR technology. However, most of the detection products based on digital PCR technology have only completed the system optimization and whole-process verification of some instruments, and the optimization of the operation procedures and specifications of more digital PCR instruments has not been completed, and has not been promoted and used in the clinical front line. Experts pointed out that when a “suspected case” is reported, the laboratory can use the digital PCR method to further verify the reported “suspected” case.