Digital PCR Outperforms qPCR for Viral Load Quantification Without Calibration Curves
This review evaluates digital PCR as a direct nucleic acid amplification technique for clinical viral diagnostics. dPCR offers absolute quantification without calibration curves, superior precision, and greater resistance to inhibitors compared to qPCR. While promising for viral load measurement and nucleic acid standardisation, further development is needed to overcome throughput and cost limitations for widespread clinical adoption.
The original study
Quantitative nucleic acid amplification by digital PCR for clinical viral diagnostics.
- Authors
- Zhang K, Lin G, Li J
- Journal
- Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine
- Type
- Journal Article, Review
- PMID
- 26845722
Original abstract
In the past few years, interest in the development of digital PCR (dPCR) as a direct nucleic acid amplification technique for clinical viral diagnostics has grown. The main advantages of dPCR over qPCR include: quantification of nucleic acid concentrations without a calibration curve, comparable sensitivity, superior quantitative precision, greater resistance to perturbations by inhibitors, and increased robustness to the variability of the target sequence. In this review, we address the application of dPCR to viral nucleic acid quantification in clinical applications and for nucleic acid quantification standardization. Further development is required to overcome the current limitations of dPCR in order to realize its widespread use for viral load measurements in clinical diagnostic applications.