Digital PCR
Digital PCR (dPCR) is a molecular biology technique used for absolute quantification of nucleic acids by partitioning a sample into thousands of individual reactions, each analyzed for the presence or absence of a target sequence. It provides highly precise and sensitive measurements without the need for standard curves, making it ideal for detecting rare mutations, copy number variations, and low-abundance targets. The technology is widely applied in fields like clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety testing.
Developers should learn about digital PCR when working on bioinformatics, medical device software, or laboratory automation systems that require accurate nucleic acid quantification. It is particularly useful for applications demanding high sensitivity, such as detecting minimal residual disease in cancer, viral load monitoring, or validating next-generation sequencing results. Understanding dPCR helps in developing algorithms for data analysis, instrument control software, and integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS).