Tolerance of droplet-digital PCR vs real-time quantitative PCR to inhibitory substances

摘要

To the Editor: Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR)1 is a rapid and sensitive method that forms the foundation for many clinical diagnostic tests. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) shares these qualities with qPCR, but owing to reaction partitioning, ddPCR is proposed to exhibit increased tolerance to interfering substances, making it an attractive alternative to qPCR for diagnostic applications. The data to support this phenomenon and its mechanism, however, are currently lacking in the literature.