Join us for this presentation about digital PCR (dPCR) and it use in rare target detection in liquid biopsies. Identification and tracking of cancer-causing mutations via liquid biopsy are increasingly being used in research for measuring potential therapeutic response, quantifying residual tumor burden, and studying resistance to potential targeted therapies.  However, detecting circulating tumor DNA is challenging because the targets of interest are only a small fraction of the total circulating cell- free nucleic acids collected in a serum sample.

Liquid biopsy analysis relies on highly sensitive assays to detect low-abundant quantities of tumor nucleic acids. Accurate quantification of single nucleotide polymorphisms that occur in low abundance amongst wild type background DNA requires an appropriate liquid biopsy assay with outstanding sensitivity and specificity. With its high precision and sensitivity, dPCR is ideally suited for research applications such as liquid biopsy applications and rare mutation detection.

During this presentation, we will be reviewing:

• dPCR basics and the difference between dPCR and qPCR

• How dPCR can be a simple and precise method for tracking potential response and/or resistance to treatment

• How you can implement dPCR in your lab

• The QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System, workflow, and software

• Nucleic acid extraction options for liquid biopsy samples (including ctDNA and cfDNA)