QIAGEN has announced the rollout of 35 new digital PCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays, bolstering its QIAcuity dPCR platform's capabilities in microbial research. These assays, accessible through the GeneGlobe platform, target a spectrum of pathogens linked to tropical diseases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and urinary tract infections (UTIs), reinforcing QIAGEN's prominence in microbial detection and analysis.
The expansion encompasses assays for critical pathogens like Dengue virus Serotypes 1 to 4, Monkeypox clades I and II, and Chikungunya, alongside those responsible for malaria, STIs, and UTIs. With this, QIAGEN's microbial dPCR assay portfolio now spans over 680 targets, covering bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral pathogens, along with genes related to antibiotic resistance or virulence factors. This move aligns with QIAGEN's broader strategy to enrich its dPCR assay portfolio, with plans to introduce new dPCR LNA Mutation Assays and dPCR CNV Probe assays later in 2024, totaling at least 100 assays throughout the year.
Nitin Sood, QIAGEN's Senior Vice President and Head of the Life Sciences Business Area, emphasized the customer-driven nature of this expansion, highlighting digital PCR's efficacy in precise pathogen detection, crucial for combating infectious diseases. The enhanced assays not only aid in prompt intervention during public health crises but also contribute to improved patient outcomes, underscoring the pivotal role of microbial research in public health.
QIAGEN's QIAcuity dPCR platform leverages nanoplates to partition samples into thousands of compartments, enabling simultaneous quantification of DNA and RNA signals with high sensitivity and specificity, even detecting minimal copy number changes. The platform's integrated workflow reduces processing times from six hours to just two, catering to various laboratory sizes and throughput requirements.
At the upcoming ASM Microbe conference, QIAGEN will showcase its expanded dPCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays and the QIAcuity platform, alongside a range of panels, kits, and instruments for microbial research and diagnostics. Additionally, a poster presentation on "Improved Extraction of Total Nucleic Acid from Microbiome Samples" will highlight advancements in nucleic acid extraction techniques, crucial for unbiased and efficient sample processing.
Further, in collaboration with the Water Tower Institute and the Public Health Lab Tennessee, QIAGEN will host a spotlight session on Legionella monitoring using dPCR on the QIAcuity platform, showcasing its applications in microbe surveillance across diverse sample types. This session will feature case studies demonstrating Legionella monitoring in health-critical environmental samples, emphasizing the platform's precision and efficiency in pathogen detection.
