One data point isn’t enough to make claims. The result from a single PCR reaction is just a piece of the answer — measuring single DNA or RNA targets in a vacuum doesn’t tell you much. To answer your pressing research questions, you need to interrogate multiple biomarkers, benchmarks, and standards.
This means it pays to compare PCR platforms based on what it takes to get you the answers, not just a single result or data point.
Here’s how qPCR, digital PCR (dPCR), and Countable PCR stack up.
qPCR: Low-cost reactions add up to high-cost answers
qPCR gets labeled the “cheap” option. But the low sticker price hides costs that get overlooked:
- Singleplex constraints — SYBR dye doesn’t allow you to multiplex, so probing multiple targets must be done in separate reactions
- Standard curves — Ct values vary by operator and setup, forcing you to add standard curves to get reliable data
- Expensive multiplexing — If you attempt to multiplex with hydrolysis probes, expect months of optimization and rising reagent costs associated with the high cost of procuring the probes
dPCR: Multiplexing and absolute quantification at high expense
dPCR is the go-to for “absolute” quantification and better multiplexing — but it comes with a high price tag:
- Multiplex optimization is slow — even 2-plex assays take weeks to optimize, costing material, reagents, and labor in the process
- Probes are pricey — hydrolysis probes run hundreds of dollars per target, and turnaround times are long, slowing your lab’s progress
- Pre-made kits make things easier, but expensive — commercial kits reduce optimization effort, but often cost thousands of dollars and have to be reordered whenever you run out
Countable PCR: See the whole picture in fewer reactions
Countable PCR combines the ease of probe optimization from SYBR with the quantification and multiplex power of dPCR.
- Cost-conscious multiplexing — design up to 4-plex assays using standard oligos for less than $30 per reaction
- Direct single-molecule counting — no thresholding or Poisson correction that necessitate extra reactions or replicates
- Supercharge your lab’s efficiency — 3-day turnaround for multiplexing and dramatically reduced optimization effort means your lab works smarter, not harder
Do you know how much it is costing you to put together a full genomic picture with your PCR method? Countable PCR makes it more affordable without sacrificing sensitvity or precision.
You’re paying more than you realize to get the full picture
Cost per answer isn’t about how much each reaction costs – it’s about the money and time spent drawing meaningful conclusions about your work
Stop budgeting for busywork and expensive probes. Countable PCR gets you to the answer — faster and more cost-effectively
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