QIAGEN has introduced the customizable digital PCR assay design tool for the first time, featuring advanced algorithms tailored for a wide range of microbial applications and custom NGS panels. This pioneering tool offers unmatched flexibility for performing digital PCR analysis on bacterial, fungal, and viral targets. Additionally, the QIAseq xHYB custom microbial panels enable high-resolution sequencing by covering multiple whole genomes, overcoming the typical coverage gaps seen in standard panels.
QIAGEN has launched two innovative tools aimed at enabling researchers to design and order custom solutions for microbial analysis, particularly for bacterial, fungal, and viral targets.
These new tools allow researchers to customize their assays and panels, making them suitable not only for use on the QIAcuity digital PCR system but also for third-party next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. These are built upon more than 700 digital PCR assays for microbial targets that were already accessible via the GeneGlobe platform.
These products make nanoplate digital PCR (dPCR) even more customizable for microbial targets in diverse applications such as wastewater monitoring, food production, and pathogen research. With nanoplate dPCR, rare targets in low-biomass samples, which often contain high levels of PCR inhibitors, can be measured with exceptional accuracy—without the need for a standard curve.
Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President of QIAGEN’s Life Sciences Business Area, commented, “The demand for microbial detection, tracking, and research can be highly specific. Reliable, customizable tools provide scientists with the flexibility they need to stay ahead of pathogens and accelerate discovery. With the launch of our custom dPCR microbial assay design tools and QIAseq xHYB panels, we are responding to the needs of our customers. QIAGEN is committed to continually expanding our portfolio of precise, reliable, and user-friendly solutions.”
The new tools include:
Custom dPCR Microbial Assay Design Tool: This unique tool allows users to design primers and probes for specific microbial targets, focusing on bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. It is powered by a robust, widely tested algorithm specifically designed for microbial applications, enabling researchers to create custom assays with optimal sensitivity, specificity, and accurate off-target predictions.
QIAseq xHYB Custom Microbial Panels: This tool enables customers to fully customize their NGS panels, addressing the limitations of other panels that often focus on a limited number of genomes and leave gaps in coverage. The advanced algorithm of QIAseq xHYB panels allows users to design assays targeting multiple whole genomes simultaneously, ensuring the highest resolution for microbial detection applications.
QIAGEN continues to expand its portfolio of dPCR assays, helping laboratories enhance their detection capabilities and improve their results. In September, the company introduced more than 100 new validated QIAcuity digital PCR assays, supporting research in cancer, genetic diseases, infectious disease tracking, and more. These newly launched assays meet the high standards for quality, multiplexing, customization, accuracy, and sensitivity that QIAcuity products are known for.
Customizable digital PCR assays and panels are now available through QIAGEN’s GeneGlobe web portal (https://geneglobe.qiagen.com), which integrates pre-designed assays with a comprehensive database of over 10,000 biological entities, including genes, miRNAs, and pathways.