Viral load quantification

Viral load testing measures the amount of a specific virus in a biological sample. Results are reported as the number of copies of the viral RNA per milliliter of sample. Viral load tests are used to diagnose acute viral infections, guide treatment choices and monitor response to medical treatment.

Benefits of using nanoplate dPCR for detecting virulence genes

  • Detect low-abundance genes with the Nanoplate 26K, which allows more partitioning per sample and a higher sample load volume
  • Ability to analyze both microbial and viral targets, with highly specific detection of only the sequence of interest
  • Accurate and efficient analysis by multiplexing up to 12 targets in one reaction

Using dPCR to identify and quantify vector-borne diseases vectored by mosquitos

The QIAcuity Digital PCR System was used to detect and quantify high and low-concentration viruses vectored by mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus (Cat.no. DMA00455) and Flanders virus in a side-by-side comparison with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The QIAcuity Digital PCR System combined with the QIAcuity One-Step Viral RT-PCR Kit enabled precise detection and quantitation of vector-borne viruses in mosquitoes with more reliable results than qPCR, especially for low-abundance targets. Multiplexing allowed the detection and quantitation of multiple targets in a single reaction, thereby increasing sample throughput at a reduced cost per target.

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Related publications

Assis AB et al. A Secreted Chorismate Mutase from Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis Attenuates Virulence and Walnut Blight Symptoms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021;22(19):10374.

Dragoni F, et al. Proviral location affects cognate peptide–induced virus production and immune recognition of HIV-1–infected T cell clones. J Clin Invest. 2023;133(21).

Rattanachak N et al. Hydroquinine Possesses Antibacterial Activity, and at Half the MIC, Induces the Overexpression of RND-Type Efflux Pumps Using Multiplex Digital PCR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022;7(8):156.

Further resources

Kellner R et al. Accurate and sensitive detection of microbial DNA and RNA targets using nanoplate dPCR. QIAGEN, 2023. 

Donohoe C et al. Wastewater-based epidemiology workflows with QIAcuity® digital PCR. QIAGEN, 2023. 

Lefeuvre A et al. Rapid processing of human saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection by digital PCR. QIAGEN, 2021