Table 1 Comparison of characteristics of each dPCR equipment.
From: Developing centrifugal force real-time digital PCR for detecting extremely low DNA concentration
QX200 system | QIAcuity | digiQuark | |
|---|---|---|---|
System description | |||
Number of modules | 3* | 1 | 1 |
Instrument dimension (mm) | Generator: 280 × 360 × 130 | 380 × 450 × 650 | 185 × 395 × 170 |
Reader: 660 × 520 × 290 | |||
On-board computer | No | No | No** |
Partitioning type | ddPCR (droplet digital PCR) | nanoplate dPCR | crdPCR (centrifugal force real-time digital PCR) |
Droplet (oil emulsions) | Solid (nanoplate) | Physical (centrifugal force) | |
Data type | end-point | end-point | Real-time, end-point |
Number of partitions | 20,000 | 8500 or 26,000 | 22,000 |
Fluorescent channels | 1–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 |
Adapted to single or series | 1–96 samples/run | 8–96 samples/run | 1 sample/run*** |
Workflow | |||
Total time (min) | 180 | 150 | 120 |
Hans on time (min) | 30 | < 15 | < 5 |
Technical steps | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Ease of use | + | + + | + + + |
