QIAGEN launches new QIAcuity digital PCR assays for microbial applications, enhancing infectious disease research and surveillance

Original from: QIAGEN

·    35 new wet-lab tested digital PCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays on research platform GeneGlobe target a wide range of pathogens causing tropical diseases, sexually transmitted and urine tract infections

·    QIAcuity digital PCR technology enables precise and sensitive detection of pathogens, supporting infectious disease research and public health efforts

·    New assays add to QIAGEN’s comprehensive portfolio for microbial research showcased at ASM Microbe conference from June 13-17​

QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced the launch of 35 new wet-lab tested digital PCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays for its digital PCR (dPCR) platform QIAcuity, significantly enhancing its offerings in the field of microbial research. The new assays are available on QIAGEN’s comprehensive research platform GeneGlobe and are designed to target a wide range of pathogens responsible for tropical diseases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs), further solidifying QIAGEN's position as a leader in microbial detection and analysis.

The expansion introduces assays for critical pathogens including Dengue virus Serotype 1 to 4, Monkeypox clade I and II, Chikungunya as well as pathogens causing other tropical diseases such as Malaria and various STIs and UTIs. This addition brings QIAGEN's total microbial dPCR assay portfolio to over 680 targets, encompassing bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral pathogens as well as genes associated with antibiotic resistance or virulence factors. These assays are part of a broader expansion plan of QIAGEN’s wet-lab-tested dPCR assay portfolio on GeneGlobe. Later in 2024, new dPCR LNA (locked nucleic acid) Mutation Assays and dPCR CNV (copy number variation) Probe assays will be made available, adding at least 100 dPCR assays in total throughout the year.

“Through this significant expansion of our digital PCR assay offerings, we are addressing the pressing research needs and feedback from our customers,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President, Head of the Life Sciences Business Area at QIAGEN. “Digital PCR is proving to be a valuable tool in the fight against microbial pathogens, offering high sensitivity and precise quantification. Our aim is to enable research laboratories around the world to achieve more accurate and sensitive detection of microbial DNA, advancing our understanding and control of infectious diseases.”

QIAGEN’s newly launched digital PCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays can be a timely response to public health crises like infectious disease outbreaks as they enable the precise and sensitive detection of pathogens, facilitating prompt intervention measures and monitoring of the disease spread. This can finally improve patient outcomes and underlines the essential role of microbial research in tackling health threats.

QIAGEN's QIAcuity digital PCR platform utilizes nanoplates to disperse a sample into thousands of tiny partitions and then reads the reaction in each one simultaneously to quantify even the faintest signals from DNA and RNA, enabling the sensitive and specific detection of even the smallest copy number changes in DNA and RNA, up to 5-plex. The system integrates partitioning, thermocycling, and imaging into a streamlined workflow, reducing processing times from six hours to just two. Available in one, four, and eight-plate versions, the QIAcuity platform is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of laboratory sizes and throughput requirements.

QIAGEN will showcase its expanded digital PCR Microbial DNA Detection Assays and the QIAcuity platform at the upcoming ASM Microbe conference from June 13–17 in Atlanta, Georgia, at booth 1401. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience QIAGEN's comprehensive offerings for microbial research, surveillance, and diagnostics, including a broad range of panels and kits for multiple applications as well as instruments such as the EZ2 Connect, TissueLyser III, QIAcube Connect, QIAstat-Dx, and QIAstat-Dx Rise. A QIAGEN Digital Insights Demo station will also be available.

In addition to the product showcase, QIAGEN will present a poster on “Improved Extraction of Total Nucleic Acid from Microbiome Samples”. This research highlights advancements in the extraction of DNA and RNA from human microbiome samples, focusing on methods that remove inhibitors and yield higher quality and quantity of nucleic acids. The findings underscore the importance of mechanical lysis using bead beating for efficient, unbiased extraction suitable for automation and standardization across laboratories.

On Friday, June 16, QIAGEN, in collaboration with the Water Tower Institute and the Public Health Lab Tennessee, will host a spotlight session highlighting their joint efforts in precise and efficient Legionella monitoring across diverse sample types using dPCR on the QIAcuity platform. The session will provide a comprehensive overview of dPCR applications in microbe surveillance, featuring two compelling case studies demonstrating Legionella monitoring in health-critical environmental samples.

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Source: QIAGEN launches new QIAcuity digital PCR assays for microbial applications, enhancing infectious disease research and surveillance