Thermo Fisher Introduces dPCR Liquid Biopsy Assays

Overview: Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced over 50 new Absolute Q Liquid Biopsy Assays* to run on the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q dPCR System*, the first fully integrated digital PCR (dPCR) system designed to provide highly accurate and consistent results within 90 minutes with minimal hands-on time. The assays are pre-designed for fast and reliable research in the identification of genetic mutations, including challenging cancer hotspot mutations, to help enable simplification of liquid biopsy workflows.

The liquid biopsy portfolio, which includes 20 previously developed assays, covers common genes such as EGFR, KRAS, NRAS, PIK3CA and PK53. The wet lab verified liquid biopsy assays provide highly sensitive, specific nucleic acid quantification, enabling SNP detection of down to 0.1% variant allele frequency.

In addition, Thermo Fisher’s new Digital PCR Custom Assay Design tool enables academic and clinical research laboratories to quickly generate custom dPCR assays with no design experience necessary. The design tool and assays are suitable for both translational and clinical research settings.

“Liquid biopsy is a cost-effective, minimally invasive means to isolate and analyze circulating tumor DNA and RNA in blood, enabling research in emerging resistance to treatment and toward more frequent monitoring of tumor progression and response to treatment,” said Paul Hung, senior director and general manager, dPCR, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With our highly sensitive and precise Absolute Q Liquid Biopsy Assays and our simplified dPCR workflow, clinical researchers have a powerful toolset to aid in the fight against cancer.”

Key Applications: Basic and translational cancer research in oncology, academic (including academic hospital laboratories), public health laboratories.

Features/Benefits:

– Fast, simplified workflow: Provides sample to result in less than two hours with minimal hands-on time.

– Highly sensitive: Wet lab verified to detect down to 0.1% mutant allele frequency (MAF) in a single well.

– Precision performance: Each probe includes a minor groove binder moiety that stabilizes probe-target hybrids to improve sequence discrimination.

– Trusted results: Based on Applied Biosystems TaqMan chemistry formulated and optimized for the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Q Digital PCR System and backed by a performance guarantee.

Web Site: www.thermofisher.com/dpcr-liquidbiopsy

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.