The value assignment for properties of six certified reference materials (ERM-AD623a–f), each containing a plasmid DNA solution ranging from 1 million to 10 copies per μL, by using digital PCR (dPCR) with the BioMark™ HD System (Fluidigm) has been verified by applying droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) using the QX100 system (Bio-Rad). One of the critical factors in the measurement of copy number concentrations by digital PCR is the partition volume. Therefore, we determined the average droplet volume by optical microscopy, revealing an average droplet volume that is 8 % smaller than the droplet volume used as the defined parameter in the QuantaSoft software version 1.3.2.0 (Bio-Rad) to calculate the copy number concentration. This observation explains why copy number concentrations estimated with ddPCR and using an average droplet volume predefined in the QuantaSoft software were systematically lower than those measured by dPCR, creating a significant bias between the values obtained by these two techniques. The difference was not significant anymore when the measured droplet volume of 0.834 nL was used to estimate copy number concentrations. A new version of QuantaSoft software (version 1.6.6.0320), which has since been released with Bio-Rad’s new QX200 systems and QX100 upgrades, uses a droplet volume of 0.85 nL as a defined parameter to calculate copy number concentration. Monolayer of droplets generated by the droplet generator and observed under an optical microscope

Digital PCR has become the emerging technique for the sequence-specific detection and quantification of nucleic acids for various applications. During the past years, numerous reports on the development of new digital PCR methods have been published. Maturation of these developments into reliable analytical methods suitable for diagnostic or other routine testing purposes requires their validation for the intended use. Here, the results of an in-house validation of a droplet digital PCR method are presented. This method is intended for the quantification of the absolute copy number concentration of a purified linearized plasmid in solution with a nucleic acid background. It has been investigated which factors within the measurement process have a significant effect on the measurement results, and the contribution to the overall measurement uncertainty has been estimated. A comprehensive overview is provided on all the aspects that should be investigated when performing an in-house method validation of a digital PCR method.

Multiple lineages of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified featuring distinct sets of genetic changes that confer to the virus higher transmissibility and ability to evade existing immunity. The continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 may pose challenges for current treatment options and diagnostic tools. In this study, we have first evaluated the performance of the 14 WHO-recommended real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays currently in use for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and found that only one assay has reduced performance against Omicron. We then developed a new duplex real-time RT-PCR assay based on the amplification of two ultra-conserved elements present within the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The new duplex assay successfully detects all of the tested SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (including Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5) from both clinical and wastewater samples with high sensitivity and specificity. The assay also functions as a one-step droplet digital RT-PCR assay. This new assay, in addition to clinical testing, could be adopted in surveillance programs for the routine monitoring of SARS-CoV-2’s presence in a population in wastewater samples. Positive results with our assay in conjunction with negative results from an Omicron-specific assay may provide timely indication of the emergence of a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant in a certain community and thereby aid public health interventions.

Nowadays the quantification of the content of genetically modified (GM) constituents in food or feed products is performed by using either quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) or digital PCR (dPCR). The latter is increasingly used. Therefore, experimental protocols for the quantification of 52 GM events authorised in the EU have been converted into a digital format and minimum performance characteristics for dPCR methods are detailed. Because of the need to harmonise the transformation of PCR results between two different measurement scales, 50 conversion factors for Certified Reference Materials (CF_CRM) have been experimentally determined by three and sometimes four independent expert laboratories. The uncertainty of each CF_CRM has been estimated to express dPCR results in mass fraction with a consistent uncertainty contribution. In 38 out of 58 cases, the validated qPCR methods (for 52 event-specific and 6 taxon-specific measurements) could easily be transferred into dPCR methods by using the same oligo sequences, final oligo concentration or annealing temperatures for the dPCR procedure. Laboratories have nevertheless used different strategies to improve the resolution or to reduce the so-called rain in their dPCR outcome. Those modifications were needed for PCR procedures that could not be converted without changes into a digital format. Therefore, exclusion/quality criteria such as the maximum rate of partitions with intermediate fluorescence “rain”, the minimum resolution and repeatability are suggested for dPCR methods. The CF_CRM determined in this study were generally in agreement with the declared zygosity of the GM parental donor for hemizygous maize events. In a limited number of GM events the CF_CRM values were significantly different when measured with different maize-specific (ZmAdh1 or hmgA) genes.

The aim of this study was to develop a RT-PCR assay for the specific detection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC) as a rapid alternative to sequencing. A RT-PCR was designed in silico and then validated using characterised clinical samples containing Omicron (both BA.1 and BA.2 lineages) and the Omicron synthetic RNA genome. As negative controls, SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples collected in May 2020, and synthetic RNA genomes of the isolate Wuhan Hu-1 and of the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Kappa (B.1.617.1), Iota (B.1.526), Epsilon (B.1.429) and Delta (B.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 VOC were used. Experiments performed using as templates the synthetic RNA genomes demonstrate the high specificity of the PCR-method for the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron. Despite the synthetic RNAs were used at high copy numbers, specific signal was mainly detected with the Omicron synthetic genome. Only a non-specific late signal was detected using the Alpha variant genome, but these results were considered negligible as Alpha VOC has been replaced by the Delta and it is not circulating anymore in the world. Using our method, we confirmed the presence of Omicron on clinical samples containing this variant but not of other SARS-CoV-2 lineages. The method is highly sensitive and can detect up to 1 cp of the Omicron virus per µl. The method presented here, in combination with other methods in use for detection of SARS-CoV-2, can be used for an early identification of Omicron.