Bio-Rad Laboratories SARS-CoV-2 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) test kit

Bio-Rad Laboratories has announced that its SARS-CoV-2 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) test kit has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Running on Bio-Rad’s QX200 and QXDx ddPCR systems, the high sensitivity of the test makes it well suited to screening upper respiratory samples in patients with a low viral load, including individuals in the early stages of infection as compared to classical quantitative PCR tests. The test can also play an important role in surveillance by detecting minimal residual disease in people recovering from COVID-19, informing them if they are negative for the virus.

The single-well ddPCR test is said to provide clinicians with a high degree of sensitivity in detecting infection of COVID-19 at an early stage. It should thus serve as a powerful complement to current diagnostics, helping clinicians and public health officials identify infected individuals in a timely manner.