Low level detection of pathogens can be done using qPCR which will produce clear presence/absence results with high-throughput and low cost.digital PCR can provide unambiguous result.

Viral reference standards

Relative quantification is done using nucleic acid standards or controls by qPCR. Unavailability of standards makes it difficult. Digital PCR is unique among viral detection and quantification methods because it can directly quantify DNA or cDNA prepared from RNA—thus, digital PCR can be used to create reference standards or controls for use in other assays.

Single cell analysis

Real-time PCR enables high-throughput, inexpensive screening of many single cells, but generally requires pre-amplification of samples. Digital PCR, however, enables sensitive, absolute, and precise measurement of single-cell gene expression, without pre-amplification of samples.

Copy number variation

qPCR with TaqMan® Assays and digital PCR can produce unambiguous results for copy number variation detection applications. However, digital PCR offers a more precise approach for discriminating between larger numbers of copies per genome.

References

Real time PCR Handbook, Invitrogen
Real time PCR Application guide, Biorad

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