Digital polymerase chain reaction for characterisation of DNA reference materials

Accurate, reliable and reproducible quantification of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) is important for many diagnostic applications and in routine laboratory testing, for example, for pathogen detection and detection of genetically modified organisms in food. To ensure reliable nucleic acid measurement, reference materials (RM) that are accurately characterised for quantity of target nucleic acid sequences (in copy number or copy number concentration) with a known measurement uncertainty are needed. Recently developed digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technology allows absolute and accurate quantification of nucleic acid target sequences without need for a reference standard. Due to these properties, this technique has the potential to not only improve routine quantitative nucleic acid analysis, but also to be used as a reference method for certification of nucleic acid RM. The article focuses on the use and application of both dPCR and RMs for accurate quantification.