Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market Overview and Introduction

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a quantitative PCR method used for the amplification of nucleotides such as DNA or RNA. For dPCR, the sample is partitioned into a large number of individual wells before the amplification step. After amplification, the presence or absence of fluorescence is then used for determination and quantification and it is calculated using Poision statistics. Digital PCR (dPCR) is highly sensitive, accurate, and reproducible and has improved multiplex capability. Real time PCR (qPCR) is used for the detection, characterization, and quantification of nucleic acids. RNA transcripts are quantified by reverse transcribing them into cDNA and then qPCR is carried out in three steps – first, denaturation; second, annealing; and lastly, elongation. The DNA to be amplified is first fluorescent-labeled. Real-time PCR is used for the quantification of gene expression, detection of phytopathogens, detection of GMOs, and also for genotyping.

Increasing incidences of chronic infectious diseases & genetic disorders, increasing demand for rapid diagnostic tests and broad range of applications of dPCR and qPCR technologies are the major factors contributing to market growth. Similarly, increasing investments and funding for PCR-based research are also driving market growth. However, high cost of advanced PCR and technical limitations are factors, which may restrain the market growth to a certain extent.

The global of qPCR and dPCR market is segmented by product & services, application, end user and region.

Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market By Products & Services

Based on products & services, the dPCR & qPCR market can be segmented into reagents & consumables, instruments, software & services. Reagents & consumables accounted for the largest market share in 2019 owing to the higher use in the diagnostic clinics as well as in research centers and launch of new PCR test kits. For instance, Bio-Rad, in 2019 launched Droplet Digital PCR Kit to Detect Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in food products, including meat and poultry.

Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market By Application

Based on application, the dPCR and qPCR market can be segmented into clinical application, forensic application and research application. The segment of research application accounts for the largest share, owing to factors such as increasing R&D for stem cell research, genetic disorders and target diseases among others.

Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market By End User

Based on end-users, the market can be segmented into hospitals & diagnostic centers, research laboratories & academic institutes, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, clinical research organizations and forensic laboratories. The hospitals & diagnostic centers segment accounts for the largest share of this market owing to factors such as modernization and expansion of healthcare infrastructure and growing awareness among physicians about the benefits of gene-based disease diagnosis and treatment.

Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market By Region

Based on region, the dPCR & qPCr market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (ROW). North America dominated the dPCR & qPCR market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. North America is anticipated to hold the largest share of the dPCR & qPCR market owing to increased funding for advancement of dPCRs, growing geriatric population and increasing prevalence of infectious & genetic disorders. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow at a higher CAGR in the near future owing to its increasing population and growing prevalence of infectious diseases resulting in increased private-public funding’s.

Digital PCR (dPCR) & Real time PCR (qPCR) Market Prominent Players

Some prominent players in the  digital PCR (dPCR) and real time (q PCR) market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., QIAGEN, Merck KGaA, F. Hofman-La Roche Ltd., Danaher, Takara Bio Inc., BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Meridian Life Science, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc. and others.