Oncology Digital PCR Kits and Assays
Ultra-sensitive kits and assays* for confident detection and measurement of cancer biomarkers in research settings.
Solve Your Oncology Workflow Challenges
If you’re working to detect low‑frequency variants, track known mutations over time, or support discovery and validation studies alongside NGS, our Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™) solutions* provide the sensitivity, reliability, and flexibility these workflows demand.
The sections on this page are organized around common oncology research challenges and application areas, making it easier to connect your scientific question to relevant workflows, and then explore the assays, kits, and platforms that support them, without needing to sort through technical product details upfront.
The illustration below highlights how ddPCR solutions* support oncology research applications across the research continuum, including early detection studies and therapy response monitoring research.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Oncology Research Applications
Solutions for Every Stage of Oncology Research
From detecting rare disease signals to validating sequencing results in research settings, oncology research spans a wide range of applications.
- Molecular Minimal Residual Disease: ultra-sensitive detection of minimal disease burden and relapse risk in research settings
- ctDNA & liquid biopsy: quantitative analysis of circulating tumor DNA from plasma and other biofluids in research settings
- Hematologic malignancies: high-precision detection of fusions, SNVs, and gene expression markers in research settings
- Solid tumor mutation tracking: sensitive detection of relevant mutations across tumor types in research settings
- NGS workflow: accurate library quantification and validation using Droplet Digital PCR solutions*
Behind every oncology application is a connected workflow. Explore how our integrated technologies, from instruments to assays to software, work together to support precise, reliable results.
Core Technology
- QX200™ ddPCR Systems**
- QX600™ ddPCR Systems*
- QX Dx™ AutoDG™ ddPCR System***
- QX700™ ddPCR Systems*
Software & Analysis Tools
- QX Manager Std & Prem Edition Software*
- QX Designer Software*
- QX ONE™ Software*
- QXDx BCR-ABL Software (IVD)***
- QX Insight Software*
Assays & Reagents
Ready to order:
- Kits & Catalog Assays**
- Curated Expert-Designed Assays*
Customized:
- Design Engines for On-Demand Assays*
- Assay Design Services & Expert Design*
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
** For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. In vitro diagnostic (IVD) versions are available for certain products as specified.
*** For in vitro diagnostics (IVD) use.
Everything You Need for ddPCR Technology Success
Bring your oncology research workflow together with fully integrated ddPCR systems, software, and assays. Designed for performance and flexibility, these solutions help you move from experiment design to data interpretation with greater efficiency and confidence.
Choose the Right Tool for Your Question
Match Your Research Question to the Right Approach
Not every oncology research question requires the same level of depth or precision to resolve or clarify. Bio-Rad enables your research team to combine discovery-driven and targeted approaches. This helps ensure each research question is addressed with the right level of sensitivity, speed, and confidence. We’ve created this guide to help you understand when to use broad discovery methods like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and when targeted approaches, like ddPCR technology*, can deliver the greater clarity needed in research settings.1,2
| Oncology Need | Best-Fit Molecular Approach |
|---|---|
| Broad variant discovery | NGS |
| Targeted mutation tracking studies | ddPCR technology |
| Orthogonal validation | ddPCR technology |
| Treatment response & MRD research | ddPCR technology |
Discovery to Monitoring: A Hybrid NGS-ddPCR Workflow
Explore this infographic to find out where ddPCR solutions fit in your workflow, how they enhance NGS performance, and why combining these technologies leads you to more reliable data and greater efficiency.3
Bring Precision to Every Step of Your NGS Workflow
Improving NGS Workflows with ddPCR Technology*
Enhance NGS workflows with Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™)*, delivering precise quantification and orthogonal validation. Download the white paper to learn more.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Solutions That Scale With You
Seamless Tools for Evolving Oncology Research Workflows
Advance your oncology research with solutions that work seamlessly together, from scalable ddPCR systems to intuitive software and flexible assay options.
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ddPCR Systems
Scalable ddPCR platforms deliver the sensitivity, multiplexing, and reproducibility your workflows demand.
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Software & Analysis
Intuitive software simplifies data interpretation, helping you move from results to insights with confidence.
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Assays & Panels
Flexible assay options, from off-the-shelf to custom, support a wide range of oncology research needs.
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Design & Expertise
Partner with experts to design assays for novel targets and emerging biomarkers with confidence in research settings.
Kits for Oncology Research
ddPCR BRAF V600 Screening Kit*
Detect key BRAF V600 mutations in a single well with sensitive, precise ddPCR, ideal for fragmented samples like FFPE and liquid biopsy in research settings.
ddPCR EGFR Exon 19 Deletions Screening Kit*
Screen 15 EGFR exon 19 deletions in a single well using ddPCR for sensitive, precise detection in research settings.
ddPLEX ESR1 Mutation Detection Kit*
Detect and quantify seven key ESR1 mutations in one well with ultra-sensitive ddPCR, ideal for plasma and FFPE samples in research settings.
ddPLEX EGFR/KRAS/BRAF Mutation Detection Kit*
Detect and quantify 37 key EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF mutations in a single well with ultra-sensitive ddPCR technology, enabling precise variant analysis from plasma and FFPE samples in research settings.
ddPCR Microsatellite Instability (MSI) Kit*
Detect microsatellite instability across five key markers using ddPCR technology for sensitive, reproducible analysis of insertions and deletions in plasma or tumor tissue samples in research settings.
QXDx BCR-ABL %IS Kit (IVD/CE-IVD)***
Precisely quantify BCR-ABL transcripts with ddPCR, reporting standardized %IS results to support chronic myeloid leukemia monitoring.
Digital Assays Portal
Find, design, and order ddPCR assays* in one place with the Digital Assays Portal, offering access to pre-designed assays or custom options for a wide range of applications in research settings.
- SNV: 200+ wet-lab validated and 1000+ in silico validated assays for SNV
- CNV: 700+ wet-lab validated
Custom Design Assays
Design custom ddPCR assays* for oncology research using an intuitive tool that streamlines assay creation and supports reliable, high-quality results in research settings.
Expert-Designed Assays*
Methylation
Discover ddPCR methylation assays* for oncology research, designed for sensitive, precise analysis of cancer-associated epigenetic biomarkers in research samples.
Heme‑Oncology
Explore ddPCR assays* for hematologic cancer oncology research, for sensitive detection of key mutations and disease-associated markers in research samples.
Oncology
Access expert-designed ddPCR assays* for oncology research, helping streamline selection and accelerate reliable results in research settings.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Proof and Real‑World Impact
Evidence From Real-World Oncology Research
From the Lab: Expert Perspectives
“The remarkable sensitivity and accuracy of ddPCR* enabled our laboratory to resolve indeterminate minimal residual disease measurements that we often generate with traditional qPCR protocols. The superior detection rate of ddPCR for MYD88 L265P in plasma provides a promising alternative to analyzing bone marrow aspirate in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia when assessing specimens with low concentrations of circulating tumour cells and associated ctDNA.”
Daniela Drandi, PhD
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences
University of Torino
Application Highlights
- MRD (Molecular Minimal Residual Disease): support the detection and quantification of low-level molecular signals with high sensitivity and reproducibility, enabling research into assay performance and signal differentiation.
- ctDNA & Liquid Biopsy: enable highly sensitive and precise detection of rare circulating DNA signals in research samples, even at very low abundance, supporting robust analysis of plasma‑derived samples in oncology research.
Discover how ctDNA analysis is transforming the clinical cancer research space. Download the eBook now!
References
- Ouh YT et al. (2026). Diagnostic accuracy of droplet digital PCR POLE mutation testing in endometrial cancer. J Gynecol Oncol, 37:e83.
- Szeto S et al. (2025). Performance comparison of droplet digital PCR and next generation sequencing for circulating tumor DNA detection in non metastatic rectal cancer. Cancer Medicine, 14:e70943.
- Beadling C et al. (2013). Multiplex mutation screening by mass spectrometry and digital PCR. J Mol Diagn, 15:504–513.
* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.