Multiplexing

Multiplexing is the ability to identify a broad spectrum of conditions in a single molecular diagnostic test procedure, as opposed to conducting discrete individual procedures. It enables a single test to identify numerous conditions, attributes, or genetic sequences simultaneously, including those belonging to:

• cancer genes;
• a bacteria or virus in humans, animals or the food distribution supply chain, or
• specific attributes of a seed variety

When done correctly, multiplex PCR enables an exponentially larger number of tests to simultaneously identify multiple conditions or sequences that would otherwise have to be identified by testing for one condition at a time. Multiplexing has enormous implications on cost-efficiencies and time savings in molecular testing, which could prove substantial in a medical situation and in a manufacturing or agricultural scenario. For disease detection, including cancer as well as viral and bacterial infections, the more tests that can be run simultaneously, the more affordable the process becomes.

Our CoPrimers™ Platform Technology has been shown to be a vast improvement on precursor attempts at multiplexing due to its unique attributes, most notably its ability to virtually eliminate “primer-dimers” which are the source for false positive test results. This is also facilitated by our CoPrimers Design software, which is able to screen millions of possible locations to determine not only the ideal CoPrimers location for one target but all targets at once. Additionally, the CoPrimers Design software has the capacity to optimize the primer/probe sets that are included in the reaction well to further reduce inaccurate results when testing for similar conditions or sequences in a multiplexed reaction.

The savings in cost and time are significant. The key advantages of multiplex PCR include:

• Obtaining more information with less sample input (especially important for situations where sample quantity is limited);
• Higher throughput;
• Lower cost per individual test;
• Lower cost of reagents and consumables; and
• Faster turnaround time per individual test.

Successful multiplexing is sought-after by PCR test developers, medical laboratories, hospitals, researchers, and other industries where PCR is used, such as agriculture and food production, and blood bank screening. These are large and growing markets.

Greater accuracy, cost savings, and timeliness are the hallmarks of the multiplexing capabilities of the Co-Dx CoPrimer technology.