Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Performance and characteristics of three digital PCR platforms for detection and quantification of viral targets in wastewater
 
research article

Performance and characteristics of three digital PCR platforms for detection and quantification of viral targets in wastewater

Pitton, Melissa
•
Rusch, Johannes C
•
Torii, Shotaro  
Show more
September 29, 2025
Journal of Applied Microbiology

Aims. The wider implementation of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has increased the necessity for nucleic acid detection and quantification from complex samples. Here, we compared the performance and the characteristics of three digital PCR (dPCR) platforms. Methods and Results. The dPCR platforms selected in this study included the QX200 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System from Bio-Rad, the QIAcuity One, 2plex Device from Qiagen, and the 3-color Naica System manufactured by Stilla Technologies. Platforms were compared and described based on their handling in the laboratory and performance quantifying two viral targets-SARS-CoV-2 and Norovirus GII-in wastewater samples. Our findings showed that no single platform consistently outperformed the others in terms of target quantification. Moreover, we observed similarities amongst the systems with respect to resilience to inhibition, but differences in laboratory handling including sample throughput and method of quantification. Conclusions. This study suggests that all three selected dPCR platforms are similarly suitable for WBS, as quantitative performance of the systems for viral RNA targets extracted from wastewater is comparable. Decisions on platform selection can be driven by researcher preference on handling, throughput, and other differentiating characteristics. Impact Statement. This study contributes to the field of environmental virology by showing the compatibility and reliability of three dPCR platforms for WBS. By comparing the platforms' performance in detecting two viral targets, the research provides insights into their operational strengths and weaknesses.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1093/jambio/lxaf243
Author(s)
Pitton, Melissa
Rusch, Johannes C
Torii, Shotaro  

EPFL

Caduff, Lea
Schmidhalter, Patrick
Cariti, Federica  

EPFL

Gan, Charles  
Ort, Christoph
Kohn, Tamar  

EPFL

Julian, Timothy R.  
Date Issued

2025-09-29

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Published in
Journal of Applied Microbiology
Subjects

wastewater-based epidemiology

•

PCR

•

SARS-CoV-2

•

Norovirus

•

human viruses

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LEV  
Available on Infoscience
September 29, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/254434
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés