Recent advances of digital PCR technology

Purpose Testing is increasingly vital in fields such as disease diagnosis, food safety and public health monitoring. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the principles, main platforms and applications of digital PCR (dPCR), with the aim of facilitating its further optimization and practical implementation. Design/methodology/approach This study systematically elucidates the principle of absolute quantification by dPCR, with a focused comparison of the technical characteristics – including partitioning, detection and data analysis – between droplet-based and chamber-based platforms. Furthermore, it outlines their representative applications in fields such as molecular diagnostics and food safety. Findings dPCR enables highly sensitive and absolute quantification via partitioning and Poisson statistics, proving particularly advantageous for detecting low-abundance targets and analyzing complex samples. The various technical platforms differ in throughput, integration and cost, yet collectively demonstrate high reliability. Future advancements should focus on achieving higher throughput, automation and multi-technology integration. Originality/value This paper systematically reviews the advancements in the two primary dPCR platforms, comprehensively evaluates their performance through multi-domain applications and provides forward-looking perspectives for future development, offering a valuable reference for both research and engineering practices.