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Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News | GENengnews.com | OCTOBER 1, 2016 | 15 cell numbers or low-abundance RNAs, with multiple primer pairs, or when per- forming one-step RT-PCR. Formulations of enzymes, primers, and/or reagents that en- hance specificity and/or reduce nonspecific background are needed for these sensitive applications. Dr. Kurihara A liquid biopsy should ideally be performed in a single tube to maximize the input genome copy number to achieve optimal sensitivity for each target (1% LOD = 3/3,300 human genome copies in 10 ng cfDNA). A single-tube assay also reduces set-up time and the likelihood of error in data tracking. However, some target loci may physically overlap, where correspond- ing target-specific primers overlap, which can impede single-tube capability. Swift Biosciences has overcome this limi- tation with a multiplexed PCR technology that can generate overlapping amplicons in a single-tube format. From a 263 amplicon panel, >16,000 COSMIC annotated SNVs can be analyzed using NGS. Mr. Luk The cost and time investment re- quired for increasing the simplicity and miniaturization of PCR technology—this may require more design and result in cost- lier instrumentation. Having equal or better performance for the enzymatic reactions also gets exponentially more difficult at lower volumes. At some point, there comes a limit to the level of investment needed to achieve optimal performance at minimal cost GEN Do you think that PCR is going to play a bigger role in point-of-care diagnostics in the near future and, if so, why? Dr. Hefner There is an opportunity in rapid molecular disease screening for infectious diseases and oncology. Rapidly identifying the root cause responsible for a patient's ill- ness and accurately monitoring disease pro- gression during treatment could influence clinical decisions and improve care. As dis- cussed previously, speed and integration are the keys. Dr. Kreader Actually, I think methods that use isothermal target or signal amplification could have bigger roles in point-of-care diag- nostics than PCR. Thermal cycling, needed for PCR, requires a more complex instru- ment than isothermal methods. Some of the isothermal methods claim sensitivity rivaling PCR. If achieved reproducibly and robustly, PCR could take a back seat. Dr. Kurihara Point-of-care diagnostics will rely on PCR, most likely for pathogen de- tection for infectious disease, but perhaps also for screening of common resistance mutations to cancer therapies or other al- leles relevant to drug response for a variety of conditions. Such testing would improve care by rapidly identifying ineffective treat- ment options. Mr. Luk In the near future, the easiest-to-use technology for molecular diagnostics will continue to consist of PCR-based solutions. For point-of-care diagnostics, simplicity is key for the wide adoption and growth of a broad clinical assay menu. PCR will contin- ue to play a leading role until another tech- nology can achieve the simplicity and afford- ability that PCR offers today. VIAFLO II VOYAGER II ASSIST VIAFLO 96 I 384 www.integra-biosciences.com VOYAGER II Unlike traditional pipettes which utilize a single rotating plunger to set volumes, the EVOLVE features three dials for setting each individual volume digit. This revolutionary approach allows users to set volumes more than ten times faster. SET VOLUMES IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE INSTEAD OF A TWIST OF THE WRIST Visit us at ASHG 2016 Booth #212, October 18 - 22 Vancouver EVOLVE Manual Pipette DRUG DISCOVERY