Table 2. Comparison of digital NA quantification methods.
| Dynamic range | Sensitivity (concentration) | Multiplexing capability | Cost/Required instrumentation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCP enrichment | 5 logs | 1.2 aM | 5-plex* | Low/standard fluorescent microscope |
| Digital PCR (BioRAD) | 5 logs | 1.6 aM (37,38) | 2-plex | High/three instruments for droplet generation, PCR and droplet read-out |
| Nanostring | 6 logs | 100 aM (6) | 800-plex | High/two instruments for sample preparation and digital analyzer |
| NGS | 4-6 logs depending on library prep. and seq depth | ∼0.5–30% molecule detection efficiency depending on library prep. and seq depth (9,39,40) | Not limited | High/diverse sample prep. equipment, complex library prep. schemes and expensive NGS reagents and instrument |