Table 2.

Comparison of Quantitative PCR (qPCR), Hybridization Immunoassay, and MS-Based Methods for RNA/DNA Quantification

Technique	qPCR	Hybridization immunoassay	MS
Instrumentation	Real-time PCR	Plate reader; MSD for hybridized MSD	LC-MS
Sample pretreatment	Nucleic acid extraction needed	Method specific	Extraction needed
Sensitivity	Highest	High	Acceptable; study specific
Specificity	Endogenous interference,potential contamination	Endogenous interference	Highly specific
Reagent	Probe customizationand common reagents	Probe customization	Common reagents and consumables
Regulatory guidance onmethod validation	Not available	Ligand-binding assays	LC-MS

PCR polymerase chain reaction, LC-MS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, RNA ribonucleic acid, DNA deoxyribonucleic acid, MSD Meso Scale Discovery