In the subproject of the Leibniz-IPHT, a novel digital amplification method is to be researched in collaboration with BLINK AG, which enables clinically relevant pathogens and their resistances to be analyzed directly on site from 10 ml whole blood. This method is a combination of a pre-amplification starting from very few copies and many downstream, spatially resolved monoplex PCRs, which run separately in so-called nano-reactors. This procedure is basically designed to solve three major problems. First, by pre-amplification even DNA single molecules should be directionally raised to a detectable level of 500-1000 DNA copies. Second, monoplex PCRs in nano-reactors downstream of pre-amplification can analyze any number of target sequences. Thus, the multiplex problem (many reactions in one vessel, thus competition for resources) is solved, as each reaction can proceed under the same conditions with the same number of resources. Third, expansion and epidemiological adaptation of an initially defined panel of pathogens and resistances is possible at any time, since unrestricted multiplexing is the goal in this method. The digital amplification procedure will be integrated into the BLINK platform later in the project and verified and validated together with the new innovative sample preparation.

The project is funded by the BMBF under the number 13GW0423C and co-financed by the project sponsor VDI-TZ Phys. Technol. 

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