castPCR™ technology combines allele-specific TaqMan® qPCR with allele-specific MGB blockers in order to suppress non-specific amplification from wild type alleles, resulting in better specificity than traditional allele-specific PCR. castPCR™ technology not only maintains the wide dynamic range and reproducibility of conventional TaqMan® assays but also provide higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting rare mutant alleles. The TaqMan® Mutation Detection Assays, powered by castPCR™ technology, are a collection of assays that detect and measure somatic mutations in genes that are associated with cancer. Key features of these assays include:
High specificity—mutant allele detection is based on a modified allele-specific primer, while the wild-type background is suppressed by the proprietary MGB blocker oligonucleotide
High sensitivity—assays can detect less than 0.1% mutant molecules in a background of wild type gDNA, as demonstrated in spiking experiments
Wide dynamic range and excellent PCR efficiency—assays demonstrate 7 logs of dynamic range and an average efficiency of 100% ± 10%
Fast, simple workflow—like other TaqMan® Assays, requires typically 3 hours from sample to results, with minimum hands-on time
Three Assay Types