Qiagen, a global provider of sample and assay technologies for molecular diagnostics, applied testing, academic and pharmaceutical research, has announced the launch of QIAseq Targeted cfDNA Ultra Panels that will enable researchers studying cancer and other diseases to turn cell-free DNA (cfDNA) liquid-biopsy samples into libraries ready for next-generation sequencing (NGS) in less than eight hours.

The new kit adds another innovation to the QIAseq Targeted DNA product portfolio. Liquid biopsy centered on cfDNA has become a vital tool in the diagnosis, outcome prognosis and treatment monitoring of cancer and other diseases. 

The QIAseq Targeted cfDNA Ultra Panels enable reliable detection of somatic genetic variants in challenging detection scenarios as low as 0.1% variant allele frequency (VAF) by enhanced chemistry, reduced enzymatic error rates, and an optimized bioinformatics pipeline.

Qiagen will also add new pan-cancer panels to its digital PCR portfolio. These panels offer a cutting-edge solution for the investigation of the most important cancer-related genes and will be available to customers starting in fall 2023.