QIAGEN dPCR Expansion
QIAGEN expands QIAcuity digital PCR portfolio, advancing gene expression and biopharma research capabilities.
QIAGEN has expanded its QIAcuity digital PCR platform with new gene expression tools, including a kit that can analyze up to 12 RNA targets in a single reaction — a major jump from standard 5-plex systems, according to Business Wire. The announcement, made June 15, 2026, adds new assays, workflow automation, and updated software designed to help labs move away from older PCR technology.
The move is part of QIAGEN's broader push to make digital PCR, or dPCR, the new standard in life sciences and biopharma. CEO Thierry Bernard said the expansion helps "customers apply dPCR to a broader range of research and biopharma applications." QIAGEN has set a target of $2 billion in annual sales from its top growth areas by 2028, with QIAcuity as a key driver, per Business Wire.
OneStep Kit Lets Labs Test 12 Targets at Once
The centerpiece of the launch is the OneStep High Multiplex Probe PCR Kit. It lets researchers test up to 12 RNA targets in one reaction. That means less sample used, less time spent, and a simpler workflow. Most competing systems top out at 5 targets per reaction, according to Business Wire.
QIAGEN also plans to release several thousand new validated gene expression assays in the second half of 2026. These will plug into GeneGlobe, the company's design platform that already holds over 10 million predesigned assays. The goal is to give researchers ready-made, off-the-shelf tools instead of building tests from scratch, per markets.financialcontent.com.
Biopharma Quality Control Gets a Targeted Boost
QIAGEN is also expanding its quality control tools for cell and gene therapy, or CGT. New residual DNA tests now cover Sf9/Baculovirus and Pichia pastoris systems — two common platforms used to make viral vectors like AAV and lentivirus. These are used in cutting-edge gene therapies. Faster, standardized QC testing could speed up drug batch releases, according to Business Wire.
VP Justus Krause-Harder said the expanded portfolio reflects QIAGEN's "long-term commitment as a partner for quality control in CGT development." Contract drug makers, known as CDMOs, stand to benefit most. They need consistent, validated tests to meet strict regulatory standards before a drug can ship.
Software 3.5 Cuts Manual Work From the dPCR Workflow
Alongside new assays, QIAGEN will release QIAcuity Software 3.5 in late June 2026. It adds automated analysis and reporting features, reducing the hands-on steps researchers need to take after a run. For regulated biopharma labs, automated reporting also helps meet documentation requirements without extra manual effort, per Business Wire.
The software update is part of a wider push toward "walk-away" workflows — where a lab technician sets up a run, walks away, and gets a validated result. QIAGEN's Nanoplate-based system is designed for this kind of automation. A comparison study on medRxiv found QIAcuity consumables cost roughly 29% less per well than rival Bio-Rad's Droplet Digital PCR system, though Bio-Rad's platform runs about 32% faster.
Strong dPCR Growth Offsets QIAGEN's Broader Revenue Slowdown
QIAcuity posted double-digit growth in Q1 2026, according to Investing.com. That stands out because QIAGEN cut its full-year sales growth forecast in April 2026, dropping it from 5% down to just 1–2%. The reason: falling demand for its QuantiFERON TB test, hurt by lower U.S. immigration testing volumes. dPCR is now one of the few bright spots for the company.
Some analysts at Zacks Investment Research remain cautious, citing "mixed sales trends" and execution risks. But the global dPCR and qPCR market is projected to reach $21.87 billion by 2034, growing at nearly 8% per year. QIAGEN is clearly betting that digital PCR — not its legacy diagnostics business — will carry its next decade of growth.
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