105202Novel PPL-based chemistry platform and workflow for ultra-sensitive, low cost detection of gene targetsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UK"The concept of liquid biopsy holds tremendous promise as a method of routine screening, however current methods, although suitable for use in analysing tissue biopsies, are far from sensitive, specific, or inexpensive enough to enable routine use. Current platform chemistries, such as Roche's Cobas platform, currently considered the gold standard, require at least 5% of the DNA found in blood to contain a mutation. This is problematic as often much less than 1%, and frequently 0.1% of the DNA in blood that must be detected will contain this allele. Much of this problem is due to quantity of background genomic DNA present, and which makes highly specific PCR tests from only a few molecules of DNA problematic. We have developed a highly novel method and chemistry platform which, by combining several novel steps, allows us to detect only a few molecules of mutant allele-containing DNA against a background of genomic DNA. This will allow us to significantly exceed the current limits of detection without requiring novel apparatus, sequencing or digital PCR."