Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a well-established technique used for the in vitro amplification of a given nucleotide (such as DNA). This technique is used to prepare multiple copies of a gene, and to synthesize a large amount of DNA molecules from a given DNA sample. This is done by separating the two strands of the DNA, marking its location with a primer, and using a DNA polymerase enzyme to synthesize and assemble a copy of the gene alongside a template.

The vendor evaluations are based on two broad categories — Product Offering and Business Strategy. Each category carries various criteria, based on which the vendors will be evaluated

Vendors who fall into this category receive high scores for most evaluation criteria. They have wide and established product portfolios and a very strong market presence. They provide mature, innovative, and reputed dPCR and qPCR devices.

The players considered dynamic are established vendors with very strong business strategies. However, they provide limited offerings and are comparatively less innovative. They focus on a specific type of technology related to the product.

Innovators are players that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have a focused product portfolio; however, they do not have very strong business strategies.

They are vendors with niche product offerings and are starting to gain their position in the market. They do not have strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. They may be new entrants and require some more time before getting significant traction in the market. On the basis of application, the global qPCR and dPCR market is classified into two: qPCR applications, and dPCR applications. Both segments are further classified into clinical, research, and forensic applications.Real-time PCR or quantitative PCR (qPCR) is used for quantitative determination of the target DNA or gene in the given sample. Quantitative measurements are made in qPCR analysis during the amplification step itself rather than at the end (as opposed to traditional PCR) with the help of fluorescence-tagged molecule that binds to the specific DNA molecule. This eliminates the need for post-amplification analysis of the target nucleotide as in the case of western blotting, gel electrophoresis, and traditional PCR.Quantitative PCR analysis has transfromed significantly from a conventional DNA quantification technique into an advanced diagnostic technique that is used in several diagnostic applications such as prenatal testing to identify inborn genetic defects, disease diagnosis such as early cancer detection, pathogen detection in infections (such as anthrax, malaria, herpes, hepatitis, HIV, and tuberculosis), and for identification of blood-borne diseases during blood transfusion.