Pros and cons of analysis methods used in liquid biopsies
| Analysis method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| qPCR | Good sensitivity and specificityWidely available | Limited to HTS and discovery studies |
| ddPCR | High sensitivity | Expensive |
| BEAming | Detection of ctDNA with very low mutant allele frequency | Expensive |
| NGS | High sensitivity | Bioinformatics support required |
| Identification of several miRNA variants | No automation | |
| Whole-genome sequencing | Wide application | Expensive |
| Time-consuming | ||
| Bioinformatics support required | ||
| CellSearch | FDA approved | Expensive |
| Good sensitivity and reproducibility | Limited to CTCs with high EpCAM levels | |
| False positives due to inflammation |