System and method for determining copies-per-unit-volume using PCR and flow control of droplets

1. A method for quantification of a target nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of discrete sample portions, each of the plurality of discrete sample portions comprising a portion of the sample, and a reaction mixture;

amplifying the plurality of discrete sample portions to form a plurality of discrete processed sample portions including at least one discrete processed sample portion containing nucleic acid amplification reaction products;

detecting fluorescence signals from the at least one of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions to determine a presence of the at least one target nucleic acid;

determining the respective volumes of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions, wherein the determining the respective volumes comprises imaging the plurality of discrete processed sample portions; and

estimating the number of copies-per-unit-volume of the at least one target nucleic acid in the sample based on the number of discrete processed sample portions determined to contain the at least one target nucleic acid therein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises discrete sample portions of a plurality of sizes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises discrete sample portions of substantially two different sizes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprise discrete sample portions of substantially a plurality of predetermined sizes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sample portions is at least partially surrounded by a medium that is at least substantially immiscible with the plurality of discrete sample portions.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the medium that is substantially immiscible with the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a mineral oil, a silicone oil, a paraffin oil, a fluorinated fluid, a perfluorinated polyether.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises porous beads.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises magnetic beads.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising magnetically focusing the magnetic beads within a flow stream of immiscible fluid in a flow cytometer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplifying includes a polymerase chain reaction.

11. A system for quantification of a target nucleic acid in a sample, the system comprising:

an emulsion apparatus configured to form a plurality of discrete sample portions, each of the plurality of discrete sample portions comprising a portion of the sample, and a reaction mixture;

an amplification apparatus configured to amplify the plurality of discrete sample portions to form a plurality of discrete processed sample portions including at least one discrete processed sample portion containing nucleic acid amplification reaction products;

an excitation detection apparatus configured to detect fluorescence signals from the at least one of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions to determine a presence of the at least one target nucleic acid; and

a processor configured to:

determine respective volumes of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions by imaging the plurality of discrete processed sample portions, and

estimate the number of copies-per-unit-volume of the at least one target nucleic acid in the sample based on the number of discrete processed sample portions determined to contain the at least one target nucleic acid therein.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the excitation detection apparatus is further configured to determine the respective volumes of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an optical imager configured to determine the respective volumes of the plurality of discrete processed sample portions.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the emulsion apparatus is configured to form the plurality of discrete sample portions of a plurality of sizes.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the emulsion apparatus is configured to form the plurality of discrete sample portions of substantially two different sizes.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the emulsion apparatus is configured to form the plurality of discrete sample portions of substantially a plurality of predetermined sizes.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete sample portions is at least partially surrounded by a medium that is at least substantially immiscible with the plurality of discrete sample portions.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the medium that is substantially immiscible with the plurality of sample portions comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a mineral oil, a silicone oil, a paraffin oil, a fluorinated fluid, a perfluorinated polyether.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises porous beads.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discrete sample portions comprises magnetic beads.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the excitation detection apparatus includes a flow cytometer configured to magnetically focus the magnetic beads within a flow stream of immiscible fluid.

22. The system of claim 11 , wherein the amplification apparatus includes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrument.