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Designing effective and reliable qPCR and dPCR assays is crucial for successful experiments. At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we offer a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to help you design accurate and efficient TaqMan assays. Our advanced assay design capabilities offer the accuracy and reproducibility required for high-quality molecular analysis.
Assay design services for qPCR and dPCR
Are you looking for specialized support with qPCR or digital PCR assay design? Reach out to our team of bioinformatics specialists with the information provided below to get your designs within 10 business days.
We may already have a predesigned assay ready to go for the target you are trying to design an assay against. Please browse our TaqMan Assay Search Wizard to explore our entire portfolio of predesigned assays.
Explore custom assay design tools for your research application
Leverage our proprietary bioinformatics algorithms to design your own customized assay. Enter your target sequence(s) below in our self-service design tools to get an assay design right away.
OEM and specialty products
Compare predesigned, custom, and specialty TaqMan assays
| Assay type | Use case and how it’s built | What you provide | How you order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Predesigned assays | Known targets: ready-made, ready-to-use assays—no design required, standard catalog configuration | Target (e.g., gene/target name or assay ID) | Predesigned Assay Search Tool (web order) |
| Custom assays | Target not in catalog: designed from your target of interest or using your primer/probe (MGB) design with standard assay specifications (e.g., standard dyes and concentrations) | Target sequence, target ID, keyword, or genomic location or bring-your-own primer & probe (MGB) designs | Custom Assay Design Tool (CADT) |
| Specialty assays | Non-standard requirements: built to your specifications—supports specific dyes/quenchers, custom concentrations, modifications, and/or manufacturing scale needs |
Project specifications (dyes, quenchers, concentrations, modifications, scale, etc.) You may use primer and probe sequences from a predesigned assay or from a custom assay design |
Not web orderable; ordered through Specialty Oligos |
| Custom probes and primers | Standalone oligos: order primers and/or probes separately using your provided sequences; manufactured to standard oligo specifications | Primer and/or probe sequences (including dye/quencher selection, if applicable) | Custom TaqMan Probes & Primers Tool (web order) |
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an assay designed or redesigned so that it is compatible within a multiplex of other assays?
This type of design work is not included in the free Assay Design Hub services. Please contact your local Thermo Fisher representative to discuss your project needs.
What type of microbial pathogen assays can be designed through this service?
Assays designed for the detection of pathogen strains or species are supported. Other types of assays (SNP, copy number, or genus-specific assays) are excluded.
What is the difference between TaqMan Assays and custom primers and probes?
TaqMan Assays are a preformulated mix of a forward primer, a reverse primer, and a FAM and/or VIC dye labeled TaqMan MGB probe. Custom primers and probes are individually orderable, custom oligos that can be customized with a wider selection of dyes and quenchers. Learn more.
How do I order a preformulated assay with my own primer/probe designs?
Each custom assay design tool allows you to input your own primer/probe designs to be formulated as an assay.
Can I submit my custom castPCR and Advanced miRNA design requests through the Assay Design Service?
Yes. These requests that previously were sent to Specialty Oligos can now be submitted through our Assay Design Service.
Can I submit assay design requests for digital PCR assays?
Yes. The Assay Design Service can be utilized for both real-time PCR and digital PCR assay designs.
Will the assay information provided to Thermo Fisher Scientific be kept confidential?
Thermo Fisher Scientific will protect the confidentiality of your submissions and will train our team to not disclose, reverse engineer, or decompile your sequences in any way not pertaining to the specific purpose of your design request. Your assay designs are protected using the same systems that safeguard our TaqMan predesigned assays.
Are assay design sequences disclosed?
Sequences for designs generated using our self-service custom assay design tools (except for Custom Plus assays) will be available via our TaqMan files database. Designs generated through our Assay Design Service or derived from our predesigned assays are proprietary to Thermo Fisher Scientific and the primer/probe sequences of these assay designs will not be disclosed. Please read our Thermo Fisher Scientific and TaqMan terms and conditions for additional details.
How do I order the custom assay designs that I receive?
You will receive ordering instructions along with the results of your design request.
How do I check if Thermo Fisher Scientific already has a predesigned assay for the target I’m looking to design an assay for?
We offer over 20 million predesigned assays for popular qPCR applications. Easily search our library using our TaqMan Assay search wizard.
Can I commercialize the assay that I design through Thermo Fisher Scientific?
Yes, you can obtain commercial use rights for our assays through our OEM channel. Learn more by visiting OEM.thermofisher.com.
What is the turnaround time for receiving my designs?
Designs generated via our self-service custom assay design tools are typically available immediately. Designs generated through our Assay Design Service are typically available in 10 business days.
Are the assay designs that I receive from the Assay Design Service functionally tested?
No, all assay designs and multiplexing predictions are generated using our latest in silico tools and algorithms. Upon receipt, they should be functionally tested with actual samples to ensure they perform to your requirements.
Are assay designs from the Assay Design Service subject to the TaqMan Assays qPCR Guarantee?
No. The TaqMan Assays qPCR Guarantee* only applies to our predesigned assays.
*Terms and conditions apply. For complete details, go to our webpage.
Will every assay design request result in an assay design?
No. We will do our best to generate an assay design according to your submitted requirements. However, not all requests will result in a design due to complexity of the requirements, limitations of our tools and algorithms, and feasibility of the request.
How do I learn more about multiplexing with TaqMan custom primers and probes?
Please read our Multiplex Optimization Guide and learn more about our full list of available dyes and quenchers.
Resources and support
Resources
Support
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.