The term qPCR is the abbreviation for quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which is also known as real-time PCR. It is a technique based on PCR but can monitor the amplification of a target DNA molecule during the PCR process (i.e., in real time) instead of at the end point as in conventional PCR.

Two methods are commonly used to detect the DNA amplification in real time:

• Non-specific detection: Using double-stranded DNA-binding dyes as reporters to quantify all dsDNA PCR products, including non-specific products such as dsDNA amplified from primer dimer.
• Specific detection: Using fluorescent reporter probe to specifically detect the target DNA that contains the sequence complementary to the probe