T-blocker: a Simple and Robust Probe-Free Quantitative PCR Assay to Detect Somatic Mutations Down to 0.1% Frequency

We have developed a simple and robust probe-free quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay method that can detect minor mutant alleles with a frequency as low as 0.1% in a heterogeneous sample by introducing a novel T-blocker concept to the allele-specific PCR method. Four new KRAS and BRAF mutation detection assays were developed and their performance was demonstrated by testing a large number of replicates, utilizing a customized PCR protocol. Highly efficient and specific mutant amplification in conjunction with selective wild-type suppression by the T-blocker concept enabled 0.1% detection sensitivity using the intercalating dye-based qPCR chemistry instead of more complex target-specific dye-labeled probes. Excellent consistency in sensitivity and specificity of the T-blocker assay concept was demonstrated.