[Identification of 22q11.2 microdeletion among patients with congenital heart diseases using droplet digital PCR].

OBJECTIVE To develop a new method for detecting 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2 DS) in clinical settings. METHODS Specific primers and fluorescence probes were designed to target the TBX1 gene within the 22q11.2 deletion region and a reference gene RPP30. Multiplexed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was run to detect the 22q11.2 microdeletion by calculating the ratio of positive droplet number of TBX1/RPP30. RESULTS Three cases of 22q11.2 microdeletion previously confirmed by array comparative genome hybridization were successfully identified. Subsequently, the ddPCR detected two further cases of 22q11.2 microdeletion among 14 children with congenital heart diseases. CONCLUSION The ddPCR technique has provided a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting 22q11.2 microdeletion in clinical settings.