When qPCR says negative – finding IBV with digital PCR

Chickens cough, coronaviruses persist, and molecular methods can reveal more than meets the eye.In this episode of Absolute Gene-ius, University of Calgary researcher Fathima Ishara Isham joins Lisa Crawford and Jordan Ruggieri to explore infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus that affects poultry health and can disrupt egg production. Ishara explains how IBV can move beyond the respiratory tract, why vaccination strategies differ for broilers and layers, and the practical challenges of animal studies involving large sample sets and multiple time points. She also walks through her study comparing qPCR and digital PCR for IBV detection, including quantification range, limit of detection, precision, specificity, and testing of real-world tissue, swab, air, water, and dust samples. Her findings highlight how digital PCR can detect low-level viral signals in samples that tested negative by qPCR, raising new questions about persistence and infectivity. In Career Corner, Ishara shares her path from Sri Lanka to Canada, the value of mentorship, and why saying “I don’t know” can be a strength. Plus, she recalls a proud cell-culture milestone and one illuminating immunofluorescence mistake. Visit the Absolute Gene-ius page to learn more about the guests, hosts, and science featured in the series. Explore how Applied Biosystems™ QuantStudio™ Digital and Real-Time PCR Systems support research across neuroscience, oncology, agriculture, and more.