Whether you're conducting a targeted single-species survey or a broader multi-species assessment, the detection approach, kit complexity, and data outputs differ significantly. Understanding these distinctions upfront ensures you select the right methodology (and the right kits and test) before you're in the field.
Single-Species (qPCR) Targeted
Presence / absence of one known species
✓ Results in as little as 10 workings days
✓ Highly sensitive - detects trace quantities
UK & Ireland
Arctic charr, Atlantic herring, Chinese mitten crab, Chytrid fungus, Dreissenid mussel, White-clawed crayfish, Zebra mussel
UK & Europe
Chytrid fungus, Atlantic herring, Crayfish plague, Signal crayfish, Silver shiner, White-clawed crayfish, Zebra mussel, European eel, Great Crested Newt.
Canada
Blanding's turtle, Burbot, Chytrid fungus, Silver shiner, Atlantic herring
Canada & USA
Brook trout, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Lake Sturgeon, Rainbow trout, Redside dace, Round whitefish
Not seeing your species of interest in this list? Get in touch to talk about your options
Turnaround: As little as 10 working days from sample receipt to report
Multi-Species (Metabarcoding) Community Screening
Hundreds of species from a single sample
✓ Full community biodiversity picture
✓ Additional ecosystem context
✓ Enables tracking of ecosystem community changes over time
Available multi-species tests
Freshwater: fish, mammals, vertebrates, insects,
bivalves, bacteria, unionid mussels, invertebrates
Marine & estuarine water: fish, mammals, vertebrates, eukaryotes, invertebrates, bacteria
Soil: bacteria, fungi, invertebrates
Marine & estuarine sediment: bacteria, eukaryotes, invertebrates
Surface swab: Pollinators, Mammals + Vertebrates
Turnaround: From sample receipt to report on the platform. Standard 8 weeks. Fast-track 4-6 weeks
Best practice - Use both together
qPCR target specific species; metabarcoding reveals what else is there
Why combine them?
Infrastructure clients — especially road, rail and water utilities — commonly use qPCR for protected species confirmation alongside metabarcoding for community baselines and context.
The two methods are complementary and can be run on the same sample. qPCR is highly sensitive for its target; metabarcoding tells you what else is living in that habitat alongside your target species, including its food source and potential predators.
Example: Freshwater infrastructure project
1. qPCR for White-clawed Crayfish → 10-day result for planning consent
2. MBC Freshwater Fish + Mammals → broader community baselining e.g. for an Environmental Impact Assessment
3 .Both from same field visit and the same sample— one visit, two valuable insights
View the full catalogue of tests available with each kit, or chat to the team about your project and we can steer you in the right direction.
