Clearing the most common questions about environmental DNA.
01 — Still unsure what makes an eDNA analysis reliable and robust?
Understanding the protocols is key to trusting the results. Discover the 3 key elements that make SPYGEN’s protocol truly reliable and avoid mistakes.
02 — Not sure how to design your sampling protocol?
Sampling drives eDNA performance. It determines how much DNA you capture, and how reliable your results will be. Our online learning modules will help you understand how to design an effective sampling protocol. When needed, our Experts can also support you.
Free Online Learning Modules →
03 — How long does eDNA persist in the environment?
Hours to several days in aquatic environments. eDNA is a real-time signal, not a historical archive, results reflect the present, not the past. Once released into the environment, DNA begins to break down. Several factors influence how long eDNA persists, including bacteria, UV radiation, or temperature.
04 — Does seasonality affect eDNA results?
Yes. During reproductive periods, species may release more DNA. That’s why, for monitoring programs, consistency is critical: sampling at the same season each year ensures differences reflect real ecological changes, not seasonal variability.
05 — Worried about false positives or false negatives?
SPYGEN’s protocol design reduces both to the absolute minimum. Large-volume integrative sampling, 12 PCR replicates, high sequencing depth, and expert ecological validation ensure statistical confidence and reliable conclusions. In the field and laboratory, infrastructure and protocols are specifically designed to minimize this risk.
Free Online Learning Modules →
06 — Concerned about reference database coverage?
SPYGEN combines publicly available databases with a proprietary, field-tested reference database built over 15 years. If a species is missing, we can integrate it on request.
07 — Metabarcoding or single-species detection?
Rather than searching for one species at a time, metabarcoding screens an entire biological community from a single water sample, without the need to define target species in advance. SPYGEN’s metabarcoding approach achieves the same detection capabilities as single-species methods, while providing a much broader picture of biodiversity, including species that traditional surveys may miss, and delivering far richer community-level information with equal or greater confidence.
08 — Why is choosing the right primer critical?
To be detected, the DNA of the target biological group must first be amplified. We use high-performance primers to do this. The selected primer affects species detection, taxonomic resolution, and result reliability. The more closely the primer is tailored to the biological group of interest, the better the detection probability and/or the taxonomic resolution. SPYGEN uses carefully selected short DNA primers, such as Teleo for fish or V05 for vertebrates, that provide taxonomic resolution comparable to broader markers such as COI, while reducing non-specific amplification and improving the detection of low or degraded eDNA. Our Experts can guide your selection.
09 — Is it possible to compare eDNA results across sites and over time?
We unlock a new level of comparability: Species DNA Copies per Litre. The standardization layer that allows to move from relative DNA composition within a site to semi-quantitative comparisons. Site to site. Season to season. Year to year. Now standard in every fish report.
Discover this new layer of insight →
10 — Not sure if eDNA fits your budget?
eDNA reduces field effort while delivering more comprehensive data in a single campaign. In the Rhône River, for example, one eDNA survey matched or exceeded the cumulative species richness recorded over 10 years of traditional monitoring — making eDNA a smarter and more efficient choice.
11 — Was your question not covered?
Submit it now, and we’ll answer it in a future post.
