Digital assays with a generic reporter

A method of performing a digital assay, the method comprising:

• forming partitions each including a portion of a same mixture, the mixture containing a target and also containing a generic reporter that is sensitive to amplification of the target, wherein only a subset of the partitions each contain at least one copy of the target;
• amplifying the target and at least one byproduct in the partitions, wherein the byproduct includes a primer dimer;
• collecting amplification data from the generic reporter for a plurality of the partitions, wherein partitions exhibiting detectable amplification of the target, partitions exhibiting detectable amplification of the byproduct, and partitions exhibiting detectable amplification of neither the target nor the byproduct are distinguishable from one another in the data;
• and
• determining a level of the target using the amplification data.