The success of shrimp farming begins with the quality of post-larvae (PL), which determines growth, survival, and disease resistance throughout the culture cycle. Despite rapid advances in feed, pond design, and biosecurity, variable PL quality continues to limit production performance in many parts of the industry. Hatcheries often depend on visual grading or limited health checks, resulting in seed with inconsistent genetic strength or undetected pathogens. The root cause often lies in hidden threats from both vertical and horizontal transmissions of pathogens. Many post-larvae that appear healthy at stocking may carry subclinical infections such as Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), or Vibrio-related pathogens, which later emerge under environmental stress, resulting in growth retardation, white faeces syndrome, or even mass mortality. These hidden infections compromise farm biosecurity and lead to unpredictable production outcomes. To overcome this, there is an urgent need to establish clear and measurable standards for PL health status supported by precise and reliable diagnostic tools. Molecular method such as PCR is a powerful tool for pathogen detection; however, conventional PCR typically allows testing of only one disease at a time. In practice, many hatcheries conduct only partial screening due to time and cost limitations, leaving room for undetected infections. The introduction of digital PCR represents a major advancement in diagnostic capability. Its multiplex approach enables simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens from a single sample, with higher sensitivity, reproducibility, and quantitative accuracy. This not only increases diagnostic efficiency but also provides hatcheries with a comprehensive health profile of each PL batch. Alongside advanced diagnostics, hatcheries must strengthen broodstock selection, maintain SPF-certified lines, and apply strict biosecurity and microbial management to minimise pathogen exposure. Raising PL standards through diagnostic innovation, improved management, and accountability between hatchery and farm will reduce disease risks, enhance consistency, and reinforce the sustainability of the shrimp industry.