PCR / Thermal Cyclers
Stephen Bustin, PhD talks about the persisting problem of lack of transparency and reliability in current PCR data.
Problem: Drug discovery labs generate large amounts of real-time PCR data using high-throughput automation systems. However, these systems often require programming expertise, and some small to midsized labs don’t have this expertise on staff.
Problem: Although PCR is a staple of the molecular biology laboratory, protocols are often employed
without proper optimization, leading to less than ideal reaction conditions and compromised data.
System aims to reduce cost and resource-intensity of high throughput process
Agricultural officials who seek to detect diseases affecting the commercial swine industry may gain a new ally — a biological detection system developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers.
INTEGRA has published a new customer video* from the Institute of Clinical Chemistry research group at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), in which researcher Christina Thomas reviews how the VOYAGER multichannel pipette has accelerated their sample screening and genotyping assays.
Reginald Beer, PhD, medical diagnostics initiative leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, talks to contributing editor Tanuja Koppal, PhD, about the trends and innovations in digital PCR. While touting the advantages of digital PCR, he explains that not every lab needs to invest in this technology. Lab managers should look closely at their samples and assays to determine if digital PCR is needed for their application.
Automated liquid handling (ALH) systems span the range from semi automated multichannel pipettors to room-sized systems. The industry is trending toward versatile, modular ALH systems—seemingly for every budget. Likewise, instrumentation, software, and methods have followed the trend toward greater user accessibility.
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) received a Silver Telly Award, the highest honor, in the category Branded Content, Commercials, for its commercial “Bio-Rad iScript Supermix vs.Brand X”. The 35th Annual Telly Awards were announced June 16. Bio-Rad’s winning commercial compared its iScript™ Reverse Transcription Supermix for RT-qPCR to a product from a leading competitor. This year there were nearly 12,000 entries for Telly Awards from all 50 states and numerous countries. This is the second Silver Telly Award Bio-Rad has won in two years
Equipment for dispensing and aspirating liquids runs the gamut from handheld pipettes that cost less than $100 to mid-range benchtop units to complex, fully robotic systems that cost $1 million or more.
