Within a decade of its discovery in 1983, Real-Time PCR—also called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)—evolved into one of the most powerful and sensitive gene analysis techniques available. Real-time PCR measures PCR amplification as it occurs, so that it is possible to determine the starting concentration of nucleic acid.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying PCR Reagents

1. What key performance attributes does the company’s reverse transcription and PCR reagents offer that the competition does not offer? Do these attributes make your choice the best fit for your application?

2. Are you able to submit data files and questions to your reagent provider to help ensure your lab’s success? Does your reagent provider offer on-site and electronic PCR application support, and technical phone support before and after product purchase?

3. PCR reagents have been on the market for many years. What improvements in enzyme engineering and buffering chemistry has the company taken to provide the latest in PCR reagents performance?

4. Does your reagent provider offer technical support to enable successful transitioning to the newest PCR reagent offerings whenever they become available?

5. What processes are in place to ensure minimal lot to lot variation of the reagents when generating data for a long-term study?

The applications our respondents are using PCR for in their labs, based on our latest survey data:

What our readers are looking for from PCR instrument and reagent manufacturers:

Top ten factors in the decision to purchase a PCR instrument:

Recently Released PCR reagents & Products

iTaq™ Universal and iTaq Universal Probes
• Compatible with any real-time PCR instrument
• 2x concentrated, ready-to-use reaction master mixes
• Made with a proprietary optimized buffer formulation for maximum sensitivity, efficiency and reproducibility
• Particularly useful when utilizing real-time PCR instruments that require ROX fluorescent dyes
• Eliminate the need to change reagents between experiments and instruments

Bio-Rad
www.bio-rad.com

SPRIworks HT System for Fragment Library Preparation
• Allows researchers to process libraries with greater speed and sample reproducibility
• Utilizes built-in SPRI (Solid Phase Reversible Immobilization)-based per-well size selection
• Offers a reagent kit for library preparation that includes sizing solution and PCR reagents

Beckman Coulter
www.beckmancoulter.com

RapidTip®2 PCR Purification Product
• Enables one minute, one step PCR purification with polymerase removal for use prior to cloning or Sanger sequencing using just a single functional pipette tip and pipettor
• Does not require additional reagents, consumables, or equipment
• Comes pre-packed in a single pipette tip • Available in two different tip formats

Diffinity Genomics
www.diffinitygenomics.com

Purifier® Filtered PCR Enclosure
• Provides a controlled environment to perform polymerase chain reaction tests
• Minimizes the risk of cross contamination by producing an ISO Class 5 work area and utilizing a UV light to denature contaminating DNA or RNA
• Includes a pre-filter and a 99.99% efficient HEPA filter to create ISO Class 5 air

Labconco
www.labconco.com

PCR Reagents Manufacturers