PCR/Thermal Cyclers
When purchasing technology for PCR and qPCR, consider the accuracy of the temperature and fluorescence measurements, and the robustness of the instrument
PCR is a technique used to amplify DNA strands by cycling through specific temperatures to facilitate different stages of the reaction. Building on this, qPCR allows for the quantitation of DNA strands in real time. When purchasing technology for PCR and qPCR, consider the accuracy of the temperature and fluorescence measurements, and the robustness of the instrument as it will be running for long periods of time. For a list of manufacturers, see our online directory: LabManager.com/PCR-Thermal-Cyclers-manufacturers
6 Questions to Ask When Buying PCR/qPCR Technology:
- How many samples can the instrument run at once?
- Can the plates be swapped to accommodate different sample vessels (e.g. tubes or plates)?
- How easy is the instrument to program?
- Does the instrument come with software and what are its capabilities?
- How long does it take for the plates to heat up and cool down?
- How much space will the instrument take up in your lab?
Trends
Both real-time and endpoint-based PCR studies can benefit from the drive toward automation with high-throughput thermal cyclers. This article outlines some of the most recent developments in thermal cyclers that enhance PCR studies: www.LabManager.com/PRG-2022-thermal-cycler-trends
Infographic
Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) enables absolute quantification of target nucleic acids in a sample. This free downloadable infographic showcases the advantages of dPCR, the specifics of how it works, and valuable information about partitioning technologies. LabManager.com/digital-PCR-infographic