Bio-Rad adds real-time PCR to its range

Bio-Rad unleashes its new real-time PCR detection system to the scientific community that aims to make genetic research less laborious by introducing unique features to aid real-time PCR experiments to analyzing gene expression.

Its CFX96 PCR detection system is a true real-time piece of equipment, allowing for the detection of PCR amplification during the early phases of the reaction, allowing the precise measurement of the reaction's kinetics.

The system's optical reaction module builds on the C1000 thermal cycler, resulting in an easy-to-install real-time PCR system that detects real-time PCR applications, including absolute quantification, genetic variation analysis, and gene expression.

Sample quantitation by real-time PCR increases reliability of gene expression analyses, improves viral load assessment, and accelerates throughput in screening applications.

Other features of the system include its ability to tailor experiments using one of several data acquisition modes, including a single channel fast scan option for SYBR Green.

The advantages of SYBR Green are that it is inexpensive, easy to use, and sensitive. The disadvantage is that SYBR Green will bind to any double-stranded DNA in the reaction, including primer-dimers and other non-specific reaction products, which results in an overestimation of the target concentration.

The CFX96 also incorporates a fast thermal cycling, which produces results in less than 30 minutes. Central to this is its thermal cycler gradient feature, which optimises reactions in a single experiment.

Bio-Rad, a manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, have a name for themselves by building up an enviable collection of real-time PCR detection systems.

By adding real-time PCR capabilities to a base thermal cycler, detection of target sequences labelled with fluorescent probes is made relatively easy.

Other notable features of the CFX96 system include long lasting solid-state components with LEDs and photodiodes for reliable results as well as a quick installation and factory-calibrated optics, which enable system set-up in a matter of seconds.

"The CFX96 system offers users a way to achieve sensitive target detection in single (or multiplex assays) for a variety of real-time PCR applications in addition to reliable performance and higher throughput options," said Bio-Rad in a statement.

"The CFX Manager software enables rapid quantitative and built-in gene expression analysis and also has powerful data analysis tools," they added.

Over the last several years, the development of novel chemistries and instrumentation platforms enabling detection of PCR products on a real-time basis has led to real-time PCR has become the preferred method for validating results obtained from array analyses and other techniques that evaluate gene expression changes on a global scale.

In 2007, PCR market revenue in the US was estimated at $740.7m. That number is expected to reach $1,229.2m by 2012. The increased use of this technology for biomarker identification and to accelerate drug development efforts in the research laboratory and clinical applications market is likely to account for much of this growth