Product Encyclopedia | PCR Experiment Consumables Selection Guide

PCR is a commonly used experimental technique in molecular biology laboratories, and almost every biological person uses it. But it is not easy to truly master PCR technology. Not to mention the experiment itself, even the consumables for PCR experiments hide a lot of knowledge. If you want to do your job well, you must first sharpen your tools. There are many types of PCR consumables. Today we will talk about their selection.

How to choose between PCR single tubes, eight-tube tubes, and plates?

●Single tube: can be flexibly selected according to the number of PCR experimental reactions.

● Eight consecutive tubes: suitable for medium and low-throughput experiments. There is a protruding hand-held end at one end of the lid, which can reduce contamination when opening the lid.

Eight-piece tubes with caps can be opened and closed independently to prevent sample contamination.

The eight-piece tube can also be used as a single tube by cutting it in the middle.

● PCR plate: suitable for high-throughput experiments. Alphanumeric markers help identify sample locations.

How to choose between no skirt, half skirt and full skirt?

● Skirtless: It lacks edge panels and is compatible with most PCR machines and qPCR machines. Easy to cut, but the pipetting stability is not high and needs to be used with a plate holder.

● Half skirt: The edge panel is short and can provide sufficient support during heating or pipetting.

The skirt is available in detachable versions in different colors, which facilitates the classification and management of samples in high-throughput experiments.

● Full skirt: There is an edge covering the height of the board, suitable for automated experimental applications and easy for mechanical grippers to grab.

How to choose between high-capacity tubes and low-capacity tubes?

PCR tubes usually come in two volumes, 0.2mL high volume and 0.1mL low volume.

● High-capacity tube: suitable for most thermal cyclers, qPCR machines and sequencers.

● Low-capacity tube: minimizes the space above the reaction system, reduces the impact of evaporation, and improves heat transfer efficiency. Therefore, on the premise of meeting experimental needs, low-capacity tubes are recommended first.

How to choose between transparent tube and white tube?

● Ordinary PCR: You can choose transparent tubes or white tubes.

● qPCR: Real-time quantitative detection of fluorescence signal intensity is required. For top-reading qPCR instruments, it is recommended to use white tubes because white tubes can effectively prevent signal interference and thus collect stronger and more focused fluorescent signals. However, white tubes are not suitable for instruments with bottom lighting or side lighting.

Aijin Bio PCR Series