Research Challenge Many laboratories depend on TaqMan® real-time qPCR to validate biomarkers as clinically useful. These data "factories" have to maintain banks of robots and detection instruments to process tens of thousands of samples per year. The logistical friction associated with intensive material handling takes its toll on efficiency. More importantly, the quantities of reagents associated with microwell plates represent a significant cost burden. No wonder labs like these wish to cut back on instrumentation and say "goodbye" to microplates.

The 48.48 Dynamic Array. Click image for details.

The Solution: BioMark 48.48 Dynamic Arrays

The BioMark 48.48 Dynamic Array is a much more efficient solution for large-scale real-time qPCR. The key to this efficiency is the matrix of channels, chambers and integrated valves finely patterned into layers of silicone. This material is gas permeable, allowing the blind fillof fluids into valve-delimited chambers. The valves partition samples and reagents and allow them to be systematically combined into 2,304 reactions.

The significance of this approach to operational efficiency is immense. Managing a gene-expression study involving 2,000 samples against a set of 48 genes would require 1,000 96-well plates as compared to 42 dynamic arrays. Managing the same study would require 4,608 steps on microplates and only 96 liquid-transfer steps per chip. Comparative time required to complete such a study would typically involve 100 days on plates and just 4 1/2 days on chips. In addition to the above benefits, the running cost is reduced by half or more.

If you switch to 48.48 Dynamic Arrays for your TaqMan assays, you may use the assays already in your lab, without re-optimization of your protocol.

The 48.48 Chip at a Glance

Parameter		Specification
Sensitivity of detection		Single-copy, per 10 nL reaction
Sample wells		48
Reagent (primers/probes) wells		48
Input volume per well		5 microliters (minimum)
Liquid-transfer steps		96
Reactions per chip		2,304 (48 x 48)
Experiment tracking		Chip-specific barcodes
Setup and valve control		NanoFlex™ IFC Controller
Detection and analysis		BioMark™ System for Genetic Analysis

TaqMan is a registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.

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