Thermal Cyclers Flashcards
Over 35 Years of Thermal Cycler Innovation
(Timeline)
1988: PTC100
1991: MiniCycler
1994: DNA Engine
1995: Tetrad
1999: iCycler
2000: Dyad
2002: MyCycler
2005: MJ Mini
2008: 1000-series
2011: T100 and C1000 Touch
2023: PTC Tempo
PTC Tempo
4 Models
PTC Tempo 96 (auto lid)
PTC Tempo Deepwell (auto lid)
PTC Tempo 48/48 (manual lid)
PTC Tempo 384 (auto lid)
PTC Tempo Key Differentiators
- patented True Gradient thermal gradient - uses dynamic ramping technology to insure incubation time across 8 rows of a gradient are identical, allowing easy optimization of complex PCR protocols
- patented honeycomb reaction block
– superior uniformity
– minimal edge effects
– thermal gradient enabled - automated lid
- compact footprint
- Wi-Fi with BR.io cloud
Bio-Rad’s patented True Gradient technology
patented True Gradient thermal gradient - uses dynamic ramping technology to insure incubation time across 8 rows of a gradient are identical, allowing easy optimization of complex PCR protocols
PTC Tempo
Thermal accuracy, uniformity, ramp rate
Thermal accuracy: +/- 0.2°C of programmed target at 90°C
Thermal uniformity: +/- 0.4°C well-to-well within 10 sec of arrival at 90°C
Ramp rate: between 2.5 – 6 °C/sec
PTC Tempo
Key benefits
- minimizes revalidation of protocols run on C1000touch
- maximize workspace
- integrate into automation workflow
- monitor and control from remote PC
PTC Tempo
Competitive alternatives
- Thermo Fisher
- Eppendorf
- Analytic Jena
- VWR
- Inheco
Why choose the PTC Tempo?
- enhanced touchscreen: updated response, swipe gestures for better touch experience with bare hands, gloves, double gloves
- contemporary connectivity: WiFi connectivity, create PCR protocols that can be stored and accessed when you connect to your network. Download system logs, run reports iva USB.
- BR.io: utilize cloud-enabled features such as remote protocol setup
- LED system status light: green (running), green/white (paused), blue/white (run complete), red/white (error), white (idle)
- secure mode for the regulated lab: optional admin setting disables guest accounts and ability to create new users. Requires users to have passwords.
- automation efficiency: motorized lid (except for d48) ensures consistent results. Self-adjusting lid removes the need to turn knobs and levers
PTC Tempo
Maximum Ramp Rate
2 x 48: 4 °C/sec
96-well: 5 °C/sec
384-well: 2.5°C/sec
96-DW:2.5°C/sec
ThermoFisher Offerings
SimpliAmp
VeritiPro
ProFlex
ThermoFisher SimpliAmp
Block formats: 96-well
Max Ramp Rate: 4 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price: $6,280
ThermoFisher VeritiPro
Block formats: 96-well, 384-well
Max Ramp Rate: 96-well: 6 °C/sec, 384-well: 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price:
96 $10,280
384 $10,670
New instrument?
ThermoFisher ProFlex
Block formats:
3 x 32-well
96-well
2 x 96-well
2 x 384-well
Max Ramp Rate:
3 x 32-well: 6 °C/sec
96-well: 6 °C/sec
2 x 96-well: 3 °C/sec
2 x 384-well: 3 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price:
3x32 $12,690
96 $12,510
Has zones rather than gradient - more precise optimization with BR
Proflex – breaks frequently (2-year shelf life. Large footprint compared to C1000. Taller and wider
The competition lost due to a 3 x 32 block on Proflex
Eppendorf Offerings
Mastercycler X50 Series
Mastercycler Nexus Gradient
Eppendorf Mastercycler X50 Series
Block formats:
96-well
96-well (Ag)
384-well
Max Ramp Rate: 6 - 10 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
96 $11,345
96Ag $11,799
Eppendorf Nexus Gradient
Block formats: 64 / 32-well
Max Ramp Rate: 3 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
64/32 $10,404
VWR Offerings
VWR (Peqlab) Thermal Cycler
VWR (Peqlab) Thermal Cycler
Visual: Black
Block formats:
32-well
2 x 48 well
96-well
384-well
Max Ramp Rate: 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price: ?
Analytic Jena Offerings
Biometra TOne
Biometra Trio
Biometra TAdvanced
(all red in color)
Analytic Jena Biometra TOne
Visual: Red
Block formats: 96-well
Max Ramp Rate: 4 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price: $8,474
Analytic Jena Biometra TRIO
Visual: Red
Block formats:
Trio 30
Trio 48
Trio Combi
3 x 18 well
3 x 48 well
Max Ramp Rate: 3 - 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
Trio 30 $18,359
3 x 18 or 3 x 48 $18,920
Biometra TAdvanced
VIsual: Red
Block formats:
96-well
384-well
60-well
Twin-48
Twin-30
Twin Combi
2 x 48 well
2 x 18 well
Max Ramp Rate:
6 °C/sec (Al block)
8 °C/sec(Ag block)
Cloud-enabled: No
List price: $8,253-$15,227
Applied Biosystems ATC
automated Workflow
Block formats:
96-well: 10-100µl
384-well: 5-10 µl
Max Ramp Rate:
96: 3.5°C/sec
384: 2.8°C/sec
Cloud-enabled: NA
List price:
96 $17,010
384 $22,150
Analytic Jena Biometra TRobot II
automated workflow
Block formats:
96-well (Al block): 5-50µl
96-well (Ag block): 5-100µl
384-well (Al block): 5-25µl
Max Ramp Rate:
96 (Alum block): 4°C/sec
96 (Silver block): 5°C/sec
384 (Alum block): 2.4°C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price: $17,214-$17,563
Inheco ODTC
automated workflow
Block formats:
96-well: 100 µl (max)
384-well: 50 µl (max)
Heating rate average (slope)
96: Max 4.4 K/Sec
384: Max 5.0 K/Sec
Cloud-enabled: NA
List price: $15,587
ThermoFisher’s VeriFlex Blocks - quotes
“VeriFlex blocks provide a better-than-gradient approach to PCR optimization. With 3 independently controlled zones, you have precise control over optimization temperatures.”
“Highly accurate determination of optimal annealing temperatures”
“Eliminates guesswork often associated with standard gradient cyclers”
Eppendorf’s 2D Gradient Block
Applies gradient over 12 columns and 8 rows
Gradient range up to 30 C
Bio-Rad - each target temp at the same time
Eppendorf - each lane reaches target temp at a different time, ~30s difference
Bio-Rad’s True Dynamic Gradient
· Dynamic ramping - Keeps the hold times identical across all 8 temperature points of a gradient for the most accurate optimization
· Gradient - A much wider range to sensitively and precisely narrow down the optimal annealing temperature
Demo: show the gradient setting by checking the gradient box in protocol screen
or the dynamic ramping thermal traces in the T100 brochure (Bulletin 6065).
