Bio-Rad's HardShell 96-Well PCR Plate
by Jennifer Placek, Gene Expression Specialist, Bio-Rad Laboratories, and Angelica Olcott, Gene Expression Specialist, Bio-Rad Laboratories
Conventional PCR, qPCR, digital PCR and NGS applications all use PCR plastics to facilitate sample preparation and amplification steps. As these technologies have expanded their utility, the demand for high-performance plastics has also increased. In today’s budget constrained environments, purchasing lower cost standard PCR plastics can appear to be a useful solution. However, researchers should be aware that the lower cost plastics often associate with inferior quality and thus may display lower heat stability, which could have adverse effects on amplification reactions, ultimately impacting results.
The choice of PCR plastics has a substantial impact in a researcher’s assay that they may not be aware of initially, but it really can help ensure more optimal results. Thus, it is especially important to consider the necessary properties of PCR plates before running an assay of precious samples, whether you are in a research or clinical laboratory.
Does the choice of PCR plate meet the requirements of the thermal cycler?
Understanding the requirements and design of the chosen thermal cycler is the first step towards selecting an appropriate PCR plate. For example, is the PCR plate height suitable for the instrument? Identifying the thermal cycler’s lid mechanism (i.e., a fixed-height or adjustable lid) can aid in correctly determining the plate specifications. An instrument with an adjustable lid can utilize high-profile (20.7mm high) or low-profile (15.5mm high) standard PCR plates, while one with a fixed-height lid can only use one type of plate profile.
The lid of a thermal cycler contains a heated plate assembly that applies a specific amount of pressure to the plate caps or seal when the lid is closed—failing to use the required plate dimensions will result in the incorrect application of pressure. Using a plate that is too tall will cause the wells to compress during thermal cycling as too much pressure is applied, whereas using a plate that is too small will result in sample condensation or evaporation as insufficient pressure is applied.
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