Recommended Real-time PCR Cycler

Hey Jan,

I am not too familiar with the cyclers of the big brands and I guess a lot of other people here are- so they can tell.

I can tell you about the cycler "Q-Tower 2.2" from JenaAnalytik (used to be Biometra): http://www.analytik-jena.de/en/life-science/products/prod/cat/real-time-rapidpcr/prod/qtower.html.

In comparison to the other brands its quite cheap (though I guess the price is not that relevant for an MPI). You can decide if you want to have the full package - including laptop, printer, etc - or if you go for the "cycler only" version.

The software provided with it is okay, it still has some bugs and labelling can be annoying but once you found your system to label your probes its fine. I don't see an advantage for Roche or Bio-Rad here, their software is no more logical.

You can export your files in .xls-formats or as .jpegs easily. Analyzing your data is also possible - the software draws the standard curve and gives you the values for slope, y-intercept, R² and efficiency. Furthermore you can use the built-in tool for calculating the absolute or relative expression, genotyping, ... There are regular software updates which add more functionality and repair bugs.

A big pro for this system is the support. Jenaanalytik is a small company so when you call them you will most likely get one from the team instantly instead of waiting for days until they get back to you (BioRad). Another pro is the relative low budget you need for running this machine. The optical stuff built in this machine is of good german quality since they work together with Carl Zeiss if I remember that correctly. It uses LEDs as far as I know so you won't have to buy a new super-expensive lamp anytime soon. You can buy any plasticware and any reagents for it. We stick with a pcr mix from Bioline using SYBR Green and is works fine and is relatively cheap. We have this cycler for a year now and it worked, nothing broken so far.

A negative point in my opinon is that the companys experience in qPCR doesn't have a long history in comparison to the big companys. But even if they can't help you instantly they are quick and clever to find a solution that works for you. I appreciate that.

So overall - a good system and decent cost-value ratio.

Hey Susann,

thank you so much for the detailed comment. The system from JenaAnalytik sure looks quite promising. However, we would need a 384-well plate adapter since we normally run a lot of different samples and target genes at once, so 96-well is just not enough. And I couldn't find any info about this on the webpage...

Anyhow, thanks again!

Best,

Jan

Jan,

They only sell 96er plate models. Guess you will have to go for the Mercedeses and VWs in PCR technology then (:

Good luck.

Hi

In our lab we have 2 qPCR platforms. A Cepheid Smart cycler and Roche Lightcycler 1,5. Honestly, we have been working during the lasts years basically with the Roche system, with good result because the capillary technology and air heating approach offers a very good optical and thermal conditions. The Smartcycler is very good system to optimize reactions or to do qualitative detection. For this reason is very used in diagnostic environments.

Nowadays, if I needed to buy a new device, probably the Qiagen Rotorgen is the optimum platform. Because the optical approach and the thermal system are both the best in therms of homogeneous fluorescence detection and temperature regulation. On the other hand the consumables are quite cheap than glass capillaries and Smart Tubes.

Nevertheless in terms of absolute support and high technology, probably the best one is Roche Lightcycler 480.

Best regards