GRI launches Helixis PIXO™ Real-Time PCR System |
 |
Time for everyone to get real!
[Friday, October 16, 2009]
The PIXO™ Real-Time PCR system is packed with features!
Combining a proprietary 48-well thermal system and robust optical system that enables 4-dye multiplexing, PIXO™ is also able to support technically demanding real-time PCR applications including High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis. Operation is easy for both novice and experienced “Real-Timers” through the plug and play set up, with no calibration required
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
Technically, the PIXO™ Real-Time PCR system provides DNA amplification capabilities well above industry standards for temperature control and thermal uniformity. The enhanced thermal performance improves overall data quality and reproducibility as well as enabling high value applications such as HRM analysis. The PIXO™ sets a new performance standard for a thermal block instrument with a temperature uniformity specification of ± 0.1°C. The temperature accuracy specification is ± 0.25°C across the block. The system is capable of performing a 40-cycle PCR in less than 40 minutes and PCR followed by HRM analysis in less than 60 minutes. The temperature range is from 35 to 100°C with the peak ramp rate of the block being 5.5°C/second.The system is optimized for 20μl reaction volumes but can support sample volumes between 5 to 30μl.
ROBUST OPTICAL SYSTEM
PIXO™ offers a completely open chemistry platform supporting all available real-time PCR chemistries and is capable of multiplexing up to four dyes in a single tube. The optical system combines two fixed solid-state LED systems for excitation and four detection filters with a robust and reliable CCD camera for detection. The instrument is factory calibrated for SYBR® Green I, FAM, HEX, ROX and CY5 fluorescent dyes. In addition, fluorescent dyes within the wavelength range of the detection filters are supported (500nm - 700nm).
INTUITIVE AND COMPLETE SOFTWARE
PIXO™ includes a netbook computer pre-installed with PIXO™ system software. The computer communicates with the instrument through an ethernet connection. A USB flash drive is included and comes pre-loaded with analysis software, protocols and application notes, and can be used for transferring data and template files. The system software includes an unlimited number of software licenses and can be easily upgraded via the Internet.
The software uses an intuitive user interface that simplifies plate layout and thermal profile editing. Various template files are included that contain default cycling protocols for various applications and new protocols can be downloaded from the Helixis website. Plate set-up can be easily altered after the run completes. A wide range of data analysis modes are supported: absolute quantification using a standard curve, relative quantification using the ΔΔCq method with support for multiple reference genes, allelic discrimination assays with auto-call genotyping, standard melt curve and high resolution melt (HRM) analysis with genotyping tools. Finally analysis data can be easily exported to Excel, PowerPoint or Word files.
According to Sales & Marketing Director Simon Nicklin, the PIXO™ is the system everyone has been waiting for...
“By adding the PIXO™ to our portfolio of “personal systems” which includes the G-Storm range of thermal cyclers, and the GeneMole Automated DNA/RNA Extraction System, we can ensure all researchers can benefit from the latest technological advances in molecular biology instrumentation.”
Click here for further information on the PIXO™ Real-Time PCR system
|
