PCR Thermal Cycler Manufacturers
The field of Thermo Cyclers is vast but with that competition arises high-quality manufacturers that produce high-quality instruments. Here is a list of thermal cycler manufacturers, many of which The Lab World Group has carried over the years and that have performed consistently over the years.
Bio-Rad PCR (formerly MJ Research)
MJ research was acquired by Bio-Rad in 2004 and were an early pioneer in Peltier-effect technology. MJ research lead the way for the PCR landscape we see today with their PTC-200, Dyad, and Tetrad lines, each of which are still widely used today. Since that time, they have contributed several innovations to the PCR process and when Bio-Rad acquired the company, they took up that same passion and drive with its lineup of thermal cyclers, including the innovative digital droplet PCRs
The 1000 thermal cycler series are well tried and tested starting with the budget-friendly format, the S1000. The BioRad s1000 can accommodate 96 deep and standard wells, dual 48 wells, or 384 wells, while the the user-friendly C1000 touch covers everything the S1000 has and adds a large LCD touch screen for easy accessibility and the ability to chain multiple units together.
The BioRad CFX modules that sit on top of these thermal cyclers and provide Real-Time PCR power. These are powerful optical head modules swap the single plex module head for a more advanced multiplexing head that support six channels and up to five target detections. Look out for their new CFX Opus Line.
Eppendorf PCR
The Mastercycler lineup features everything you would want from a thermal cycler. The Flexlid technology can deal with low-volume wells to 0.5ml PCR tubes. Their lineup features gradient and chain technology to boost throughput and features. Their small footprint thermal cyclers boast faster run times with their latest Mastercycler X50S Cycler and feature swappable silver or aluminum block heads as well as interconnected software to control up to 50 systems at one time.
Thermo Fisher Thermocycler (formerly ABI)
Applied Biosystems was merged with Life Technologies in 2008, and then later finalized in 2014 with Thermo Scientific. ABI’s trusted Geneamp is still widely used and seen on the markets today. They created a trusted customer base that Thermo continues to deliver with their lineup.
Their flagship thermocycler, the Proflex PCR system provides a user with optimum temperature performance, uniformity, and flexibility with five different head configurations. They also offer a wider lineup of thermal cyclers than most other companies. At entry-level pricing, a light user could consider the Miniamp Thermal Cycler, a mid-user the Simpliamp, or up to the Proflex. They continue to stock all the consumables need to complete the PCR process repeatedly.
Thermo Scientific expands its thermal cyclers with its lineup of qPCR systems. The QuantStudio line follows a similar format with their entry-level 96 well Quant Studio 3 up to their more versatile QuantStudio 12k. This system is highly flexible boasting a 12,000 data-point experiment in 20 mins or less.
Agilent PCR
While newer to the game, Agilent Thermal Cyclers have proven themselves in the fields of chromatography and spectrometry. Agilent provides great customer support, an online store, and a devoted customer base. Their Surecycle8800 will handle all basic thermal cycling needs and include features such as gradient cycling, a high-resolution touch screen, and easy-to-swap 96 or 384 blockheads. They expand their lineup to include the qPCR AriaMx Real-time PCR System. This system has everything you would want from a qPCR including optical cartridge types, touch screen, 8 filtered photodiodes, and up to 5 multiplexing.
Other PCR Considerations
Other known and trusted manufacturers include Techne, Analytic Jena, and PCRmax. We invite you to check them out for your PCR needs.
Summary
Each of these manufacturers provides the latest advancements in PCR technology. Whether your needs are more basic and only require a Thermal cycler or need advanced data analysis with the Real-time PCR, each manufacturer has your back when it comes to the polymerase chain reaction.
Our selection of Thermal and qPCR systems has varied over the years, but each one has been checked for integrity, temperature, uniformity, and operation within the manufacturer’s performance standards. We will continue to work with our customers and the manufacturers to provide high-quality used laboratory equipment. Contact us today or visit our store for active in-stock Thermal Cyclers.
