Biometra TAdvanced PCR Thermal Cyclers

Biometra TAdvanced – the high-performance thermal cycler for DNA amplification by PCR

High-Speed Thermal Block

The Biometra TAdvanced Thermal Cycler is available with different block formats. The Quick Block Exchange technology allows for an easy exchange of block modules. All blocks are made of aluminum and offer high ramp rates for fast protocol running times. Additionally, to achieve ultimate performance a 96 well block made of silver is available. Due to its excellent heat conductivity, silver equilibrates extremely quickly, thus providing maximum speed and temperature uniformity. To protect the valuable silver blocks against corrosion the block surfaces are gold plated. Rubber sealing at the lid creates an encapsulated space when the lid is closed. The closed room serves to improve the temperature uniformity of the sample block and avoids formation of condensed water at the final PCR cooling step.

High-Performance Smart Lid (HPSL)

The heated lid of the Biometra TAdvanced is equipped with HPSL technology. An integrated slip clutch always maintains constant contact pressure, regardless of the shape and height of the plasticware. This optimizes the contact between the sample block well and the walls of the plasticware, resulting in reproducible conditions. As soon as the heated lid is closed, a rubber seal on the lid encapsulates the space surrounding the sample block. This closed space increases the sample block temperature uniformity and prevents condensation formation during the final PCR cooling step. The Biometra TAdvanced comes with a one-touch opening mechanism – just press the locking mechanism, and the heated lid swings open. A spring mechanism holds the lid in the open position, preventing it from dropping down. The locking mechanism automatically engages when the operator closes the lid.

Linear Gradient Tool (LGT) for maximum convenience

Determining the optimum annealing temperature is a challenge when creating a new primer pair. Using the gradient tool allows the operator to find the optimum annealing temperature under experimental conditions and apply that temperature value to routine applications. Programming gradients usually means setting temperature for the first and the last row to determine the gradient range. For most thermal cyclers, the temperature interval is not the same from one row of the sample block to the next. In addition, the sigmoidal temperature curve of the gradient brings two disadvantages:

1. The automatically resulting temperatures for the other rows of the sample blocks, in particular in its center, are almost always odd-numbered.
2. The temperature differences between the rows are unevenly distributed, increasing towards the center of the sample block.

The Linear Gradient Tool enables programming of a temperature gradient with defined temperature intervals (increment) between the individual rows of the sample block. It allows the user to enter the calculated Tm value (minus e.g. 5°C) and the desired temperature increment (e.g. ± 1°C) between the rows of the sample block. For maximum comfort, the Linear Gradient Tool now supports programming of even-numbered temperature values for a maximum number of rows.

State of the Art Touchscreen (Display)

The Biometra TAdvanced Thermal Cycler features a 7" state of the art color touchscreen user interface. The touchscreen is built-in at a flat angle to ensure reflection-free viewing and ergonomics. The software included makes for easy programming of PCR protocols through the use of Biometra’s proven spreadsheet philosophy and additionally a graphical programming mode. With one touch you can switch from spreadsheets to graphical programming making editing or creation of programs fast and easy. Software: The Biometra TAdvanced software offers a number of preinstalled program templates for different applications. The program templates provide a general protocol structure and can be easily adapted for the current experiment. Editing a template or setup of new protocols is quite simple due to the multi-step programming feature, which allows users to enter all of the parameters for every program step within a single screen. Thus, the multi-step programming renders constantly switching back and forth between different screens unnecessary and enables easy changes from step to step.

Ordering information: Two-year warranty.