Thermal Cyclers

Question 1

Over 35 Years of Thermal Cycler Innovation
(Timeline)

Answer 1

1988: PTC100
1991: MiniCycler
1994: DNA Engine
1995: Tetrad
1999: iCycler
2000: Dyad
2002: MyCycler
2005: MJ Mini
2008: 1000-series
2011: T100 and C1000 Touch
2023: PTC Tempo

Question 2

PTC Tempo
4 Models

Answer 2

PTC Tempo 96 (auto lid)
PTC Tempo Deepwell (auto lid)
PTC Tempo 48/48 (manual lid)
PTC Tempo 384 (auto lid)

Question 3

PTC Tempo Key Differentiators

Answer 3

• patented True Gradient thermal gradient - uses dynamic ramping technology to insure incubation time across 8 rows of a gradient are identical, allowing easy optimization of complex PCR protocols
• patented honeycomb reaction block
  – superior uniformity
  – minimal edge effects
  – thermal gradient enabled
• automated lid
• compact footprint
• Wi-Fi with BR.io cloud

Question 4

Bio-Rad’s patented True Gradient technology

Answer 4

patented True Gradient thermal gradient - uses dynamic ramping technology to insure incubation time across 8 rows of a gradient are identical, allowing easy optimization of complex PCR protocols

Question 5

PTC Tempo
Thermal accuracy, uniformity, ramp rate

Answer 5

Thermal accuracy: +/- 0.2°C of programmed target at 90°C
Thermal uniformity: +/- 0.4°C well-to-well within 10 sec of arrival at 90°C
Ramp rate: between 2.5 – 6 °C/sec

Question 6

PTC Tempo
Key benefits

Answer 6

• minimizes revalidation of protocols run on C1000touch
• maximize workspace
• integrate into automation workflow
• monitor and control from remote PC

Question 7

PTC Tempo
Competitive alternatives

Answer 7

• Thermo Fisher
• Eppendorf
• Analytic Jena
• VWR
• Inheco

Question 8

Why choose the PTC Tempo?

Answer 8

• enhanced touchscreen: updated response, swipe gestures for better touch experience with bare hands, gloves, double gloves
• contemporary connectivity: WiFi connectivity, create PCR protocols that can be stored and accessed when you connect to your network. Download system logs, run reports iva USB.
• BR.io: utilize cloud-enabled features such as remote protocol setup
• LED system status light: green (running), green/white (paused), blue/white (run complete), red/white (error), white (idle)
• secure mode for the regulated lab: optional admin setting disables guest accounts and ability to create new users. Requires users to have passwords.
• automation efficiency: motorized lid (except for d48) ensures consistent results. Self-adjusting lid removes the need to turn knobs and levers

Question 9

PTC Tempo
Maximum Ramp Rate

Answer 9

2 x 48: 4 °C/sec
96-well: 5 °C/sec
384-well: 2.5°C/sec
96-DW:2.5°C/sec

Question 10

ThermoFisher Offerings

Answer 10

SimpliAmp
VeritiPro
ProFlex

Question 11

ThermoFisher SimpliAmp

Answer 11

Block formats: 96-well
Max Ramp Rate: 4 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price: $6,280

Question 12

ThermoFisher VeritiPro

Answer 12

Block formats: 96-well, 384-well
Max Ramp Rate: 96-well: 6 °C/sec, 384-well: 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price:
96 $10,280
384 $10,670

New instrument?

Question 13

ThermoFisher ProFlex

Answer 13

Block formats:
3 x 32-well
96-well
2 x 96-well
2 x 384-well

Max Ramp Rate:
3 x 32-well: 6 °C/sec
96-well: 6 °C/sec
2 x 96-well: 3 °C/sec
2 x 384-well: 3 °C/sec

Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price:
3x32 $12,690
96 $12,510

Has zones rather than gradient - more precise optimization with BR
Proflex – breaks frequently (2-year shelf life. Large footprint compared to C1000. Taller and wider
The competition lost due to a 3 x 32 block on Proflex

Question 14

Eppendorf Offerings

Answer 14

Mastercycler X50 Series
Mastercycler Nexus Gradient

Question 15

Eppendorf Mastercycler X50 Series

Answer 15

Block formats:
96-well
96-well (Ag)
384-well

Max Ramp Rate: 6 - 10 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
96 $11,345
96Ag $11,799

Question 16

Eppendorf Nexus Gradient

Answer 16

Block formats: 64 / 32-well
Max Ramp Rate: 3 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
64/32 $10,404

Question 17

VWR Offerings

Answer 17

VWR (Peqlab) Thermal Cycler

Question 18

VWR (Peqlab) Thermal Cycler

Answer 18

Visual: Black
Block formats:
32-well
2 x 48 well
96-well
384-well

Max Ramp Rate: 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price: ?

Question 19

Analytic Jena Offerings

Answer 19

Biometra TOne
Biometra Trio
Biometra TAdvanced

(all red in color)

Question 20

Analytic Jena Biometra TOne

Answer 20

Visual: Red
Block formats: 96-well
Max Ramp Rate: 4 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price: $8,474

Question 21

Analytic Jena Biometra TRIO

Answer 21

Visual: Red
Block formats:
Trio 30
Trio 48
Trio Combi
3 x 18 well
3 x 48 well

Max Ramp Rate: 3 - 5 °C/sec
Cloud-enabled: No
List price:
Trio 30 $18,359
3 x 18 or 3 x 48 $18,920

Question 22

Biometra TAdvanced

Answer 22

VIsual: Red
Block formats:
96-well
384-well
60-well
Twin-48
Twin-30
Twin Combi
2 x 48 well
2 x 18 well

Max Ramp Rate:
6 °C/sec (Al block)
8 °C/sec(Ag block)

Cloud-enabled: No
List price: $8,253-$15,227

Question 23

Applied Biosystems ATC
automated Workflow

Answer 23

Block formats:
96-well: 10-100µl
384-well: 5-10 µl

Max Ramp Rate:
96: 3.5°C/sec
384: 2.8°C/sec

Cloud-enabled: NA
List price:
96 $17,010
384 $22,150

Question 24

Analytic Jena Biometra TRobot II
automated workflow

Answer 24

Block formats:
96-well (Al block): 5-50µl
96-well (Ag block): 5-100µl
384-well (Al block): 5-25µl

Max Ramp Rate:
96 (Alum block): 4°C/sec
96 (Silver block): 5°C/sec
384 (Alum block): 2.4°C/sec

Cloud-enabled: Yes
List price: $17,214-$17,563

Question 25

Inheco ODTC automated workflow

Answer 25

Block formats: 96-well: 100 µl (max) 384-well: 50 µl (max) Heating rate average (slope) 96: Max 4.4 K/Sec  384: Max  5.0 K/Sec  Cloud-enabled: NA List price: $15,587

Question 26

ThermoFisher’s VeriFlex Blocks - quotes

Answer 26

“VeriFlex blocks provide a better-than-gradient approach to PCR optimization. With 3 independently controlled zones, you have precise control over optimization temperatures.” “Highly accurate determination of optimal annealing temperatures” “Eliminates guesswork often associated with standard gradient cyclers”

Question 27

Eppendorf’s 2D Gradient Block

Answer 27

Applies gradient over 12 columns and 8 rows Gradient range up to 30 C Bio-Rad - each target temp at the same time Eppendorf - each lane reaches target temp at a different time, ~30s difference

Question 28

Bio-Rad's True Dynamic Gradient

Answer 28

· Dynamic ramping - Keeps the hold times identical across all 8 temperature points of a gradient for the most accurate optimization · Gradient - A much wider range to sensitively and precisely narrow down the optimal annealing temperature Demo: show the gradient setting by checking the gradient box in protocol screen or the dynamic ramping thermal traces in the T100 brochure (Bulletin 6065).