Laboratory plastics, whether tubes, plates, or pipette tips, are essential supplies in any life science lab. Although often taken for granted, the nature and quality of these items can affect how an experiment unfolds. Using laboratory plastics from a trusted source can help reduce the risk of loss of samples, spurious data and delayed results. Finding a laboratory consumables supplier you can trust can allow you to focus on your research.
PCR is a highly sensitive molecular biology technique, so the quality of your PCR plates and tubes can really impact your results. When selecting a PCR plate or tube on which to standardize a process, it is important to choose a laboratory consumables supplier that can consistently deliver high-quality molecular biology-grade plastics that meet your specifications.
Consider these guidelines when selecting PCR plastics or qPCR plastics for a large or ongoing project:
Laboratory plastics such as microplates are produced on an industrial scale by melting plastic resin and injecting it into highly complex molds. A well-established and highly controlled manufacturing process results in PCR plates and tubes that are consistent both within and across lots. Reliable laboratory plastics manufacturing requires:
Laboratory consumables manufacturers with an ISO and ISO certified quality management system will carry out these steps consistently and reliably.
Most PCR tubes and the wells of PCR plates are made from virgin polypropylene plastic resin due to its inertness and excellent heat transfer capacity. Some PCR plate frames are made from polycarbonate, which is well suited for automated PCR plate handling.
Because it is in direct contact with the reaction components and subjected to repeated temperature extremes, the purity and quality of polypropylene is highly important for achieving good performance in molecular biology reactions. PCR plates and tubes made from lower quality polypropylene may leach compounds that inhibit enzymes, or light-absorbing materials that interfere with spectrophotometric analysis [1'3]. For these reasons, it's recommended to work with laboratory consumables suppliers who use medical or molecular-grade virgin plastic and have tested their products for inhibitory activity.
Given the risks that contamination poses to PCR success, do confirm that your PCR plate/tube supplier certifies its products as nuclease free; ideally, they should also be certified free of human DNA. Contaminating human DNA and nucleases can result in false positives and false negatives respectively, creating inefficiency and the need for re-work. Good laboratory consumables suppliers will test each lot and make a Certificate of Analysis available.
Physical fit of the PCR plate or tube into your (q)PCR equipment is critical for maximum amplification as well as avoiding damage to the reaction. Besides myriad design options (e.g., cap style, well volume, skirt type) that affect compatibility, the precise dimensions of the thermal blocks in PCR and qPCR instruments can vary slightly among manufacturers; even the smallest mismatch between your instrument and the PCR plate or tube can reduce the contact between the two, diminishing control over the reaction temperature and potentially reducing amplification efficiency.
PCR plates made for specific instruments are great for optimizing fit and performance. For example, each Applied Biosystems thermal cycler and qPCR instrument is verified for performance with specific Applied Biosystems PCR plastics.
When sourcing PCR plates from someone other than the instrument manufacturer, make sure that the consumables vendor has tested the fit of their product in your model of thermal cycler. An online PCR plastics selection tool can making finding compatible PCR plates and tubes much easier.
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Thermo Fisher Scientific produces its own PCR plates and tubes with a commitment to high quality molecular biology manufacturing standards. Moreover, they can supply your whole workflow including pipet tips, PCR reagents, and DNA purification kits.
Thermo Fisher Scientific's PCR plate and tube manufacturing capabilities include:
The Thermo Scientific PCR portfolio includes a huge variety of PCR plates and tubes verified for fit in third-party thermal cyclers and qPCR instruments.
In addition, Applied Biosystems PCR plastics and PCR reagents are validated with Applied Biosystems instrumentation (PCR and qPCR) as a complete system. This validation helps provide an additional level of confidence that the chosen components are well suited for producing reliable results.
By investing some time up front to find a reliable vendor and the right consumables for your workflow, you can avoid many problems and keep your project on track.
In determining what grade of stainless steel tubing to select many factors are taken into account. The main requirement for stainless steels is that they should be corrosion-resistant for a specified application or environment. Strength and fabrication characteristics are also taken into consideration. There are more than 60 grades of stainless steel. However, the entire group can be divided into four metallurgic classes. In determining what grade to select, additional mechanical or physical properties may also need to be considered to achieve the overall service performance requirements.
Chromium (17-25%), Nickel (8-25%); non-magnetic, not heat treatable. It can develop high strength by cold working. Additions of molybdenum (up to 7%) can increase the corrosion resistance. 300 series resist corrosion and uphold their strength at high temperatures and are easy to maintain. Type 316 contains slightly more nickel than Type 304, and 2-3% molybdenum giving it better corrosion resistance.
Typical uses: surgical applications, food, and beverage equipment, wastewater equipment, chemical equipment, architectural applications.
Straight chromium (12-18%); magnetic and can be hardened by heat treatment. Type 410 resists corrosion in mild atmospheres, steam, and mild chemical environments.
Typical uses: fasteners, machinery parts, pump shafts.
Straight Chromium (12-18%); low carbon, magnetic, but not heat treatable.
Typical uses: highly polished trim applications, food processing.
Chromium (12-28%), Nickel (4-7%); martensitic or austenitic. The typical grade 17-4 name comes from the additions 17% Chromium and 4% Nickel, it is also known as grade 630. They have high strength, relatively good ductility, and good corrosion resistance at moderate temperatures.
Typical uses: valves, gears, pump parts, bolts, saws, shafting.
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