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Archive for the ‘Bio-Rad Product Highlight’ Category

Superior Profiling of Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Other Disease Biomarkers

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 12-15-2014

Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Panels allow simultaneous quantification of 37 key biomarkers of inflammation.

Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Panels allow simultaneous quantification of 37 key biomarkers of inflammation.

Bio-Rad Laboratories announced the launch of its new Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Inflammation Panels, multiplex immunoassays that enable detection and quantification of the most comprehensive set of key inflammation biomarkers in a single assay.

Inflammation contributes to seven of the top ten causes of mortality, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This underscores the critical need to identify and monitor underlying inflammation biomarkers — biochemical signs of inflammation — to aid in disease research and drug discovery and development. Other companies have developed products to quantify inflammation biomarkers, but have thus far not been able to deliver a multiplex solution that allows analysis of key inflammation biomarkers in a single assay.

The Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Panel is the first multiplex immunoassay to enable detection of key inflammation biomarkers from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), human interferon (IFN), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and IL-10/regulatory T cell (Treg) cytokine families in one assay. Using this panel, researchers can now study 37 key biomarkers of inflammation simultaneously in a single assay, allowing them to save precious time, money, and sample.

Benefits of Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Panels include:

  • Flexible ordering options — the panels are available as premixed and ready-to-use large screening kits (37-plex or 24-plex), a pathway-focused Treg 12-plex kit, singleplex assays, or any custom kits
  • Rapid results — multiplex data are generated in 3–4 hours through the use of magnetic beads and protocols that deliver rapid turnaround time
  • Easy preparation — Bio-Plex Pro Kits require only a single sample dilution factor and single-level control, simplifying setup

Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Panels are compatible with the Bio-Plex® 100/200,
Bio-Plex® 3D, and Bio-Plex® MAGPIX™ Platforms, as well as all other Luminex-based xMAP Instruments and Software.

For more information about Bio-Rad’s Bio-Plex product portfolio, please visit www.bio‑rad.com/bioplexpr.

Why This Public Agency is Replacing qPCR with Droplet Digital PCR

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 12-02-2014

The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project(SCCWRP) is a public agency that conducts coastal environmental research and suggest management strategies. They are responsible for monitoring the waters of California and for ensuring that the beaches are safe for the public. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, the SCCWRP cannot afford to make mistakes in their water monitoring techniques. After thorough review, the SCCWRP has chosen to implement droplet digital PCR in their water monitoring program. Watch the video below to find out why.

To Film or Not to Film

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 11-25-2014

The ChemiDoc Touch Imaging System is Bio-Rad’s new digital imaging solution for gel and western blot analysis. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, it integrates a touch-screen interface with Image Lab™ Touch Software to give users a fast workflow for acquiring and analyzing publication-quality image data. As a part of Bio-Rad’s V3 Western Workflow™, the ChemiDoc Touch Imaging System enables a western blotting protocol improved with multiple validation steps, streamlined completion times, and quantitative results using stain-free gel chemistry.

We gave this new imaging system to several researchers to test. Each one started the process as a user of X-ray film for western blot imaging. Some reported having tried digital imaging in the past, but not being convinced at that time to give up film. Each sat down for an interview regarding how he used the ChemiDoc Touch Imaging System and provided a representative blot image created using the instrument.

Click here to read the full story…

Finding Leukemia Targets with ChemiDoc™ Touch Imaging

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 11-11-2014

Automated Droplet Generator Saves Time and Improves Data Quality

 :: Posted by American Biotechnologist on 11-03-2014

Bio-Rad Laboratories announced the launch of its Automated Droplet Generator (AutoDG™ Instrument) for digital PCR. Combined with the QX200™ Droplet Reader and a laptop computer with QuantaSoft™ Software, the QX200™ AutoDG™ Droplet Digital™ PCR System provides a worry-free, automated way to generate droplets for high-quality data.

“With a quick setup, you’re able to walk away and return to a full plate of droplets ready for thermal cycling and analysis,” said Carolyn Reifsnyder, Bio-Rad marketing manager, Digital Biology Center.

Generating droplets with a hand pipet can be labor intensive and time consuming, and variations in pipetting habits among different users can cause some degree of inconsistency in the resulting data. Bio-Rad’s AutoDG Instrument creates droplets quickly, reproducibly, and reliably. At maximum capacity, the system can generate droplets for 96 wells in less than 45 minutes.

“Droplet Digital PCR is sensitive enough to detect differences in people’s pipetting habits,” said Viresh Patel, Bio-Rad senior marketing manager, Digital Biology Center. “This instrument eliminates that variability.”

The AutoDG Instrument has its own hood and HEPA filter, reducing contamination so researchers can create droplets on a standard laboratory bench, without the need for a PCR cabinet or cleanroom. Adding to the instrument’s ease of use is a color touch-screen interface and deck lighting that guides the operator through system setup to ensure no steps are forgotten. Confirmation is provided once the required consumables are loaded correctly and 45 minutes later the droplets are ready.

Bio-Rad’s AutoDG Instrument can generate droplets for fluorescent probe–based detection or EvaGreen dye–based detection. The instrument is compatible with the QX100™ and QX200 Droplet Digital PCR Systems.

For more information on Bio-Rad’s AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System, please visit www.bio-rad.com/AutoDGpr.