Quantitative PCR SRF Overview

The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most reliable and sensitive method for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids in a biological sample. The technique can be used for various applications such as quantitation of gene expression, allelic discrimination, and pathogen detection.

The quantitative PCR Shared Resource Facility (qPCR SRF) provides access to fully automated instruments for liquid handling and high throughput, real-time PCR. The facility offers services involving PCR assay development, RNA and DNA extractions, cDNA synthesis, setup qPCR reactions with suitable controls and normalization reference genes, high accuracy robotic pipetting, and data analysis.

The facility is equipped with two ABI PRISM 7900HT sequence detection systems, configured to use 384-well or 96-well plates with SYBR green or TaqMan probes and is capable of unattended 24-hour operation using a robotic arm to process plates in the queue. An eight channel 384/96-well format Beckman pipetting robot (Beckman Biomek NXp Laboratory Automation Workstation) is available for setting up large-scale, real-time PCR reactions.

New: The facility has recently acquired a Droplet Digital PCR System from QuantaLife (www.QuantaLife.com). It has many potential applications, including the detection and quantification of low-level of pathogens, rare genetic sequences, copy number variations, relative gene expression in single cells, and analysis of heterogeneous DNA methylation.

Visit eRAP (https://erap.mssm.edu) to make a reservation for the facility equipments.

Please Remember
For funding purposes, it is important to acknowledge the qPCR Shared Resource Facility in all publications that include data derived from the facility.