The similarities and differences between centrifuge tubes, PCR tubes and PCR plates

The similarities and differences between centrifuge tubes, PCR tubes and PCR plates

[Pcr Tube Domed,0.5ml Pcr Tube,Flat Pcr Tube,0.2ml 8-Strip Pcr Tube,Pcr Tube White]

In 1985, Perkin-Elmer Cetus in the United States invented the epoch-making polymerase chain reaction (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR), which made the dream of unlimited amplification of nucleic acid fragments in vitro become a reality. PCR technology is similar to the natural replication process of DNA, and its specificity relies on oligonucleotide primers complementary to both ends of the target sequence. PCR consists of three basic reaction steps: denaturation-annealing-extension. This reaction process is carried out in the PCR reaction vessel.

With the continuous development of the gene amplification instrument, the reaction container has also undergone a gradual development from 1.5ml to 0.2ml (0.25ml) centrifuge tubes to PCR special thin-walled 0.2ml, 0.1ml PCR tubes. With the increase in the number of PCR amplification reactions, a high-throughput gene amplification container for PCR strips and PCR plates is gradually formed.

The development of PCR instrument (gene amplification instrument) is mainly divided into the following stages. 1. Manual/manipulator type water bath gene amplification instrument; 2. Fully automatic air-cooled or semiconductor refrigeration qualitative gene amplification instrument; 3. End-point semi-quantitative PCR instrument; 4. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR instrument.

1. During the manual/manipulator water bath gene thermal cycler, the 1.5ml centrifuge tube is mainly used as the reaction system. At this time, the PCR reagent (reaction system) is 50-100ul, and paraffin oil needs to be sealed to prevent the reaction system from volatilizing. And the reaction tube needs a certain height in the water bath.

2. Fully automatic air-cooled or semi-cooled qualitative gene amplification instrument; in this instrument era, the instrument is relatively small, and 0.2ml centrifuge tubes are widely used. Since the instrument is semi-cooled or air-cooled, temperature transmission is required High efficiency, therefore, a special thin-walled 0.2ml PCR tube came into being. If the instrument at this time does not have a hot cover device, it is necessary to add liquid paraffin to cover the reaction system.

3. In the application era of end-point semi-quantitative PCR instruments, because the reaction results need to be detected by a photometer, the requirements for the thin wall and light permeability of the PCR tube are higher, and the thin wall of the PCR tube is a necessary condition. The PCR tubes at this time are mainly 0.2ml thin-walled tubes.

4. In the era of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR instruments, ordinary PCR machines, gradient PCR machines, and fluorescent quantitative PCR all have hot cover devices at this time, and the efficiency of the PCR reaction system is also higher. The reflection system is basically below 30ul, at this time 0.2mlPCR Tubes and 0.1ml PCR tubes are widely used, and some instruments use capillary tubes as PCR reaction containers.

With the widespread application of PCR technology, 96-well or 384-well PCR reaction plates are an integration of multiple micro PCR tubes, which are specially designed for batch reactions. The detachable PCR plate is composed of PCR strips.

In summary: Centrifuge tubes are divided into many types according to their capacities. Commonly used are 1.5ml, 2ml, 5ml, 15 or 50ml, and the smaller 1.5ml and 2ml (250ul) are used as PCR tubes in the early application of PCR technology. With the development of PCR technology, microcentrifuge tubes are gradually replaced by special thin-walled, transparent 0.2ml special PCR tubes, and gradually developed into 0.2ml PCR tubes, 0.1ml PCR tubes and porous PCR plates.