Abstract
Rayleigh‐Bénard convective PCR is a simple and effective design for amplification of DNA. Convective PCR is, however, extremely sensitive to environmental temperature fluctuations, especially when using small‐ diameter test tubes. Therefore, this method is inherently unstable with limited applications. Here, we present a convective PCR device that has been modified by adding thermal baffles. With this thermally baffled device the influence from fluctuations in environmental temperature were significantly reduced, even in a wind tunnel (1 m/s). The thermally baffled PCR instrument described here has the potential to be used as a low‐cost, point‐of‐care device for PCR‐based molecular diagnostics in the field.
Thermally baffled device can reduce the environmental influence on convective PCR amplification: Convective PCR is extremely sensitive to environmental temperature fluctuations, and is inherently unstable with limited applications. In this study the authors have designed a thermally baffled convective PCR device with thermal baffles, which significantly reduces the influence from environmental temperature fluctuations, while PCR amplification is carried out successfully in a short reaction time. With its simple design the thermally baffled PCR instrument can provide a powerful tool for point‐of‐care molecular diagnostics in the field.
<!--Unmatched element: w:blockFixed-->
| Authors: |
|
Chang, Hsiao‐Fen Grace; Tsai, Yun‐Long; Tsai, Chuan‐Fu; Lin, Ching‐Ko; Lee, Pei‐Yu; Teng, Ping‐Hua; Su, Chen; Jeng, Chien‐Chung |
| Journal: |
|
Biotechnology Journal
|
| Volume: |
|
7 |
| Issue: |
|
5 |
| Year: |
|
2012 |
| Pages: |
|
662 |
| DOI: |
|
10.1002/biot.201100453 |
| Publication date: |
|
01-05-2012 |