The Artel PCS pipette calibration system is suitable for the calibration of pipettes used for qPCR applications.
The Artel system is able to measure small liquid volumes at high accuracy and provide NIST-traceable results.
'Quantitative PCR testing is prevalent in our laboratory and it is highly volume dependent,' said Joan Gordon, president, Maine Molecular Quality Control (MMQCI), a company that manufactures and sells the first FDA-approved quality control for genetic testing.
'We have adopted the Artel PCS as our calibration technology of choice because it allows us to know with certainty that our pipettes are not introducing error into our operations, and that is especially important for our qPCR tests.' Offering rapid analysis and sensitive detection, qPCR technology is used for a number of tasks where the consequences of error are severe, including disease and paternity diagnoses, and crime scene analyses.
DNA amplification relies on the accurate addition of samples in controlled quantities for proper analysis.
Any discrepancy in delivered volumes can alter the concentration and ratio of reagents in the master mix and skew response readings.
'Pipetting inaccuracies even at the sub-microlitre level can significantly affect qPCR results due to the small volumes handled,' added Gordon.
'The PCS helps us have greater confidence in the integrity of the data produced with our qPCR assays.' The PCS is able to verify the performance of pipettes when handling low volumes with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
This capability is essential for qPCR testing, with total working volumes typically in the 2-200 microlitre range.
The PCS is based on ratiometric photometry, which measures the absorbance of light by two dye solutions to verify volume.
The use of this photometric method increases the accuracy of the measurements and eliminates sources of error associated with the use of balances.
Unlike other pipette calibration technologies, such as gravimetry, the PCS is largely unaffected by environmental conditions or vibration, and there is no need to compensate for sample evaporation.
The PCS can verify the performance of a pipette's accuracy and precision in minutes.
This feature allows qPCR-testing laboratories to conduct interim verification checks between regularly scheduled calibrations and before critical assays for stronger confidence in results.
With more frequent pipette verification, laboratories can quickly remove non-functioning pipettes to improve quality and reduce error.
The PCS's portability allows for benchtop calibration at the site where pipettes are used, which is especially important for qPCR testing in sterile laboratories.
By not removing pipettes from the sterile environment for calibration, as is required for gravimetric technologies and third-party calibration services, laboratories can avoid re-sterilisation processes.
The PCS produces results traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which helps regulated laboratories meet compliance standards and increases the defensibility of data.
The PCS automatically documents all volume verification results for streamlined and rigorous quality control.
