Fluidigm has introduced the 48.770 digital array, a high density integrated fluidic circuit (IFC).
The IFC can test up to 48 individual samples at a time and automatically partitions each of the samples into separate sets of 770 reaction chambers - delivering a total of 36,960 simultaneous digital PCR reactions.
Digital PCR (polymerase chain reaction) quantifies the amount of nucleic acid in a sample, typically by counting amplifications from single molecules.
It is used by molecular biologists to improve standard PCR assays.
Digital PCR also offers higher resolution for copy number variation experiments, improved selectivity (which enhances mutation detection), and provides absolute molecule quantification.
Fluidigm's 48.770 IFC digital PCR lets researchers assay fetal DNA in maternal plasma.
It also lets them quickly and easily find mutant DNA in normal DNA.
When combined with Fluidigm's Slingshot kit for DNA sequencing, these products can lower costs and improve data quality while speeding up time to results for scientists.
Slingshot improves the productivity of next generation sequencing tools from Roche, Illumina and Applied Biosystems.
It does so by exploiting the unique properties of IFCs to detect only amplifiable molecules within the sample mixture.
Using Fluidigm's products lets researchers complete the entire digital PCR process in less than four hours.
Fluidigm's 48.770 Digital Array is part of a complete system for genetic analysis.
Systems can include IFCs (both dynamic and digital arrays), an IFC controller, a Biomark System or stand-alone thermal cycler, an EP1 reader and Fluidigm's software suite.
Fluidigm's digital arrays are compatible with off-the-shelf reagents and standard micro-well format dispensing layouts.
