A device that enables safe, UV-free visualisation of EtBr, SYBR Green and SYBR safe gels is now available through electrophoresis specialist Cleaver Scientific.
Using Safecloner, DNA bands can be seen safely and clearly, using high-efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) illumination and filter glasses, according to the company.
Eliminating harmful UV is said to be an important benefit of Safecloner.
Its LED illuminator removes the dangers of conventional transilluminator use, such as stray UV, which, if unchecked, can cause retinal damage.
It also eliminates the dangers of technicians exposing their hands to harmful UV radiation, which can increase the risk of skin cancer and accelerate ageing, while also damaging DNA.
Cleaver Scientific claims that LED illumination does not damage DNA, even after long exposure times.
Also, the cloning efficiency of DNA fragments eluted from gels exposed to Safecloner is significantly improved compared to the cloning efficiency of DNA isolated from traditional UV-illuminated gels.
Safecloner's blue epi-LED illumination and special filter glass result in greater sensitivity and contrast than longer wavelength 365nm transilluminators.
Safecloner can also be used with gel documentation products such as the Cleaver Scientific Microdoc unit.
