Bio-Rad Laboratories has launched the Gel Doc EZ, a compact gel documentation system for researchers who perform DNA, RNA and protein electrophoresis as well as western blotting.
The Gel Doc EZ is said to provide publication-quality images and analysis in seconds.
The imager requires no training for first-time users and provides automated push-button functionality.
This eliminates the need for researchers to manually manipulate filters, lenses, or lighting, minimising the potential for human error.
In addition, the system may be expanded to meet a variety of imaging applications.
The imager allows the use of multiple application-specific trays, including a UV tray for imaging fluorescent strains such as ethidium bromide, a white tray for imaging colorimetric strains such as Coomassie blue, a blue tray for imaging SYBR Green-stained DNA, and a stain-free tray for imaging proteins separated by electrophoresis on Bio-Rad's Criterion TGX Stain-Free precast gels.
The Gel Doc EZ imager is capable of imaging stain-free gels, an advanced gel technology that condenses traditionally long staining protocols down to a five-minute activation and imaging process.
Researchers performing SDS-Page and staining with Coomassie blue can spend more than two hours after electrophoresis to get properly stained protein bands.
Most staining protocols include multiple manual stain and wash steps.
Stain-free technology eliminates this bottleneck and allows scientists to generate results faster, according to Bio-Rad.
The Gel Doc EZ imager's compact size frees up bench space.
The system measures 27cm wide by 38cm high (10.6 x 15in) - about one-third the size of the Gel Doc XR+ system.
