How confident are you in your PCR data? Ever questioned your reaction results? Are you getting maximum, reproducible yields? Using quality reagents, primers and protocols but still getting poor amplification? Could it be the protocol? Could it be your reagents? Could it be the primers? The answer could be your thermal cycler.

When you programme your PCR thermal cycler, are you sure that it really is achieving the temperature stated, for the required time and that the temperature changes are efficient and uniform across the block? The temperature control is essential for the success of the PCR reaction and the yields obtained.

Anachem now offers the most sophisticated and accurate temperature validation service for your thermal cycler. CYCLERtest provides assurance, with detailed knowledge of how your PCR machine is behaving throughout a reaction. Reporting on the real time performance of PCR machines helps users better understand their results, adapt protocols for more efficient use of valuable reagents and conform to regulatory requirements. For forensic and diagnostic applications complete confidence in the procedure and data obtained is essential and can only be guaranteed with regular checking of the instrument used.

The use of biological positive, negative and threshold controls is insufficient to guarantee reliable PCR results but the unique method of CYCLERtest performs both static and dynamic testing on virtually every commercially available thermal cycler. CYCLERtest uses the MTAS® (Mobile Temperature Acquisition System) that has been calibrated against the NIST standard. It is verified by a "Council for Accreditation". Test results are analysed and reported through an automated process, prohibiting any alterations of the acquired sample data. The Data and layouts are encrypted and cannot be modified. A "Certificate of Thermal Validation" accompanies every test report. This certificate represents the results of the measured and calculated main parameters of the tested instrument.

Anachem's policy is that only trained and certified technicians perform these validations and certifications. Technicians will come to your laboratory for maximum efficiency and convenience and test your thermal cyclers, providing a full report on their functionality. Full understanding of your thermal cycler's performance will improve optimisation of PCR reactions.