PikoReal™ 96 Real-Time PCR System - FAQs

The PikoReal thermal cycler can operate in the temperature range of 4-99.9 degrees C. Its temperature accuracy is ±0.2 degrees C and temperature uniformity is ±0.3 degrees C at 95 degrees C, ±0.15 degrees C at 60 degrees C and ±0.2 degrees C at 72 degrees C.

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The PikoReal instrument has the maximum cooling rate of 4.5 degrees C/sec and the maximum heating rate of > 5 degrees C/sec.

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The heated lid has a temperature range of 30-110 degrees C.

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PikoReal Software includes an unlimited license, allowing multiple installations as required. The available software modules include absolute quantification, melting curve analysis, allelic discrimination, relative quantification and high resolution melting (HRM).

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No, the PikoReal instrument can be controlled without a computer, using a USB flash rive for protocol loading and storing run data.

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The PikoReal instrument can operate on Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.

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Five long-lasting LEDs are used as the light source in PikoReal. The LEDs emit constant and stable light over a broad spectrum (475-640 nm) for excitation. The PikoReal instrument has the detection wavelength range of 520-740 nm.

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The optical system of the PikoReal instrument contains five channels, precalibrated for many commonly used dyes (FAM, HEX, Yakima Yellow, Texas Red, ROX, Cy5). Multiplexing can be performed with up to four dyes; the fifth channel is dedicated to SYBR Green and HRM experiments. New dyes can be calibrated by using the Color Calibration Utility of the software.

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We recommend 10- 50 µL sample volumes for PikoReal 24 and 5-20 µL sample volumes for PikoReal 96.

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The PikoReal instrument utilizes Ultra Thin Wall (UTW) 24-well (Cat. Nos.SPL0240, SPL0241) or 96-well (Cat. Nos. SPL0960, SPL0961) Piko PCR Plates. These plates are quarter the size of standard PCR plates but still maintain industry standards for well volumes and well spacing, thus having compatibility with standard multi-channel pipettes (both 8 and 16-channel) and liquid handling robots.

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The PikoReal instrument is available with a 24-well or a 96-well block . The blocks are not interchangeable, and do not include a temperature gradient.

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No, neither ROX nor any other passive reference dye is required when using PikoReal. There is no disadvantage if it is present in the reaction mix, but the software will not use their fluorescence data for normalization of the fluorescence signal of the reporter dyes.

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