The Eco Real-Time PCR System combines true temperature control, four-color multiplex capabilities, an optimized optical system, and intuitive software to deliver highly accurate qPCR results. Its icon-driven user interface simplifies experimental design and setup, while a straight forward workflow streamlines operation to three easy steps: load samples into the 48-well plate, place the plate into the Eco instrument, and run.

 Thermal Systems

Real-Time PCR specificity and efficiency depend upon precise temperature control during the denaturation and annealing steps. For the highest accuracy, the temperature must remain uniform across the entire heat block, ensuring that all samples are processed equally. Most thermocyclers are large and demonstrate a ±0.5°C variation in temperature across their heat blocks, potentially leading to inaccurate results. In addition, they can take up to 15 seconds to complete each temperature change in a cycle, increasing the time to complete a qPCR run.

The Eco Real-Time PCR System overcomes these shortcomings with a proprietary thermal system that provides complete uniform control and quickly cycles form one temperature to the next. To achieve true temperature control, the Eco thermal system incorporates a precisely electroformed hollow silver block that is heated and cooled by a single Peltier device. The hermetically sealed hollow block contains a conductive fluid and two opposing agitators driven by electromagnetic motors. During PCR cycling, these agitators rapidly circulate the fluid throughout the hollow block, transferring heat from the Peltier device evenly across the block. This unique design virtually eliminates thermal non-uniformity and block edge effects, providing a new level of thermal performance of ± 0.1°C well-to-well uniformity across the 48-well plate. The result: higher PCR performance (tighter Cq, greater PCR efficiency, higher R²) and the ability to perform demanding applications such as HRM. In addition, this unique thermal block design increases thermal ramp rates to 5.5°C / sec., reducing overall PCR run times. Typical run time for a 40-cycle PCR protocol average < 40 min.

Optical Systems

The Eco Real-Time PCR system contains an advanced high-performance optical system that delivers precise and sensitive fluorescence detection, facilitating all four-color multiplex applications. The system is calibrated for use with SYBR, FAM, HEX, VIC, ROX, and Cy5, but can be used with any real-time PCR chemistry.

For excitation, two panels – 48 fixed LEDs each – provide fluorescent dye excitation over a broad spectrum. Each of the 48 wells is individually illuminated to minimize cross-talk between wells. On the detection side, the optical system enables real-time detection of up to four targets in a single reaction. Four emission filters in a linear filter slide and a high-performance CCD camera detect the fluorescence from each sample target at each cycle. This approach prevents any data loss and allows changes to the plate setup and data analysis even after the run is completed. Standard melt curve and HRM analysis protocols support continuous data acquisition in a single dye channel during the melt for increased data collection and reduced run times.

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