When is it appropriate to use an external thermal cycler?

In the laboratory, faced with various experimental needs and specific applications, sometimes the built-in thermal cycle module cannot fully meet the requirements. At this time, an external thermal cycler is particularly important. With its unique advantages, it has become an ideal choice for many scientific researchers to solve specific problems.

External thermal cycler

1. Specific thermal cycle requirements: When experiments require specific thermal cycle conditions, and the built-in thermal cycle module may not be able to meet these conditions, an external thermal cycler provides a more flexible option. For example, some experiments may require a higher temperature range, faster heating and cooling rates, or more precise temperature control, which can be achieved by selecting an appropriate external thermal cycler. 2. High-throughput experiments: In high-throughput experiments, a large number of PCR samples may need to be processed simultaneously. While the built-in thermal cycler module can handle a certain number of samples, for very large sample volumes, an external thermal cycler may provide a more efficient solution. External thermal cyclers typically have larger sample capacities and faster processing speeds, helping to shorten experimental times and increase experimental efficiency. 3. Equipment compatibility: If the laboratory already has other brands of PCR machines or thermal cyclers, and these devices are not compatible with the Opentrons Flex PCR workstation, then using an external thermal cycler may be a reasonable choice. In this way, laboratories can continue to utilize existing equipment resources while enjoying the automation and integration advantages provided by Opentrons Flex PCR Workstation. 4. Space limitations: In some cases, laboratory space may be limited to accommodate additional built-in thermal cycling modules. In this case, using an external thermal cycler can save space while meeting experimental needs. 5. Budget considerations: While a built-in thermal cycler module is usually part of the Opentrons Flex PCR workstation, its cost may already be included in the total price of the workstation. For laboratories with a limited budget, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a separate external thermal cycler, especially if the laboratory only needs to perform occasional PCR experiments. 6. Experimental flexibility: External thermal cyclers usually have higher flexibility and can adapt to different types of PCR experiments and different experimental conditions. This is an important consideration for laboratories that frequently perform different types of experiments. 7. Maintenance and upgrades: In some cases, external thermal cyclers may be easier to maintain and upgrade. For example, if an internal thermal cycler module fails or needs to be upgraded, it may require the entire workstation to be shut down for repair or upgrade, whereas an external thermal cycler can be repaired or upgraded independently, reducing the impact on laboratory work.

External thermal cyclers have become an indispensable tool for many scientific research laboratories due to their high flexibility, adaptability and excellent performance in certain specific scenarios. Whether faced with complex experimental designs, high-throughput sample processing requirements, or considerations of equipment compatibility and space limitations, external thermal cyclers provide scientific researchers with a wider range of choices and capabilities with their unique advantages. possible.

Related reading recommendations

Opentrons OT-2: Your personal pipetting robot

Automated NGS library preparation e-book

Introduce automation into your laboratory

What programming languages ​​does Opentrons’ fully automatic pipetting workstation support?

How to configure Flex magnetic bead protein purification workstation

Application of fully automatic pipetting workstation in protein labeling experiments