MJ Research DNA Engine Fluorescence Detector

The DNA Engine Opticon System (PTC-200 DNA Engine Cycler and CFD-3200 Opticon Detector)
is an easy-to-use and sensitive machine for measuring continuous fluorescence,
particularly in real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) applications.
The detector itself is available as a complete system (including a desktop computer, monitor,
and DNA engine thermal cycler) or as an upgrade to an existing thermal cycler.
This system has an excitation range of 450-495 nm and a detection range of 515-545 nm.
It has a heated lid which eliminates the need for oil on top of samples and samples can be run in either 96-well plates or strip tubes.
It has a temperature range of 0 to 150°C with an accuracy of ±0.3°C and a relatively quick ramping speed: up to 3°C per second.
A temperature gradient feature is available that allows the user to easily optimize the annealing temperature
of the PCR reaction by running each column of wells at a separate temperature.
A gradient calculator is built into the software which makes it very easy to calculate the well temperature across all 12 columns.
The Opticon is compatible with many different chemistries including SYBR® Green I,
Molecular Beacons, TaqMan® Probes, Scorpion® Probes, and the Amplifluor® System.

The software associated with the Opticon System is fairly simple to use as it is divided into three stages:
experimental setup and programming, run initiation and status, and data analysis.
Protocols are easily edited and saved using pull-down menus.
A nice feature of this software is the quick-load application that allows users
to repeatedly load and use the same saved experimental protocol without having to set it up every time.
Using the initiation and status portion of the software allows the user to monitor
which step is currently running, how much time is left in the run, and the current temperature of the sample and the lid.
The data analysis stage generates graphs and plots data in very easy to understand formats
and allows for easy adjustment of threshold values.
Graphs can be made using fluorescence versus cycle number, log quantity versus threshold cycle, or both.