Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Automated electrophoresis of DNA and RNA

QIAGEN launches ScreenGel software for convenient DNA fragment and RNA analysis with the QIAxcel multicapillary gel electrophoresis systems. The software combines the highest possible flexibility for researchers with the ability for standardized and reproducible operations in routine labs.

ScreenGel enables the easy performance, interpretation and customized documentation of electrophoresis analysis. It facilitates system setup and data analysis with an intuitive user interface for easy navigation. Performance of runs is supported by “wizards” that guide users step-by-step through the experiment setup.

The software supports electronic record requirements specified under 21 CFR part 11, and enables standardized sample processing with process templates that cover the entire workflow as well as secure user management with a variety of access levels. ScreenGel is backwards compatible with the previous BioCalculator software, thereby allowing the use of past experiment files and seamless installation on existing QIAxcel systems.

The software is launched together with the new QIAxcel Advanced system which comes with improved hardware features and a new look and feel. The system enables effortless automated electrophoresis, which replaces traditional labor-intensive gel analysis of DNA and RNA, streamlines the workflow and significantly reduces time to result. Ready-to-go gel cartridges allow processing of up to 96 samples without manual intervention, thus reducing manual handling errors and eliminating the need for tedious preparation, time consuming data acquisition and analysis. The system can separate fragments with only a few base pairs difference in size in less than 10 minutes while processing 12 samples in parallel.


QIAGEN NV