Personal thermal cyclers from Techne have provided researchers with a reliable, accurate, low-cost tool for DNA amplification techniques over the past 15 years. Today, as the throughput in many laboratories increases, Techne has expanded the range to meet these needs and the TC-3000 is now joined by the larger capacity TC-3000X and a gradient cycler, the TC-3000G. The TC-3000G is the world’s smallest gradient cycler, the TC-3000G will hold half a 96-well plate, in a horizontal format so that it offers 8 columns for temperature optimization and 6 rows for optimizing reagents such as MgCI2 and primer concentrations. Annealing temperatures can be optimized over a 15⁰C gradient between the temperature of 20 and 80⁰C.

The heated lid temperature can be selected between 100⁰C and 115⁰C and is automatically disabled for incubations below 35⁰C to protect the sample. The lid can also be manually disabled at any temperature, if required. TC-3000X and G models have fully adjustable, defined pressure heated lids to accommodate a multitude to consumables, whereas the TC- 3000 has a spring lid to allow any 0.2ml or 0.5ml tubes to be used.

The new additions have increased sample capacity accommodating either 48 x 0.2ml or 30 x 0.5ml microtubes. Handling 48 individual tubes can be awkward and time consuming so to make things easier the some new consumables have been introduced. 24 and 48 well plates are available for higher capacity experiments in addition to various 8 tube strips for lower throughput. When prevention of crosscontamination is a must, either FSTRIP3 with 8 individual flat caps or FSTRIP4 with a hinged strip of 8 domed caps are perfect. All Techne cyclers have a full 4 year warranty with the blocks having a 4 year or 80,000 cycles; whichever comes first. Aspects of the PCR process are claimed in US patent Nos. 4,965,188 and 4,683,202 and foreign counterparts. Use of the Techne device in such processes does not convey a licence to practice the proceses themselves.