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A quantitative PCR instrument〔Also sometimes called "real-time PCR instrument".〕 is a machine that amplifies and detects DNA. It combines the functions of a thermal cycler and a fluorimeter, enabling the process of quantitative PCR. The first quantitative PCR machine was described in 1993,〔 〕 and two commercial models became available in 1996. By 2009, eighteen different models were offered by seven different manufacturers. Prices range from about 20,000 USD to 150,000 USD Principal performance dimensions of quantitative PCR instruments are thermal control, fluorimetry and sample throughput. ==Thermal control== Efficient performance of quantitative PCR requires rapid, precise, thermal control. 30 cycles of PCR have been demonstrated in less than 10 minutes. Rapid cycling provides several benefits, including, reduced time to result, increased system throughput and improved reaction specificity. In practice however, engineering trade-offs between ease of use, temperature uniformity, and speed, mean that reaction times are typically more than 25 minutes.〔 Thermal non-uniformity during temperature cycling contributes to variability in PCR and, unfortunately, some thermocyclers do not meet the specifications claimed by manufacturers. Increasing the speed of thermal cycling generally reduces thermal uniformity, and can reduce the precision of quantitative PCR. The temperature uniformity also has a direct impact on the ability to discriminate different PCR products by performing melting point analysis. In addition to uniformity, the resolution with which instruments are able to control temperature is a factor which affects their performance when performing high resolution melting analyses. Therefore speed, precision and uniformity of thermal control are important performance characteristics of quantitative PCR instruments. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Quantitative PCR instrument」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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