PCR Thermal Cycler Turbo 2

Compression Mat and Low-profile PCR vessel

The low-profile PCR vessel is designed to reduce the overhead space above the reaction solution inside the vessel.

During the thermal cycling, the water in the solution evaporate and fill up the overhead space, causing the concentration increase of the reacting solution.

The smaller overhead space, the fewer water evaporated, thus reduce the concentration change of the solution when heated. This will be helpful especially when you are doing low volume reaction.

In general, the low-profile PCR vessels are 5 mm shorter in height than the regular PCR vessels.

In order to maintain the pressure from the cycler lid to the vessels, please apply the compressor mat for the experiment and set the lid to heat to 120°C.

What is the function of the heated lid?

The advantage of the heated lid is that strong condensation in the PCR tubes during the reaction is avoided.
The condensation in the tubes depends, among other things, on the sealing of the PCR tubes.
The lid helps to exert the correct pressure on the sealed tubes, thus ensuring a perfect seal and preventing condensation inside the tubes.

There are three different temperature settings for the lid:

1. 120°C (for use with low-profile-vessel and compression mat), with extra 3 min pre-heat
2. 105°C
3. Heater off

Thermo-cycling is not possible with the lid heating itself.

If the block drops below 30°C, the lid heating stops. The temperature of the lid drops gradually.

Condensation versus evaporation

The condensation inside the tubes is mainly caused by the fact that they have been kept at a lower temperature (e.g. 4°C) for a longer period of time after running. This occurs with all cyclers. This phenomenon is similar to placing a bottle of water in the refrigerator - you will see the condensate in the bottle.

When I start a run, the block hold for several minutes then start to heat. Why?

The lid of the cycler need to be heated to proper temperature first then the block start to heat. According to the setting of the lid temperature, the room temperature and the usage of the compression mat, it can take 2-8 minutes for the lid the finish the heating.

When the power comes back after a power failure, does the cycler start running again?

For the power-failure-during-a-run situation, when the power come back to the unit, the unit will start from what is was running (without touch the power switch) and finish the protocol.
Also, if the power failure for long time, the unit will start (after the power back on) as well but it will take few seconds or minute for lid module heat up.
After the lid module reach to the setting temperature, the protocol will be continued. This design will protect the PCR experiment.
This funcion named "auto-restart after power outage".

Can TurboCycler run overnight?

Yes! But we would not recommend you do that really often.
Running your cycler overnight at 4°C potentially reduce the life cycle of the instrument. In most application, 16°C instead of 4°C for overnight storage can well-protect your DNA sample.

Whether the ramping rate of TurboCycler is adjustable?

Yes! There are two options of the ramping rate for the TurboCycler, High and Low.
High for the full ramping power that will speed up your experiment and Low for the 50% of the ramping power that can mimic the running condition on the other older generation cyclers.

Is the block of the TurboCycler interchangeable?

There is only one block configuration so far, so it is not interchangeable.
However, if there is any service need to be done with the block, it can be easily disassembled and sent back to us for service.