Piko PCR Plate, 24-well, clear, 200 plates - FAQs

View additional product information for Piko PCR Plate, 24-well, clear - FAQs (SPL024050, SPL0240)

11 product FAQs found

Are Thermo Scientific ABgene plastics endotoxin-free?

They are not certified endotoxin-free. However, their entire production process, from molding to final packaging, is carried out in a Class 100,000 clean room under ISO 9001 guidelines. All Thermo Scientific PCR plastics are certified free from RNase, DNase and human DNA.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Are Thermo Scientific ABgene plastics sterile?

Thermo Scientific Abgene plastics are not typically sterilized as their entire production process, from molding to final packaging, is carried out in a Class 100,000 clean room under ISO 9001 guidelines. All Thermo Scientific PCR plastics are certified free from RNase, DNase and human DNA. In contrast, during typical non-clean room production, plastics are exposed to many contaminants including dust, bacterial cells, and DNA. The plastics are then sterilized to kill bacteria and inactivate RNases and DNases, but sterilization does not remove dust or DNA contamination. The dust particles left behind can inhibit PCR, and the damaged DNA fragments can still act as templates, leading to non-specific amplification.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Are ultra thin wall (UTW) vessels compatible with real-time experiments?

Yes. All of the UTW plastics we provide are well suited for qPCR reactions.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Will ultra thin wall (UTW) vessels automatically speed up reactions on my conventional thermal cycler?

To realize the time savings of the UTW plastics on conventional thermal cyclers, optimization of the protocol is required. This typically involves reducing hold times and changing the actual hold temperatures.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Are ultra thin wall (UTW) vessels prone to break more often because of their thinner walls?

When used as instructed, these vessels are remarkably robust and can handle typical laboratory conditions, without fracturing or resulting in loss of volume. It is recommended that, when applying caps, a proper tray be used to protect the bottom of the tubes from excessive force that is typically used.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Can I use lower volumes in my 96-well Piko PCR Plate than I could in a conventional 96-well microplate?

Yes. Typically, you should be able to use less than half the volume that you currently use on your conventional cycler and achieve equivalent or better results.

How do I know whether I need to purchase the frames for my Piko PCR Plates?

The frames for the Piko PCR Plates allow for easier handling and storage, particularly if you wish to use these plates in conjunction with laboratory equipment designed for microplates (such as centrifuges, plate readers or liquid handlers). Also, the frames allow the ability to stack the plates in a stable and compact fashion for archiving or storage.

What is a Piko PCR Plate?

A Piko PCR Plate is a plate for PCR that is equivalent to one-fourth of a standard microplate and is equal to a microscope slide in footprint. These plates conserve all of the standard well-spacing and well-geometry of conventional microplates, e.g., a 96-well Piko PCR Plate has the same 4.5 mm pitch as most conventional 384-well microplates. Up to four Piko PCR Plates can be reversibly snapped into a frame to give the equivalent footprint of a conventional 96-well or 384-well microplate. Piko PCR Plates provide many advantages over traditional microplates: they are available at a lower cost, they accept lower reaction volumes, and require less storage space. In addition, many of the same types of advantages were incorporated in the instrumentation designed to use these plates: the thermal cycler has a smaller footprint, is less expensive, has higher thermal performance specifications, and consumes less power.

Can I use full-height as well as low-profile PCR vessels in the Piko 24?

The 24-well Piko will only accept low-profile 0.2 mL tubes or plates with flat-caps or sealers. The taller design of vessels simply will not fit in the instrument. The taller design of full-height tubes was originally designed for centrifugation, not for PCR. Low-profile tubes and plates are optimal for PCR because the portion protruding above the cycler block has been shortened, minimizing the potential for condensation and reducing mass to allow faster thermal transfer.

What 96-well plates do you recommend for -80 degrees C storage?

Both polypropylene and polystyrene plates can be used to store samples at -80 degrees C and depends on the downstream application. Please note that the sealing method selected is critical for storing at these temperatures and heat sealing is recommended.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.

Which plastic consumables should I use on my real-time PCR (qPCR)/thermal cycler (PCR) instrument?

Please select your real-time PCR (qPCR) or thermal cycler (PCR) instrument model from the drop-down menu in the qPCR and PCR Plastics Selection Tool (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/pcr/pcr-plastics/plastics-selection-guide.html) to see the list of all validated plastic consumables (plates, tube strips, single tubes, caps, seals, adhesive films, and accessories) we offer that are compatible with your instrument.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR Instruments Support Center.