Application Note: Miniaturizing PCR With The Innovadyne™ Nanodrop

PCR has become a widely used methodology for the analysis of gene expression and genotyping. Key factors that influence use of this technique include high reagent costs and the availability of limited sample.

To address these concerns, the performance of the Innovadyne Nanodrop Dispenser was evaluated using a TaqMan® assay in a 384-well format. To demonstrate the application of non-contact, nanoliter dispensing to real-time PCR, amplification of the single copy RNase P gene from human genomic DNA, a common verification reference, was chosen as the target for the assay.

384 replicate real-time PCR reactions were set up using traditional liquid handling robots in a 10 µL total volume while the Nanodrop was used to assemble 1.25 µL total volume reactions using the same components.

Analysis of the data shows that the Nanodrop delivers comparable results while significantly reducing reagent costs and consumption of sample.