New advanced inhibitor-tolerant qPCR mixes for superior detection on challenging samples

PCR Biosystems, a leading developer of PCR reagents, has launched a range of advanced inhibitor-tolerant mixes for probe-based qPCR and 1-step RT-qPCR. Available in the Clara^® and Air-Dryable product lines, these new mixes feature innovative broad-spectrum inhibitor-tolerant chemistry, guaranteeing reliable and highly sensitive DNA and RNA detection with even the most challenging of sample types.

Addressing PCR inhibition challenges

Optimal sample extraction techniques can often mitigate issues with inhibition in qPCR workflows and diagnostic processes. However, certain sample types — such as those containing blood, tissue, or cellular debris — pose persistent challenges due to their inhibitory compounds. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards conducting PCR on crude samples such as saliva and urine, which are inherently rich in PCR inhibitors. Fields such as clinical diagnostics, forensic testing, and environmental monitoring require PCR reagents capable of withstanding these inhibitors to provide reliable and actionable results.

Innovative solutions with Clara and Air-Dryable mixes

To meet this challenge, the new Clara^® Inhibitor-Tolerant Probe Mix and Probe 1-Step Mix combine the power of precise qPCR with an enhanced tolerance to a wide variety of chemical compounds. The concentrated 4x mixes contain all the essential components for successful probe-based qPCR or RT-qPCR, including hot start Taq DNA polymerase, dNTPs, magnesium, and for the 1-step mix, a modified version of UltraScript^® Reverse Transcriptase with advanced RNase inhibitor. The single-tube format simplifies setup and requires only the addition of primers, probes and sample.

For developers aiming to eliminate the costs and logistics of cold-chain shipping and storage, the Air-Dryable Inhibitor-Tolerant Probe Mix and Probe 1-Step Mix provide a simple, fast and low-cost route to dried assay formats. An optimal blend of excipients ensures reliable drying without loss of activity and assays can be dried with a standard laboratory oven in as little as 80 minutes. Room temperature stable qPCR assays capable of sensitive DNA and RNA detection on the most challenging sample types are now more accessible than ever.

Proven performance against diverse inhibitors

PCR Biosystems’ inhibitor-tolerant product range has been rigorously tested against a wide range of PCR inhibitors. These include common laboratory chemicals like SDS, guanidine, and ethanol, as well as biological sample inhibitors found in blood, saliva, and urine. The mixes have demonstrated robust performance in the presence of inhibitors such as hemin, hematin, haemoglobin, heparin, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, sodium citrate, urea, humic acid, catechin, quercetin, tannic acid, cellulose, and chlorophyll.

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