VH Bio is delighted to introduce the Fragment Analyzer™ Automated CE System, a fluorescence-based capillary electrophoresis instrument for rapid and accurate analysis (sizing and quantifying) of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). This exciting new addition to our current product portfolio enables customers to streamline sample analysis by offering high sizing accuracy and superior quantification precision, coupled with a significant reduction in reagent preparation and minimal sample handling compared to manual processes.

By using a sensitive intercalating dye coupled with a powerful LED light source, the Fragment Analyzer™ Automated CE System obviates the need for fluorescent labelled primers and can be used to separate dsDNA fragments and RNA (mRNA and total RNA). The Fragment Analyzer™ Automated CE System is the most flexible system on the market today, with the greatest sensitivity, the highest separation resolution over a wide range, the widest dynamic range and the fastest separation times.

This instrument comes available for customers who wish to run either 12 samples or 96 samples at a time.

Currently kits are available to:

• quantify and qualify NGS fragments
• quantify and qualify RNA
• quantify and qualify genomic DNA
• do Mutation Detection, also known as TILLiNG, a reverse genetics technique

The application kits help laboratories to streamline workflow and avoid bottlenecks typically found with competitive lab-on-a-chip methods. Gels formulated to provide high resolution separation are also available for general fragment analysis, such as SSR/microsatellites, small and large PCR fragments (amplicons) and resolve fragments sized between 10 bp and 40,000 bp with resolution down to 2bp.

Each and every kit is performance-tested prior to shipment to ensure quality, accuracy and ease of use for customers. Most kits require a single pipetting step before placement of the sample plate onto the instrument.

Next-Gen Sequencing Fragment Analysis

Accurately determining the quantity and the quality of the dsDNA prior to sequencing is a critically important step necessary for producing quality sequencing results. And with Next-Gen Sequencing (NGS) becoming the mainstream sequencing method, manual analysis can potentially bottleneck and slow discovery and result generation. Fragment Analyzer™ parallel capillary electrophoresis instruments are designed for automated separation and analysis of dsDNA fragments with high detection sensitivity and low sample consumption, providing automation to a traditionally manual step. The Fragment Analyzer™ platform can be used to automate both separation and subsequent analysis of NGS fragments, freeing up precious laboratory time and improving overall laboratory throughput. The superior design of the Fragment Analyzer™ parallel capillary electrophoresis platform allows analysis of 12 or 96 samples per run, greatly reducing workload. By eliminating the manual process to prepare, load and handle the chip preparations, the Fragment Analyzer™ platform makes the analysis of NGS fragments consistent with the automated nature of today’s sequencer. With significantly reduced labour and a reasonable cost per sample, the total cost for analysis is a fraction of the cost associated with the manual process.
 

Total RNA Analysis

Assessment of total RNA quality is an important first step for subsequent RNA based assays. Experiments using low quality total RNA often lead to poor results. With the development of gene expression profiling techniques, demand for high throughput techniques for RNA quality control is on the rise. Traditional agarose gel electrophoresis for the purpose is labor intensive and time consuming, and the data are mostly inconsistent. Several lab-on-chip instruments for the evaluation of total RNA are either lack detection sensitivity or require significant hands-on time for chip loading and preparation. The Fragment Analyzer™ utilizes a completely automated process for total RNA analysis with minimal user hands-on time. The Fragment Analyzer™ platform can be used to automate both separation and subsequent analysis of total RNA, freeing up precious laboratory time and improving overall throughput by eliminating the manual process to prepare, load and handle the chip preparations. The superior design of the Fragment Analyzer™ parallel capillary electrophoresis platform allows analysis of 11 samples with 1 ladder or 94 samples with 2 ladders per run, greatly reducing workload.
 

mRNA Analysis

Quality and quantity of mRNA are critical for RNA profiling techniques, such as RT-PCR and microarray analysis. Because of the scarcity of mRNA quantity and the susceptibility to degradation, it is important to have a reliable and sensitive technique with low sample consumption to assess mRNA quality. Manual assessment methods such as gel electropherosis can use large amounts of precious materials and take a long time to complete. Several analytical instruments for the evaluation of mRNA either lack detection sensitivity, high sample consumption, or require tedious chip loading procedures. Unlike other instruments, the Fragment Analyzer™ utilizes a completely automated process for mRNA analysis with minimal sample consumption and high sensitivity. The Fragment Analyzer™ platform can be used to automate both separation and subsequent analysis of mRNA, freeing up precious laboratory time and improving overall throughput by eliminating the manual process to prepare, load and handle the chip preparations. The superior design of the Fragment Analyzer™ parallel capillary electrophoresis platform allows analysis of 11 samples with 1 ladder or 94 samples with 2 ladders per run, greatly reducing workload.
 

Mutation Detection

Accurately detecting natural or induced point mutation can be a time consuming task when using the traditional slab gel method, usually requiring specialized know-how. A process developed for use with the Fragment Analyzer™ instrument platform offers significant advantages over the traditional methods by streamlining and automating the process. Unique features of this process include no clean up step, no need for labeled primers, simple sample handling and rapid turn-around times to results. The streamlined process shaves off a significant amount of time from each step. Compared to the traditional method, which requires numerous manual steps including manual gel preparations, plate handling and set up, heteroduplex clean up steps and manual gel loading and subsequent analysis, the Mutation Detection kit and subsequent separation on the Fragment Analyzer™ reduces hands on time of both the sample handling and the analysis.

An analytical software package, PROSize™, greatly reduces post-separation analysis time. Put them all together — the instrument itself, the QC-tested application kits, and the analytical software — and the combination makes the Fragment Analyzer™ Automated CE System a powerful package for reducing labour and improving lab workflow and throughput.

Click to download the Fragment Analyzer™ Automated CE System data sheet.

Click to visit the Advanced Analytical Technologies Inc. (AATI) website.

For further information please contact our Molecular Biology Product Manager, Catherine Mair (email: cmair@vhbio.com or tel: +44 (0)191 495 8211).