Real-Time PCR loading platform

This platform is used in real-time polymerase chain reaction experimentation.

In conventional polymerase chain reactions (PCR), the amplified product, or amplicon, is detected by an end-point analysis, by running DNA on an agarose gel after the reaction has finished. In contrast, real-time PCR allows the accumulation of amplified product to be detected and measured as the reaction progresses, that is, in "real time." Real-time detection of PCR products is made possible by including in the reaction a fluorescent molecule that reports an increase in the amount of DNA with a proportional increase in fluorescent signal. The measured fluorescence reflects the amount of amplified product in each cycle. The ability to accurately reproduce small amounts of reaction mixes for real-time PCR is crucial for the overall success of the experiment. To make sure that each well is receiving the correct addition of reaction mix, the pipetor must be extremely careful to add the correct amount of reaction mix and into the correct well.

The invention is a plate platform with visual indicators that show exactly which wells have been loaded and which are to be loaded next. This system allows the investigator to reproduce the loading of the correct well consistently and reproduce small amounts of reaction mixes for real-time PCR. Furthermore, unlike previous devices, the device does not apply external light and will not interfere with florescent chemistries used in PCR.