Hercules, CA -Bio-Rad Laboratories introduces the SsoFast EvaGreen control assay, a prepackaged kit that helps labs conveniently verify their real-time PCR instrument performance.

“There are numerous occasions during a real-time PCR system’s lifetime when it will be necessary or beneficial to run a control assay,” said Lisa Cho, Bio-Rad Product Manager. “For example, in controlled pharma and biotechnology laboratories researchers need to set up instrument qualification procedures to periodically verify that their instrument is performing as desired to meet regulatory needs. Our SsoFast EvaGreen Control Assay can easily be incorporated into these instrument qualification procedures since it has already been validated on the Bio-Rad CFX96™, CFX384™, MyiQ™2, and MiniOpticon™ real-time PCR systems.”

Large labs experiencing frequent personnel changes can use the control assay to train new users on real-time PCR experiment set up, instrument operation, and data analysis, and to verify that all users can obtain consistent results.

Key performance metrics

Broad dynamic range over six orders of magnitude, from 102 to 108 copies of template

High efficiency and R2 (greater than 90% efficiency and R2 > 0.99 with good laboratory technique)

Fast run times (50 min including a melt curve on the CFX96 real-time detection system)

The kit, which contains enough reagents to run a standard curve three times, includes control template DNA and primers, SsoFast EvaGreen supermix, nuclease-free water, and recommended cycling protocols as well as instructions on how to set up a standard curve.

For more information about Bio-Rad’s family of SsoFast real-time PCR reagents, visit www.bio-rad.com/supermixes.

About Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb), has remained at the center of scientific discovery for more than 50 years, manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The Company is renowned worldwide among hospitals, universities, major research institutions, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is headquartered in Hercules, California, and serves more than 85,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The Company employs over 6,800 people globally and had revenues of nearly $1.8 billion in 2009. For more information, visit www.bio-rad.com.