Type-it® HRM PCR Kit and Rotor-Gene® ScreenClust HRM Software enables enhanced effectiveness and reliability

Venlo, The Netherlands – Genotyping encompasses a range of applications used to analyze genetic differences between individuals or cells. These studies require accuracy, speed, reliability and standardization which often places high demands on limited resources including sample material, human capital and funds. Today, QIAGEN launched for research use the Type-it® HRM PCR Kit and Rotor-Gene® ScreenClust HRM Software ; HRM (high resolution melting) technology enabling fast, accurate genotyping results.

Genotyping is widely used to study genetic disorders such as human disease or cancer. The ability to understand the genetic differences associated with cancer, for example as well as linking them to biomarkers is a critical research tool. Researchers rely on HRM to quickly and accurately detect and characterize known or previously unknown sequence variations down to a single base pair difference. HRM is an easier, more cost-effective method than traditional genotyping analysis.

The new Type-it HRM PCR kit enables fast, accurate detection of gene mutations and SNPs. The Type-it HRM PCR Kit is well-suited for all genotyping research applications including typing of disease or cancer loci, biomarker discovery and pathogen detection. Unlike other currently available kits, the Type-it HRM PCR Kit does not require optimization in the development of new HRM assays, thus delivering consistent performance the first time.

“Due to the unique master mix chemistry and optimized HRM buffer, specific amplification products and reliable results are consistently ensured, even when analyzing challenging mutations or genomic loci,” said Dr. Ulla Deutsch, QIAGEN senior global product manager, amplification. “The reduced time required and reliability of results delivered place less burden upon resources. This results in significant savings. There is no other kit like this on the market.”

The Type-it HRM PCR Kit combined with the Rotor-Gene Q Real-time PCR and HRM Instrument delivers outstanding results. The rotary design of the Rotor-Gene Q combined with its thermal and optical performance makes it a highly suitable instrument for HRM. With the Rotor-Gene Q even minute differences in melting profiles such as the most difficult Class IV SNPs can be easily interpreted.

In order for a researcher to have success in a genotyping experiment, he must be able to conduct reliable data analysis. Standard HRM software packages currently available in the market often require manual data interpretation and lack the ability to rapidly analyze larger genotyping experiments. The new Rotor-Gene ScreenClust HRM Software from QIAGEN overcomes the constraints of other software solutions by offering a stringent statistical approach to extract, process and group sample characteristics in HRM data sets automatically. This approach even allows genotyping without control samples. In combination with the Rotor-Gene Q or Rotor-Gene 6000, researchers are able to faster and more reliably differentiate between alleles.

“This powerful software exceeds the analytical performance of all other currently available HRM software packages providing highly standardized processes and minimizing the requirement for human intervention,” said Dr. Christoph Menzel, QIAGEN senior global product manager, automated systems. “Researchers can be confident that they are using the most innovative technologies to detect and analyze mutations.”

More information about these products, including photos, is available at www.qiagen.com.