LPA Laboratory Equipment: Thermocycler

Thermocycler is also known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Machine.

Use of Thermocycler

Thermal cycler is used for amplification of nucleic acid by PCR​.

The thermocycler should be placed in the amplification/ post-amplification area. 

The features of a thermocycler are listed below.

PCR is performed based on denaturation, amplification and annealing steps at different temperatures (Figure).

Figure: PCR Programme for MTBDR Plus Ver.2.0

General Instructions for Maintenance

• Always switch off the appliance before any maintenance activity.​
• Always record every maintenance activity performed​.

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Annual Maintenance and Calibration

This is to be done by a qualified service engineer: ​

• Clean the exhaust fan assembly.
• Check all inbuilt switches.
• Temperature calibration and time validation with devices traceable to national and international standards.
• Validate the Peltier element efficiency by checking heating and cooling time, regimes and rates of block.
• Validate thermal block using PCR validation kit​.

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Resources

• Molecular Detection of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis by Line Probe Assay.

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