A robust method for Direct PCR from whole blood

Labtech launches a range of enzymes and instrumentation to allow fast PCR in inhibiting conditions without the need for DNA purification, special buffers or complicated protocols.

Finnzymes’ HP-PCR is a tripartite solution focused on speeding up a PCR and providing marked improvements in yield while maintaining high fidelity. The unique combination of our highly processive PhusionTM DNA Polymerases, ultra quick Piko™ Thermal Cyclers and ultra-thin walled UTWTM tubes provides considerable benefits to the speed, yield, fidelity, specificity and robustness of PCR. Central to these improvements is our Phusion technology, which enhances activity by way of a double-stranded DNA-binding domain bound to a highly engineered proofreading polymerase. This dsDNA-binding domain allows for ultra-robust reactions by tethering the polymerase to the duplex DNA, driving much higher association constants, so the effects of conventional inhibitors of PCR are significantly reduced.

DNA purification from whole blood adds considerable time and expense to clinical diagnostic applications. Traditional Taq is known to be completely inhibited by whole blood so current methods to amplify DNA from blood involve the addition of specialised buffers, purifications and pretreatments. These methods introduce additional time and cost and often lead to inconsistent results. Phusion flash master mix has been specially engineered to give fast and accurate results under a variety of conditions that are inhibitory to standard PCR.

“High performance PCR is engineered to give fast and accurate results in a variety of conditions that are inhibitory to standard PCR. Amplifying DNA from whole blood in as little as 20 to 30 minutes is just one of the challenging applications that is made possible by this integrated solution” says Andrew Jones, Technical Director to Labtech International.

The Labtech PCR range includes the Piko thermal cycler, Phusion DNA polymerases and Ultra-thin walled vessels. Each is compatible with conventional PCR systems but together offer unprecedented speed, fidelity yield and specificity.

HP-PCR will be made available through Labtech’s in-lab demo programme and through a series of institute workshops. To book a demo or workshop please visit the article webpage.