New Real-Time PCR Systems Connect Researchers in the Cloud

New real-time PCR systems that fully integrate with cloud computing technology mark a new era in data sharing and global research collaboration. The Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 3 and QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR systems, designed to enable multi-institutional work across geographically dispersed teams, will be on display at the 2015 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Booth #1501 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, April 18-22.

The new qPCR systems are the latest additions to the QuantStudio portfolio from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Designed for low- to mid-throughput laboratories conducting real-time PCR experiments, QuantStudio 3 and 5 are the first to connect to the Thermo Fisher Cloud computing platform, allowing applied and clinical researchers to learn, analyze, share, collaborate, and obtain support within a single platform. Researchers worldwide can now collaborate online in real-time, and access their data wherever and whenever necessary. Laboratories can also share experimental conditions and results with their partners, while providing a uniform experience for every user, and helping minimize training and errors.

“The QuantStudio 3 and 5 systems have been brought to market by a team with a heritage of developing the most advanced qPCR platforms,” said Chris Linthwaite, president, Genetic Sciences at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “By linking technologies to a common computing platform, researchers working to control an outbreak, for example, can leverage laboratories across the world to identify virus strains from various hot zones, perform screening of the strains and monitor strain mutation in real time.”

With the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 3 and QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR systems hosted on AWS, these PCR systems benefit from the inherent security of the AWS Cloud. The AWS Cloud infrastructure is architected for flexibility and security, and provides an extremely scalable, highly reliable platform that enables customers to deploy applications and data quickly and securely. Researchers using the PCR systems can access their work any time they have an Internet connection, without the need for subscription software.

“Thermo Fisher Scientific’s use of AWS to power their real-time collaboration systems enables secure access to data whenever necessary, anywhere in the world, and is a great example of innovative use of the AWS Cloud,” said Steve Halliwell, director, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Amazon Web Services, Inc. "The security and privacy of customers’ data are foundational principles at AWS, and we are continuously innovating to allow customers to build applications that meet evolving security and compliance requirements across our global footprint.”

The new instruments seamlessly integrate with existing analysis workflows, syncing with next-generation sequencing (NGS), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and qPCR applications to create a customized data ecosystem. Interactive touch screen controls allow scientists to directly manage experiments with intuitive commands.