Bio-Rad QX100™ Droplet Digital™ PCR System - Manual (Page 8)

QX100 Droplet Generator Instruction Manual 2 |
Chapter 1 QX100 Droplet Generator
1.2 QX100 Droplet Generator
The QX100 droplet generator uses microfluidics to combine oil and water (sample) to create the droplets
required for ddPCR analysis. It processes up to eight samples at a time, in under 2 minutes.
Following sample preparation using either the ddPCR supermix or One-Step RT-ddPCR kit for probes,
20 μl each of eight prepared samples (or blanks) and droplet generator oil are transferred to the droplet
generator (DG
™ ) cartridge. The loaded cartridge is covered with a gasket and placed in the QX100 droplet
generator. There, the samples and oil are combined within the microchannels of the cartridge to create an
emulsion of ~20,000 monodisperse, nanoliter-sized droplets for each of the samples. Following droplet generation,
the droplets are transferred to a standard 96-well PCR plate and amplified to end point using a standard thermal
cycler.
When cycling is complete, the plate is loaded into the QX100 droplet reader. The droplet reader sips each
sample, singulates the droplets, and streams them in single file past a two-color detector. The detector reads
each droplet and determines which contain a target (+) and which do not (–).
The QX100 droplet generator includes the components listed in Table 1.1. Additional requirements for droplet
generation and PCR are listed in Table 1.2. For complete system requirements, refer to the QX100 Droplet
Reader Instruction Manual (bulletin 10026321).
QX100 droplet generator.
Table 1.1. QX100 droplet generator components. Catalog # refers to replacement items (quantities may be different).
Component Description Catalog #
QX100 droplet generator Instrument used for droplet generation 186-3002
DG8 droplet generator Microfluidic cartridge used to mix sample and oil to 186-3008
cartridges and gaskets (24) generate droplets; gaskets seal the cartridge to
prevent evaporation and apply pressure required
for droplet formation
Droplet generator cartridge Position and hold the droplet generator cartridge 186-3051
holders (2) in the instrument for droplet generation
Power cord Connects QX100 droplet generator to power source Call technical support