FAQ - Instrumentation

Find answers to your questions about necessary equipment, Imperacer® compatible real-time PCR cycler, important handling steps, and more.

Do I need proprietary equipment for Imperacer®?

Are the Imperacer® development kits ready-to-use?

  • No, Imperacer® assay development kits are a set of buffers, consumables and reagents intended for the academic researcher to develop high-sensitive Imperacer® assays from scratch. Imperacer® development kits are designed for species- or label-specific reagents for complete in-house developments .The species- or label-specific reagents could be combined with any antibody-pair, protein and matrix. Please be aware that both kinds of kits do not include pre-coated plates, capture antibodies and standards. These components have to be ordered separately from other suppliers.

Do I have to order PCR reagents from other suppliers?

  • No, Chimera Biotec provides a ready-to-use PCR mastermix including polymerase, primers and probe with each kit. Please note that the PCR mastermix could only be provided as part of the development kit and will not be sold separately. The sequence of our Imperacer® DNA marker is intellectual property of Chimera Biotec.

What is an "optical cover compression pad" - and why/how should I use it?

  • The Imperacer® microplate modules are sealed with adhesive foil prior to the PCR step. Direct contact of the sealing foil and the heated lid of the PCR-cycler induce inhomogeneity in sealing and thus might lead to evaporation and random errors. Therefore, a rubber mat with holes for the fluorescence measurement has to be placed between the sealed microplate and the heated cycler lid to ensure proper sealing during PCR. These pads are available from Chimera Biotec. Incorrect or non-using of the optical cover compression pad is the most common source of error for Imperacer® assays.

Why should I use siliconized cups for Imperacer®?

  • For calibration curves and samples with low concentrations of antigens, typically occurring in Imperacer® assays, the adsorption at the reaction vessels needs to be minimized by using siliconized cups. The usage is strongly recommended for optimal sensitivity.

Can I use an automated plate washing system?

Are special workstations necessary for Imperacer® assays?

  • No, the requirement towards an ELISA workplace is sufficient for Imperacer® as well. Careful procedures in the handling of PCR reactions are common practice and identical to the recommended procedures for Imperacer® assays. Besides standard procedures for handling of PCR reactions, i.e. using of filter tips and a clean workspace, no special premises are obligatory for Imperacer® assays.