Agilent Technologies this week introduced the AriaMx system, a real-time PCR platform that features easily changeable optics cartridges for genotyping via high-resolution melt, gene-expression analysis, pathogen detection, and a variety of other complex research applications.
Expandable cartridges enable a modular instrument format and allow users to customize the system quickly and efficiently, with as many or as few filters needed to suit their application needs, Agilent said. This modularity makes the system ideal for core labs and principal investigators who run multiple types of applications, the company added.
The AriaMx system can multiplex up to six channels with rapid cycling times. An onboard diagnostic system provides two modes: a quick pre-test, which takes about one minute to cover more than 60 performance attributes; and a comprehensive 30-minute test, which covers more than 120 attributes. The onboard diagnostics can pinpoint potential problem points before they become serious, Agilent noted.
Easy-to-use software builds off of Stratagene's familiar intuitive interface and enables researchers to confidently set up, view, and analyze data from any assay, the company said. The system also includes HRM capabilities and advanced reporting features.
"Expanding functionality of this innovative system is as easy as replacing a printer's toner cartridge," Alessandro Borsatti, senior director of marketing for Agilent's Diagnostics and Genomics group, said in a statement. "The instrument is set up to accommodate detection and visualization of up to six fluorophores, and our unique modular design also enables easy expansion if additional fluors are required."