The UK-based specialist in DNA and RNA analysis, PCR Biosystems, has launched a range of IsoFast Bst Polymerase reagents for rapid, robust and sensitive DNA and RNA amplification.
The Bst polymerase has the ability to displace nucleic acid strands, therefore the need for the high-temperature denaturation step linked with conventional Taq enzymes has been eliminated. This allows for a faster result and makes it easier to amplify DNA and RNA in the field without the need for any special thermocycling device.
PCR Biosystems’ new line of IsoFast Bst reagents can be used for a variety of techniques including isothermal amplification, whole genome amplification and multi-displacement amplification. In several industries ranging from next-generation sequencing to clinical diagnostics to environmental and food pathogen testing, these techniques have significant applications. Scientists that are using the IsoFast Bst polymerase to perform DNA and RNA amplification can profit from consistent results over the sensitivities and a wide dynamic range of up to three copies of the DNA (10 fg) that was targeted.
“For over 40 years now, DNA and RNA amplification has been a staple technique in the scientific toolkit. Also, with its application for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing, there has been a growing demand for reagents that are fast and reliable for mass testing. The introduction of the IsoFast Bst polymerase line is in line with our commitment to provide robust solutions to support COVID-19 testing and will expand diagnostic capabilities for viruses like Ebola and Zika even after the COVID-19 pandemic is long gone.” said Alex Wilson, co-founder of PCR Biosystems.
In order to continue supporting PCR Biosystems in the fight against COVID-19, now, there is a validation of the Bst polymerase reagents for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids. However, this validation opens up the potential for rapid testing of SARS-CoV-2 in environments like the hospitals, nursing homes or airports without needing a central laboratory, and provides results in 30 minutes coupled with an asistance from Community or regular screening initiatives to protect public health when combined with the reagents’ field usefulness. In order to get the confidence needed to ensure the quality and accuracy of the results, sensitivities of up to 12 copies of the SARS-CoV-2 targets must be attained.
With many supply chains experiencing a disruption in their activites because of the covid 19 pandemic, PCR Biosystems continues to optimize its operations as well as expand offering consistent and reliable supplies to customers and making sure laboratories have the needed DNA analysis reagents as well as the critical RNAs for continuous diagnosis and research.
The IsoFast Bst range is available in formats that are flexible and for those customers that want the optimization of the reaction for their explicit needs, the 2X mix formats streamlining that is set up for high throughput components and applications are available separately. In addition, reagents with optional fluorescent dyes are offered so that the amplification can be easily tracked in real-time.