Editing BioMicroCenter:Advanced analytical Fragment analyzer

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[[Image:FA.jpg]]

Purchased in July of 2012, the Advanced Analytical Fragment Analyzer (FA) is a highly efficient and accurate fluorescence-based electrophoresis instrument used to size and quantify high sensitivity DNA and both nano (conc. >5ng/ul) and pico RNA (conc. 50 pg/ul-5ng/ul). It is faster and more cost effective than the BioAnalyzer2100, and can handle unsupervised runs of up to 96 samples. With a failure rate of less than one percent, the machine’s efficiency allows the BMC to analyze most samples within 24 hours of submission. 

In 2017, the FA was upgraded to handle 48 samples in a batch. Each run takes ~60 minutes and 2 μL of sample; for sample pricing, please see [[BioMicroCenter:Pricing#QUALITY_CONTROL|our pricing page]].  Users may submit any volume of sample with the expectation that if there is less than 2 μL, the samples will be diluted.  To save money and submit a larger quantity of samples, users may come into the BMC and obtain a special 96 well plate or plates.  For mass submission, 2 μL must be put into each sample well row by row.  There is a way to submit rows in iLabs, but please remember to come and get special plates from the BMC to do mass submission.

== High Sensitivity DNA ==

The FA analyzes DNA using capillary electrophoresis. A tiny amount of sample is injected through a capillary with gel, and across a fluorescence detection window using a voltage gradient. DNA intercalating dye within the gel makes the DNA detectable by a camera lens, which is able to read the fluorescence levels of the fragments through the window, and accurately give the size and concentrations of the sample. For a more in-depth description see the link below:

[http://www.aati-us.com/instruments/fragment_analyzer/ce-review.html Fragment Analyzer] - [http://www.aati-us.com/instruments/fragment_analyzer/ce-review.html Parallel Capillary Electrophoresis] ''(Advanced Analytical)''

The FA processes DNA fragments of 50-5000bp at a wide range of concentrations:

0.1ng/μL-10ng/μL (Fragments)

0.5ng/μL-5ng/μL (Smear)

Longer fragments and lower inputs can be handled using the [[BioMicroCenter:FemtoPulse|FEMTO Pulse]].

== Nano and Pico RNA ==

The FA analyzes RNA also using capillary electrophoresis. A tiny amount of sample is injected through a capillary with gel, and across a fluorescence detection window using a voltage gradient. RNA intercalating dye within the gel makes the RNA detectable by a camera lens, which is able to read the fluorescence levels of the fragments through the window, and accurately give the size and concentrations of the sample. It is capable of analyzing both pico and nano RNA.

The Advanced analytical provides an RNA quality number (RQN) from 1-10 on samples of nano or pico RNA. It is capable of analyzing samples at concentrations of 50pg/ul-5ng/ul for pico RNA or 5ng/ul-500ng/ul for Nano RNA.

Lower inputs can be handled using the [[BioMicroCenter:FemtoPulse|FEMTO Pulse]].

== Problem Identification ==

The Advanced Analytical is capable of identifying problems such as hyperamplification and primer dimer in DNA samples and poor quality and gDNA contamination in RNA samples.

== Platform Comparison ==