ChipGenie® edition TSO-3Z instruments are equipped with three temperature zones for the so-called continuous flow PCR. The temperature zones are kept at a fixed temperature and the temperature cycling is achieved by moving the liquid in the chip over two or three temperature zones of the instrument resulting in ultra-fast temperature cycles.

The ChipGenie® edition TSO-3Z is equipped with a fluorescence-based read-out unit to carry out the optical detection. microfluidic ChipShop offers an innovative system for PCR on the chip. Different from conventional PCR with heating-up and cooling-down cycles, in this chip-PCR system the complete reaction vessel is temperature controlled: The PCR solution flows through separated temperature zones, winding itself through the temperature profile. The time-determining step in PCR – the carrying out of the repeated heating and cooling cycles – is no longer necessary since the temperature in the heating zones remains constant and only the liquid undergoes the temperature cycling. The PCR system comprises the PCR chip and the thermocycler (or better: thermal control unit, as no cycling in the conventional sense is involved) that has been specially developed for Lab-on-a-Chip applications. A pump (not included) moves the PCR solution through the chip. In comparison to conventional systems, this lab-on-a-chip PCR system allows for a significant reduction of the PCR reaction time: Without much optimization, a 15-cycle PCR can be completed in less than five minutes.