PCR has significant potential for clinical applications in infectious disease, neoplasia, and inherited disorders. However, it is hindered by lack of applied technology in post-PCR analysis. To use PCR for routine clinical analyses, a fully automated post-PCR product analysis and data reporting system is required. It must have high throughput, be inexpensive to run, and be very easy to use. Analyses must be very precise and data permanently stored. it should handle multiplex PCR and be easily expanded. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is capable of meeting this challenge. Highly precise, very rapid analyses of multiplex PCR- produced DNA has been demonstrated. However, to maximize throughput and automation, multiple capillaries, an integrated thermal cycler, automatic PCR data analysis and storage are necessary. There are no commercially available CE instruments that have all of these features. The purpose of this grant is to produce such an instrument. It will have upgradable modules within a single cabinet, such that, evolution with state of the art is possible, thereby forestalling obsolescence. Additionally, by user selection of different run programs, high- throughput, very fast, highly precise and sensitive CE analyses may be performed of proteins, carbohydrates, small molecules, etc., from body fluids.Proposed commercial application:Fully automated, integrated PCR- Capillary electrophoresis instrument with high throughput for the clinical market. Clinical applications include the fields of infectious diseases, neoplasia, and inherited disorders.National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
