Apparatus for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction in real time during temperature cycling

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus for carrying out PCT and continuous fluorescent monitoring of the PCR reaction and for subjecting a biological sample to rapid thermal cycling in order to carry out the PCR reaction, the apparatus adapted to generate a melting curve of a product of the PCR reaction; wherein
the apparatus comprises a means for holding a biological sample;
the sample further comprising a fluorescent entity, polymerase and pair of primers for amplifying DNA;
the apparatus comprising a controller for operating the apparatus to allow the biological sample to pass through a predetermined temperature cycle corresponding to the denaturation, annealing and elongation steps of the PCR reaction;
a fluorescent excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause it to fluorescent; and
a photo detector for detecting fluorescence levels from the sample.