A battery-powered notebook thermal cycler for rapid multiplex real time PCR analysis

A compact, real-time PCR instrument was developed for rapid, multiplex anal ysis of nucleic acids in an inexpensive, portable format. The instrument co nsists of a notebook computer, two reaction modules with integrated optics for four-color fluorescence detection, batteries, and a battery-charging sy stem, The instrument weighs 3.3 kg, measures 26 x 22 x 7.5 cm, and can run continuously on the internal batteries for 4 h, Independent control of the modules allows differing temperature profiles and detection schemes to be r un simultaneously, Results are presented that demonstrate rapid (1) detecti on and identification of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringensis spores and (2) characterization of a single nucleotide polymorphism for the hered itary hemochromatosis gene.