We own a small cPCR thermal cycler from Roche, Lightcycler Nano, which is convenient for backup quick runs. Recently, Roche has discontinued the plastics for it and they offer no alternative from third parts. This machine is similar to the MyGoPro and OpenPCR machines, it uses 8-tube strips and it reads the fluorescence from below the tube instead of the more common topside optical arrangement. The tubes themselves are ordinary low profile 0.2ml tubes but they always made a point with the tubes (not the caps) being made of optically clear pp. I have been trying to find compatible tubes from plastics providers but none of them are listed specifically as compatible for these machines, and they all focus on the optical properties of the caps. One Taiwan-based manufacturer, Gunster Biotech, does list compatible tubes with reference MB-Q100C but I don't seem to find a local distributor in Europe.
Anybody uses alternative plastics for these machines? Any recommendation?
Hola Oswaldo Palenzuela , that is a common problem, probably your best option would be to find providers who still have some stock of these strips. I have made a search and several appeared, one in Japan, but they only have white strips, and another in France, where they still have the clear ones. Here are the links:
https://www.ugap.fr/achat-public/lightcycler-8-tube-strips-clear-x-120_2550777.html&idCategorieVue=38605
https://www.n-genetics.com/products/search/detail.html?product_id=5643
May be you could get in touch with Roche and ask them what was the manufacturer of these strips.
Another option, would be to contact with other labs where they are using this cycler and ask then if they can share some.
Hope it helps.
Salu2
Manuel
Gracias Manuel, I have already tried locating some forgotten stock from resellers (not from the ones that you kindly list) and I found that most of them are listing them in their webs but they do not have a real stock when you ask: they just haven't retired the reference from their catalogs yet. I will try with your suggestion anyway.
As for Roche, I have already asked to no avail. Having to retire a perfectly functioning and modern thermal cycler due to discontinuation of consumables... improper of a renowned brand, if you ask me.
Hola Oswaldo, yes, I agree, they should provide consumables or some alternative source of them while the instruments are still working.
Hope that some of these resellers have some stock, I know it would be just a temporary solution if no new consumables are produced by them or some alternative brand.
Good luck!
Best,
Manuel
Hi, I can now answer to myself. I have found two alternatives:
- 4Titude brand from UK-based Brooks Life Sciences. References 4ti-0753/C (tube strips); 4ti-0783 (Caps); and 4ti-0754/C (combi pack) are listed compatible with LC nano and well distributed in EU
- MyGo from IT-IS ref 7023 (tubes) and 6040 (Caps) are also compatible and distributed worldwide.
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