OpenArray® Technology
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OpenArray™ technology uses a microscope slide–sized plate with 3,072 through-holes. Each plate contains 48 subarrays, each with 64 through-holes. Each through-hole is 300 μm in diameter and 300 μm deep and is treated with hydrophilic and hydrophobic coatings. Reagents are retained in the through-holes via surface tension (see Figure). One OpenArray plate can hold as many samples as can eight traditional 384-well plates.

Custom plate formats

Custom OpenArray plates for the QuantStudio™ 12K Flex system are offered in 11 formats to provide flexible solutions for configuring your plates for gene expression, miRNA, or genotyping analysis.

Plate format for gene expression & miRNA analysis# of samples
per plate		Minimum order (10 pack)Total # of samples
per minimum order
Inventoried assays only
Inventoried, made-to-order, and/or custom assays
18 (3X) assays4811480
56 assays4811480
112 assays2412240 (inv only)/
480 (inv/custom)
168 assays1613160 (inv only)/
480 (inv/custom)
224 assays1214120 (inv only)/
480 (inv/custom)

Note: There are two sets of minimum order requirements for the gene expression offerings. “Inventoried” refers to OpenArray configurations where all selected assays are inventoried . “Inventoried/made to order/custom” refers to configurations that contain at least one custom or made-to-order assay.

Plate format for
genotyping analysis		# of samples
per plate		Minimum order
(10 pack)		Total # of samples
per minimum order
12 assays14411,440
26 assays961960
60 assays482960
120 assays244960
180 assays166960
240 assays128960
OpenArray workflow overview with the QuantStudio 12K Flex System

OpenArray technology offers a very easy-to-use format. For most applications, assays are preloaded onto plates at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. To run the plates, simply mix your sample with master mix, load with the automated QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray AccuFill™ System, cycle, and image (see Figure below).

1Select assays or panels
step 1

 

  • Select Assays and OpenArray Plate formats for custom plates.
  • Select predesigned OpenArray Pathways Panels.
  • Select OpenArray Digital PCR Plates.

 

 
2Add samples & master mix
step 2

For gene expression and genotyping applications, mix cDNA or DNA samples with master mix in 384-well sample plates. For digital PCR applications, mix assays, samples, and master mix in 384-well sample plates.

 
3Load samples

step 3


Load sample mixes onto a QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray plate with the QuantStudio™ 12K Flex AccuFill™ System.

 
4Apply lid & fill
step 4

The QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray plate encased in an alloy bottom for easy handling; simply apply the adhesive lid and fill case with immersion fluid.

 
5Cycle, image, analyze data
step 5

Easily run up to 4 QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray plates for any application on the QuantStudio 12K Flex instrument in standalone mode.

OpenArray technology helps streamline real-time PCR studies that use large numbers of samples, assays, or both, because a single QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray plate is equivalent to running eight traditional 384-well plates. The system can run up to 4 QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray plates simultaneously, allowing you to process up to 1,728 genotyping samples and 2,304 samples for gene expression, typically in an 8-hour day.

Enhance your genotyping throughput by thermal cycling offline using the Dual Flat Block GeneAmp™ PCR System 9700 and process a total of more than 5,184 genotyping samples in one day. This system offers interchangeable blocks, allowing you to switch to standard multi-well plate formats as well.

Visit the OpenArray application page to learn more of each application workflow and product.

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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.