miRNA Quantitation

TaqMan miRNA Assays are innovative tools for miRNA research—from isolation through discovery, profiling, quantitation, validation, and functional analysis. The newer TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays use ligation-based universal reverse transcription for a streamlined and highly sensitive workflow. The standard TaqMan miRNA Assays, which employ target-specific stem-loop reverse transcription primers for 3’ extended templates, continue to cover a range of species using standard TaqMan Assay–based real-time PCR.

Selection guide: TaqMan miRNA assays for real-time PCR

 TaqMan MicroRNA AssaysTaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays
DescriptionEmploy a novel target-specific stem-loop primer during cDNA synthesis that produces a template for real-time PCREmploy a universal RT step for a streamlined workflow and a universal miR-Amp step
RT chemistrymiRNA-specific RTUniversal RT
ThroughputBest for 1–10 targetsBest for >10 targets
Coverage205 species available; coverage for miRBase v.21All human, mouse, and rat miRNAs; coverage for miRBase v.21
FormatsAvailable in individual tubes, TaqMan array cards and plates, and OpenArray formatsAvailable in individual tubes, TaqMan array cards and plates, and OpenArray formats; inquire for custom plating options


Taqman Advanced microRNA Assay workflow

TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays utilize a universal primer to reverse transcribe all of the miRNAs in the sample.  They enable highly sensitive and specific quantification of mature miRNAs using qPCR. Together with the TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit, this solution is designed to provide a streamlined workflow that allows for exceptional detection of multiple miRNA targets from a single sample.

mirVana miRNA isolation kits

mirVana miRNA Isolation Kits

mirVana miRNA Isolation kits use a rapid procedure to isolate total RNA, including small RNAs such as miRNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), from tissues and cells.

TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis kit

TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit

The TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit is used for preparation of cDNA templates from the entire pool of mature miRNAs in a sample.

TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit

miR-Amp Universal Amplification

miR-Amp uses universal primers and master mix to uniformly increase the amount of cDNA for each target. miR-Amp reagents are included in the TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit.

Applied Biosystems real-time PCR instruments

Applied Biosystems real-time PCR instruments

With Applied Biosystems real-time PCR platforms, you get true value with excellent performance, reliability, and world-class support. Designed for compatibility with Applied Biosystems TaqMan Assays and the flexibility of unlimited real-time chemistry choices, we make it easy for you to get started with your experiments.

Step 1 : Sample preparation
mirVana miRNA isolation kits

mirVana miRNA Isolation Kits

mirVana miRNA Isolation kits use a rapid procedure to isolate total RNA, including small RNAs such as miRNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and small nuclear RNA (snRNA), from tissues and cells.

Step 2 : Reverse transcription
TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis kit

TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit

The TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit is used for preparation of cDNA templates from the entire pool of mature miRNAs in a sample.

Step 3 : miR-Amp universal amplification
TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit

miR-Amp Universal Amplification

miR-Amp uses universal primers and master mix to uniformly increase the amount of cDNA for each target. miR-Amp reagents are included in the TaqMan Advanced miRNA cDNA Synthesis Kit.

Step 4 : Real-time PCR with TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays
Applied Biosystems real-time PCR instruments

Applied Biosystems real-time PCR instruments

With Applied Biosystems real-time PCR platforms, you get true value with excellent performance, reliability, and world-class support. Designed for compatibility with Applied Biosystems TaqMan Assays and the flexibility of unlimited real-time chemistry choices, we make it easy for you to get started with your experiments.


TaqMan microRNA Assay Workflow

TaqMan miRNA Assays employ an innovative target-specific stem-loop reverse transcription primer to address the challenge of the short length of mature miRNA. The primer extends the 3' end of the target to produce a template that can be used in standard TaqMan Assay-based real-time PCR. Also, the stem-loop structure in the tail of the primer confers a key advantage to these assays: specific detection of the mature, biologically active miRNA.

We offer a variety of kits for the isolation and analysis of miRNA and other small RNAs, each is ideal for use in miRNA analysis because they enable quantitative recovery of small RNA (<200 nt) and maintenance of representative amounts of small RNA (eliminating experimental bias).

Recommended products

TaqMan® miRNA ABC Purification Kit TaqMan miRNA ABC Purification Kit
Purify high-quality miRNA from difficult sample types without hazardous chemicals. This kit enables single-tube isolation of specific miRNA from small inputs of all human sample types, including blood, serum, plasma, FFPE samples, solid tissues, cultured cells, and saliva in 75 minutes.
mirVana miRNA Isolation Kit 

mirVana miRNA Isolation Kit
Isolate total RNA that contains small RNAs such as miRNA, siRNA, and snRNA. These small RNAs are often lost during traditional RNA isolation methods. In addition, this kit includes reagents and instructions for the isolation of RNA that is enriched for small RNA (<200 bp), enabling more sensitive detection of low-level small RNAs.

RecoverAll Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit for FFPE 

RecoverAll Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit for FFPE
Extract total RNA or DNA from formalin- or paraformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. This kit enables the molecular analysis of archived tissue samples at both the genomic and gene expression levels. With this kit, nucleic acid is obtained that is suitable for RT-qPCR, mutation screening, and microarray analyses.

TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit 

TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit
Featuring a unique method for lysing cultured cells while removing genomic DNA and preserving RNA integrity, the TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit makes it possible to perform miRNA expression profiling directly from cultured cells without RNA purification.

Two-step TaqMan MicroRNA Assays, containing the TaqMan Assay and reverse transcription primer specific for the target of interest, are designed for individual miRNA targets. The TaqMan MicroRNA Reverese Transcription Kit provides optimal TaqMan MicroRNA Assay performance. This kit is used with a single RT primer provided with each individual TaqMan MicroRNA Assays or with Megaplex RT Primers to convert miRNA to cDNA prior to real-time PCR quantitation.

Recommended products

TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit 

TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit
The TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit provides the necessary components for optimal performance of TaqMan MicroRNA Assays. Components of this kit are used with the RT primer provided with the TaqMan MicroRNA Assay to convert miRNA to cDNA.

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays (RT tube)
TaqMan MicroRNA Assays quantitate miRNAs with the specificity and sensitivity of TaqMan miRNA-specific primer, followed by real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. The assays target only mature miRNAs, not their precursors, ensuring biologically relevant results.

For the final quantitation step, the cDNA product generated in step 2 is mixed with TaqMan Universal Master Mix II and added to the matched TaqMan MicroRNA Assay.

Recommended Products

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays (individual assays)
TaqMan MicroRNA Assays quantitate miRNAs with the specificity and sensitivity of TaqMan Assay chemistry. A simple, two-step protocol requires only reverse transcription with a miRNA-specific primer, followed by real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. The assays target only mature miRNAs, not their precursors, ensuring biologically relevant results.

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan Universal Master Mix II
TaqMan Universal Master Mix II offers convenience and reliability for all real-time applications including microRNA, gene expression, and genotyping studies.

Applied Biosystems analysis apps are innovative, cloud-based secondary data analysis solutions that bring together multiple data sets in one convenient place. This online solution makes it easier to view, store, and analyze qPCR and Sanger sequencing data. These apps take advantage of cloud computing to provide highly versatile analysis tools that are flexible, fast, and easy to use.

Learn more ›

Step 1 : Isolate RNA

We offer a variety of kits for the isolation and analysis of miRNA and other small RNAs, each is ideal for use in miRNA analysis because they enable quantitative recovery of small RNA (<200 nt) and maintenance of representative amounts of small RNA (eliminating experimental bias).

Recommended products

TaqMan® miRNA ABC Purification Kit TaqMan miRNA ABC Purification Kit
Purify high-quality miRNA from difficult sample types without hazardous chemicals. This kit enables single-tube isolation of specific miRNA from small inputs of all human sample types, including blood, serum, plasma, FFPE samples, solid tissues, cultured cells, and saliva in 75 minutes.
mirVana miRNA Isolation Kit 

mirVana miRNA Isolation Kit
Isolate total RNA that contains small RNAs such as miRNA, siRNA, and snRNA. These small RNAs are often lost during traditional RNA isolation methods. In addition, this kit includes reagents and instructions for the isolation of RNA that is enriched for small RNA (<200 bp), enabling more sensitive detection of low-level small RNAs.

RecoverAll Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit for FFPE 

RecoverAll Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit for FFPE
Extract total RNA or DNA from formalin- or paraformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. This kit enables the molecular analysis of archived tissue samples at both the genomic and gene expression levels. With this kit, nucleic acid is obtained that is suitable for RT-qPCR, mutation screening, and microarray analyses.

TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit 

TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit
Featuring a unique method for lysing cultured cells while removing genomic DNA and preserving RNA integrity, the TaqMan MicroRNA Cells-to-CT Kit makes it possible to perform miRNA expression profiling directly from cultured cells without RNA purification.

Step 2 : Reverse transcribe RNA into cDNA

Two-step TaqMan MicroRNA Assays, containing the TaqMan Assay and reverse transcription primer specific for the target of interest, are designed for individual miRNA targets. The TaqMan MicroRNA Reverese Transcription Kit provides optimal TaqMan MicroRNA Assay performance. This kit is used with a single RT primer provided with each individual TaqMan MicroRNA Assays or with Megaplex RT Primers to convert miRNA to cDNA prior to real-time PCR quantitation.

Recommended products

TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit 

TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit
The TaqMan MicroRNA Reverse Transcription Kit provides the necessary components for optimal performance of TaqMan MicroRNA Assays. Components of this kit are used with the RT primer provided with the TaqMan MicroRNA Assay to convert miRNA to cDNA.

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays (RT tube)
TaqMan MicroRNA Assays quantitate miRNAs with the specificity and sensitivity of TaqMan miRNA-specific primer, followed by real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. The assays target only mature miRNAs, not their precursors, ensuring biologically relevant results.

Step 3 : Set up and run qPCR reactions

For the final quantitation step, the cDNA product generated in step 2 is mixed with TaqMan Universal Master Mix II and added to the matched TaqMan MicroRNA Assay.

Recommended Products

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays (individual assays)
TaqMan MicroRNA Assays quantitate miRNAs with the specificity and sensitivity of TaqMan Assay chemistry. A simple, two-step protocol requires only reverse transcription with a miRNA-specific primer, followed by real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. The assays target only mature miRNAs, not their precursors, ensuring biologically relevant results.

TaqMan MicroRNA Assays 

TaqMan Universal Master Mix II
TaqMan Universal Master Mix II offers convenience and reliability for all real-time applications including microRNA, gene expression, and genotyping studies.

Step 4 : Analyze data

Applied Biosystems analysis apps are innovative, cloud-based secondary data analysis solutions that bring together multiple data sets in one convenient place. This online solution makes it easier to view, store, and analyze qPCR and Sanger sequencing data. These apps take advantage of cloud computing to provide highly versatile analysis tools that are flexible, fast, and easy to use.

Learn more ›


Taqman Advanced microRNA Assay literature

Product information

Application notes


TaqMan microRNA Assay literature

Brochures

Application notes

Product information

Posters

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