Pre-amplification is a basis for numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols but bears severe contamination risks due to handling of high-copy DNA samples. Therefore we developed a self-contained centrifugal microfluidic system comprising pre-stored reagents; it enables pre-amplification of specific DNA sequences prior to automated aliquoting and real-time PCR in a modified commercial thermocycler.
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 106, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.