bioanalyzer

Bioanalyzer is a microfluidic platform for evaluating the quality and quantity of biomolecules, especially DNA, RNA, and proteins. It combines a disposable cartridge with a compact instrument to perform automated size-based separation by electrophoresis, followed by fluorescence detection. The system outputs an electropherogram and a virtual gel image from which fragment size distribution and concentration are derived.

Each assay uses a cartridge containing reagents and a microfluidic network. A small sample is loaded and the cartridge is inserted into the instrument. Electrical current drives the separation in capillary-like channels, and fluorescence signals from dyes are measured. Software analyzes the data to provide fragment sizes, concentration, and, for RNA, an integrity metric such as the RNA integrity number (RIN).

Common kits include DNA assays (DNA 1000, DNA High Sensitivity), RNA assays (RNA 6000 Nano, Pico), and protein assays. Run times are typically minutes, with small input requirements (about 1–5 μL). The platform is valued for speed, low reagent consumption, and reproducibility, making it useful for routine quality control in sequencing and other workflows.

Results include the electropherogram, a size distribution plot, and numerical values for concentration and integrity. Results are compared to kit standards or accepted thresholds; the system depends on kit chemistry, and quantification may differ in accuracy from qPCR in some contexts. Degraded samples can complicate interpretation.

Bioanalyzers are widely used for QC of DNA libraries for next-generation sequencing, PCR products, plasmids, and RNA isolates. The instrument is a standard tool in many research and clinical laboratories for rapid, small-volume quality assessment.