qPCR apparatus for a multidisciplinary core platform

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Quantitative real-time PCR is a widely used analytical method in biological sciences, such as molecular biology, virology, forensic science, ecology, developmental biology and many more. Recently, quantitative real-time PCR has raised to public awareness as the cornerstone of COVID-19 testing throughout the world. The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivieres has regrouped several of its analytical instruments in cellular biology within a core technological platform which includes, among other equipment, a confocal microscope, fluorescent cell sorters and an advanced image analysis software. The platform also features a dual channel qPCR apparatus, which was initially purchased for one laboratory. Due to a massive hiring of young professors and students and the fact that an older qPCR apparatus has become obsolete, this dual channel qPCR apparatus is now used by nearly 70 HQP. The current qPCR is thus clearly overused and despite a reservation mechanism, its unavailability is restricting the progression of students' projects. More importantly, the fact that it has only a dual channel detection restricts its use to a limited range of applications. For example, it cannot be used for most forensic applications, which often require multiple colors TaqMan probes, COVID-19 testing (3-4 colors), and for most allele detection experiments. A more advance technology having 4+ colors is thus required to realize cutting-edge projects currently funded by NSERC and to improve the research possibilities and timeline of nearly 100 HQPs.