Equipment
The purchase of the ABI 3730 and ABI 3100 Genetic analyzers were provided for by the University of Tennessee’s scientists from their own grant money as well as some matching money from the University and State of Tennessee. Presently, we feel we are using the best equipment available for our purposes in the genetic analysis of DNA. Applied Biosystems is in the forefront of Genetic Analysis research techniques and, in my opinion, are presently providing the best capillary sequencers.
The ABI 3730 is a state of the art 48 to 96 capillary electrophoresis instrument that compliments our 16 capillary ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzer in the processing and analyzing of DNA and has allowed us to drastically reduce our recovery charges for all clients doing any DNA sequencing or DNA fragment analysis. The 3730 has the capability of processing 460 samples of 1000 base pair sequences per 24 hour period. If we need more through put, then we will upgrade to the 96 capillary array and double our capacity. So there should be no fear of overwhelming our facility with your larger sequencing or fragment analysis needs.
Presently we are doing DNA sequencing and DNA fragment analysis (AFLP, RFLP, micro-satellites) using the two ABI instruments. We are using the ABI 3100 16 capillary array for fragment analysis but keep it as a back up machine for sequencing. The ABI 3100 and 3730 allows the users to differentiate between 5 colors, allowing for 4 unknown to be run per well. Since the array uses 16 capillaries, then the minimum we will be charging for your runs will be 16 x $3.00 per well. I do however allow 2 free runs of 16 for you to develop your best strategy in your genescan project. By multiplexing your genescan samples and using all 4 unknown dyes available, the cost per unknown for the user is down to $0.75
We try to keep the instruments running daily as they seem to perform better when they are not sitting idle. Our ABI 3730 is a 48 capillary instrument that is capable of sequencing 1000 bases with less than 1% error in less than 2.5 hours time. It is not uncommon to find accurate reads over 1000 bases when all the conditions are optimum. You should however expect at least 800 bases none the less. That is what ABI states is their capability, and we try to stand by that.