Australian biotech instrument manufacturer Corbett Research presents its next generation 'X-Tractor' Gene Nucleic Acid Extraction System at BIO2004 in San Francisco next week.

Corbett Research (CR) designs and manufactures instruments for the biotechnology and life sciences markets for export to 33 countries, generating USD$10 million in sales worldwide.

Despite (or perhaps because!) of its small-town Australia manufacturing base, Corbett Research has been at the forefront of development of innovative technologies based around genetic analysis applications. It started out 14 years ago, when John Corbett Snr and John Corbett Jnr made a speed capillary thermal cycler (using positive displacement pipette tips as the reaction vessel) in their garage.

Since the development of their first generation of capillary based thermal cyclers (many of which are still in use today), CR has developed a range of instruments including an integrated Peltier Cooled and Gradient Thermal Cycler with a pocket PC interface, the Gel-Scan 3000, an automated DNA Fragment Analyzer; the Rotor-Gene Real-Time DNA Amplification System, the CAS-1200 Precision Liquid Handling System and now, the 'X-Tractor'.

The new X-Tractor Gene is designed to automate the process of nucleic acid extraction from a variety of sources with high-speed, high-throughput and high-purity. In about one hour, DNA with A260/A280 ratio > 1.8 can be extracted from 96 samples with reproducible yields.

Designed as an open-platform, the X-Tractor Gene has the flexibility to accommodate a range of extraction protocols whilst enabling the use of both commercial kits and the less expensive home-brew alternatives.

"Users can thus choose automation without being restricted to expensive chemistries," John Corbett Jnr says.

"Cross-contamination has been eliminated from within the system by the combination of a unique vacuum chamber design and optimised pipetting protocols. The user can also elect to include a HEPA filter module or a UV light assembly as optional accessories".

An important design feature of the X-Tractor Gene was user-friendly software. As robotics systems are often accompanied by intimidating set-up software, the X-Tractor Gene was designed with a Wizard interface, simplifying the set-up procedure to accommodate even the newest laboratory recruit.

Source: Corbett Research

Web site: http://www.corbettresearch.com/