QIAxcel Connect

QIAGEN QIAxcel Connect is an automated capillary electrophoresis instrument for fast, reproducible DNA fragment analysis and RNA quality control. It fully automates the analysis and quality control of up to 96 samples per run using ready-to-run gel cartridges that eliminate tedious gel or consumable preparations and reduce handling errors. Prefilled gel cartridges deliver an electric field that separates negatively charged nucleic acid fragments, with smaller fragments migrating faster than larger ones. A dye intercalates into the nucleic acid within the capillary, and a detector measures the emitted signals. The QIAxcel ScreenGel software converts these signals to digital data, viewable in real time as electropherograms or gel images.

The instrument is highly suitable for next-generation sequencing (NGS) library QC, low-concentration samples such as liquid biopsy, degraded samples such as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, multiplex PCR products with high-resolution requirements, high-resolution genotyping, fast single or multiplex PCR screening, QC of cell-free DNA, fast single-amplicon analysis such as HLA typing, and RNA quality checks.

The QIAxcel ScreenGel software runs on the laptop included with the instrument and uses a system wizard for experiment setup and run checks. Results can be displayed individually or in overlay view, with multiple peak properties available in table format. The software uses the RNA Integrity Score (RIS) system, which has a high correlation with RIN (R² = 0.9229) and is more reliable in predicting qRT-PCR assay outcomes when RNA is degraded by UV or formalin.

The limits of detection for the QIAxcel Connect are down to 5 pg/μl for DNA and down to 50 pg/μl for RNA. The instrument is compatible with ScreenGel version 2.1 and with all QIAxcel Cartridge Kits. It enables QIAsphere connectivity for remote run monitoring via an optional QIAsphere system on a phone, and features updated housing with improved usability and additional optical filters that enable the use of QIAxcel High-Sensitivity Cartridge Kits.