Each lab and testing facility will have specific requirements for equipment. Not every analyzer is a good match for every laboratory, but some are more universal in their ability to integrate into different sizes and options in labs than others. Used genetic analyzers offer a low-cost option to increase testing capacity while staying within the budget.
Size and Configuration
A very versatile, dependable and streamlined system is the 3130 genetic analyzer manufactured by Applied Biosystems or ABI. These analyzers are ideal for the mid-sized lab, but they can easily be used in a smaller testing facility or used as a supplemental DNA analyzer in larger facilities.
Overall, this is a system that has the dimensions of thirty-two inches in height, twenty-two inches in depth and measures fifty-nine inches in width. It offers both left and right doors on the unit for easy access and operation.
The system comes with 1GB of installed RAM as well as dual 36 GB hard drives. It can be connected to a CD/RW system and operates using the Windows XP Professional edition of the software.
Considerations for Use
The 3130 genetic analyzer by ABI can be used with a variety of reagents for specific types of testing. It can be used for sequencing analysis using different types of kits including the BigDye and dRhodamine dye terminator kits.
The system can also complete fragment analysis with a variety of different options in reagents. It is also used for veterinary DNA analysis with testing for cattle, horses, and dogs as well as plants.
The same 3130 genetic analyzers are also used in labs for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analysis, microbial identification, and disease research. This makes it one of the most flexible systems and one that is a cornerstone of DNA analysis in many labs across the country.