MiniAmp™ Thermal Cycler

The heated thermal cycler lid is designed to make sure that optimized pressure is applied on the microplate for an efficient PCR reaction. When using PCR tubes, excess pressure on the tubes, from the heated lid can cause deformation of the tubes. To avoid this, we recommend using the Tray/Retainer set, as shown below:

Cat. No. 4381850, MicroAmp 96-Well Tray/Retainer Set for Veriti Systems – This Tray is for use with MicroAmp Strip Tubes (or MicroAmp Reaction Tubes without Caps, 0.2 mL), with the Veriti Thermal Cycler, SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler, and Proflex PCR System.
Cat. No. 403081, MicroAmp 96-Well Tray/Retainer Set – This Tray is for use with MicroAmp Strip Tubes (or MicroAmp Reaction Tubes without Caps, 0.2 mL), with the 7000 System, 2720 Thermal Cycler, and GeneAmp PCR System 9700.
Cat. No. 4379983, MicroAmp 96-Well Tray for VeriFlex Blocks – This Tray is for use with MicroAmp Strip Tubes (or MicroAmp Reaction Tubes with Caps, 0.1 mL), with the Veriti Thermal Cycler, Veriti Fast Thermal Cycler, SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler, and Proflex PCR System.

Please take a look at this video: How to Use Adapter Tray Retainers in Thermal Cycler Starter Kits (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uh2ZxZJtgs).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our PCR Thermal Cyclers Support Center.

There is no universal ramp rate for a thermal cycler because both the block and sample ramp rates are different for each thermal cycler. The sample ramp rate changes with the volume of the sample since more time and energy are required to heat higher sample volumes. The ramp rate may also need to be changed for a particular PCR assay or primer pair if you are trying to use the same PCR assay on two different thermal cyclers, for example.

As a reference, the block ramp rate commonly used with DreamTaq Polymerase on the MiniAmp thermal cycler is 3.0 C/sec. In a 50 µL PCR reaction, this translates to a sample ramp rate of ~1 C/sec.

Please refer to the following application note for further information about thermocycler ramp rates: https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/brochures/Thermal_Cycler_Ramp_RatesAppNote.pdf

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within ourPCR Thermal Cyclers Support Center.

There are 2 key differences:
- The MiniAmp Plus Thermal Cycler has 3 VeriFlex zones while the MiniAmp Thermal Cycler does not.
- The MiniAmp Plus Thermal Cycler has a block ramp rate of 3.5 degrees C/sec while the MiniAmp Thermal Cycler has a block ramp rate of 3.0 degrees C/sec.

Like the ProFlex PCR System and SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler, the MiniAmp/MiniAmpPlus Thermal Cycler can be connected wirelessly with an optional High-Power USB W-Fi Module, Cat. No. A26774.

To add an infinite hold, select the infinity symbol for program.