MERADD has successfully developed the state of the art Programmable Thermal Cyclers for carrying out the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is an innovative invention which is often used to multiply the DNA segments at the exponential level.
This biochemical technology can be used for screening genetic disorders and determining cancer and pathogens. The programmable thermal cycler PTC-15 (eveloped at the MERADD) is built to carry out a highly accurate PCR. It employs an assembly, a heated cover and an internal computer with a control algorithm.
In case of imported machines, repair and maintenance charges are very high in comparison with MERADD PCR machines. MERADD provides quick and cheap repair and maintenance to its clients throughout the country.
Conventional PCR machines as stated above provide only qualitative DNA amplification results. R&D on the advanced PCR machine, called Real Time PCR, is underway at MERADD.
Real Time PCR machines provide the quantitative results of DNA amplification. It is expected that R&D phase of Real Time PCR machine will be complete in 2 years of time period.