PCR stands for “Polymerase Chain Reaction”, a process to replicate DNA that was originally developed by Karry Mullis, Nobel Price winner and now under license from Hoffman LaRoche Inc.
   PCR is a technique used to make numerous copies of [i.e. amplify] a specific segment of DNA. PCR makes it possible to quickly and accurately obtain large quantities of DNA needed in carrying out research in molecular biology, in clinical diagnosis, in criminal investigations requiring forensic analysis, and in virus infectious disease research, e.g. in the ongoing battle against AIDS.

Capillette®
The first commercial product developed by AlphaHelix—trade marked Capillette®—for PCR upstream liquid handling, provide several unique quality-enhancing, labor-saving advantages:
  • Reduced hands-on time
  • Improved reagent dispensing precision
  • Reduced danger of contamination
  • Higher quality results.

The company is now swiftly developing new and revolutionary rapid PCR thermocycler methods. This new line of PCR instruments will combine AlphaHelix’ new proprietary Super-convection‘ technology with RTD (Real Time Detection) capabilities and other sophisticated features. This unique technology is to be commercialized on a worldwide basis: either through the distribution of its own products or via technology licensing to other companies.
   In PCR-related lab work, a number of well-recognized difficulties currently exist. Some of them relate to the labor-intensive standard pipetting and the manual handling of samples and reagents, or “sequencing soup”. The extreme sensitivity of the PCR method also leaves the door wide open for false positive reactions caused by carry-over contamination. Other “human-errors” in the lab include the intermixing of reagents and poor pipetting. Even “fool-proof” robotic systems suffer from their shear complexity. Many of these problems are eliminated through the use of the company’s patented Capillete® techniques—and most certainly in combination with its new patented thermocyclers.

The Rapid PCR Company
Now, with the advent of its rapid PCR thermocycler methods, enhanced by its already successful Capillete® platform, AlphaHelix aims to make itself known as “The Rapid PCR Company”. Its new Superconvection™ thermo-cyclers will establish a new and exciting standard for PCR instrumentation. And, in this context, the word “rapid” is no Madison Avenue “hype”! Current PCR instruments take several hours for a single test run to be carried out. A simple mistake may delay results by as much as a day. In clinical settings, not to mention forensic work, time is, without doubt, “money“. The instrument development work now nearing completion at AlphaHelix will mean that the waiting time for results will be slashed from the present snail-pace of hours to less than 15 minutes—with improved quality as a welcome “by-product”.
   “Recent tests, performed on the latest high-g thermocycler prototype, amplified a 500 bp fragment of the lambda genome in a mere 15 minutes— with excellent results,” states Mats Malmqvist, Ph.D., the vice president of R&D.

Unique flexibility
The use of Capillette® together with the AlphaHelix thermocyclers automatically leads to a so-called hot start, which simultaneously enhances the quality of the results. The reduced time for each run also provides, since several additional runs can be done with various settings in the same time it takes to perform a conventional PCR run.
   Typical applications for AlphaHelix’ “Rapid PCR” span HIV viral-load monitoring of AIDS patients and the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in clinical diagnostics. With its unique simplicity, speed, and improved reproducibility, it should definitely be possible to move the technology directly into routine labs and clinics—with DNA analyses being performed while the patient is still in the examining room.
   “Our customers are highly qualified researchers and clinicians. We trust that by offering them means to improve the quality of their work in a fraction of the time required by their current technologies, our products will be highly attractive to them,” says CEO Peter Larsson. “Our second market target comprises the the high throughput genomics laboratories such as are found in Japan and the U.S.A., as well as the quality control laboratories of the food industry”.

The annual growth rate for these
markets has exceeded 20 per cent
The world market for thermocyclers was worth more then 400 million U.S. dollars and the DNA diagnostics market was worth about one billion U.S. dollars last year. During the last five years, the annual growth rate for these markets has exceeded 20 per cent. To reach these markets, and its market targets, AlphaHelix is planning to hitch up with leading brand-name companies in the industry to guarantee worldwide distribution.

Everett Ellestad