The Competition Heats Up: The annual review of thermal cyclers takes a sneak peak at the new products for 1999

Date: December 7, 1998Thermal Blocks Table As a strong contingent of companies maneuvers to establish dominance over a diminishing share of the market for thermal cyclers, the pressure to lower costs and develop new technologies has made this a dynamic year for the industry. Frustrated by competition, some companies that have been steadfast promoters of the technology are bowing gracefully out of the industry. However, as the leviathans of the thermal cycler business put pressure on the little

Brent Johnson

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Date: December 7, 1998

Thermal Blocks Table

As a strong contingent of companies maneuvers to establish dominance over a diminishing share of the market for thermal cyclers, the pressure to lower costs and develop new technologies has made this a dynamic year for the industry. Frustrated by competition, some companies that have been steadfast promoters of the technology are bowing gracefully out of the industry. However, as the leviathans of the thermal cycler business put pressure on the little guys, a courageous few are beginning to emerge with instruments that are surprising in their originality.

Cepheid SmartCycler Cepheid is developing a thermal cycler that is targeted for sale the summer of 1999. The SmartCycler is the brainchild of Alan Northrop, whose research for Lawrence Livermore Laboratories addressed issues relevant to biological warfare. Rapid PCR, real-time optical detection, and independent reaction sites are crucial to identifying potentially harmful bacteriological weapons. Cepheid incorporates ...

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