SNP Genotyping seeks to identify the slight variations in genes that makes one organism different from another. Millions of SNPs have been identified in humans, of which some 300,000 are thought to be functional and, in some cases, cause disease.

OpenArray™ SNP Genotyping gives researchers the freedom to test large sample populations against their choice of SNPs.

PCR is a very reliable and flexible method for identifying genes. However, prior to the advent of OpenArray™ SNP Genotyping, using PCR to look at hundreds of SNPs for hundreds or thousands of individuals was cost-prohibitive.

OpenArray™ technology enables high-throughput studies at a drastically lower reagent cost. Each assay requires only 33 nL of fluid. Researchers need only 5 µL of total reaction volume to generate 64 datapoints per sample in the OpenArray™ plate.

Researchers load PCR Master Mix containing DNA samples onto the OpenArray™ plates already containing the encapuslated SNP assays. Then, the DNA samples are loaded onto the OpenArray™ plates already containing the encapuslated SNP assays. Each sample can be interrogated against any number of target SNPs. The OpenArray™ Autoloader is used to place samples in precise locations. Three plates are then thermal cycled simultaneously using a commercial flat-block thermal cycler and read on the the OpenArray™ NT Imager as an endpoint assay.