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WARNING: The information provided in these pages is copyrighted and is intended for individual use only. No parts of this work (text, tables or pictures) may be commercialized, published or otherwise reproduced without the written consent of the author.
For a complete description of primers, PCR programs and a discussion of the PCR conditions please consult: Andrologia26: 97-106 (1994) and Biotechniques23: 504-511 (1997). Click here to get the Biotechniques paper in PDF format.

PCR and multiplex PCR guide

Table below lists the parameters influencing the PCR reaction and indicates some PCR and multiplex PCR applications. Clicking on an item in the table, will take you to a detailed page, describing that particular issue.

Topics for PCR optimization
0.Standards: examples of multiplex reactions used in all experiments
1	Generalities Components, PCR cycle, vials	9	Annealing time and temperature
2	Choosing PCR primers How to design the primers	10	Extension time and temperature
3	Reaction volumes Do they influence the results?	11	DNA template concentration
4	Number of PCR products Multiplexing. How ?	12	Taq polymerase(s) Comparisons and concentration
5	Primer amount How much primer?	13	dNTP concentration Interaction with magnesium
6	PCR buffers Comparisons and concentration	14	MgCl2 concentration Interaction with dNTP and salt (PCR buffer)
7	Salt (KCl) concentration Essential optimization factor	15	Gel electrophoresis Agarose and polyacrylamide (PAA)
8	Designing PCR programs Customize them for your purpose	16	Adjuvants in PCR DMSO, glycerol and BSA
Some applications of PCR and multiplex PCR
A	Microdeletion screening	D	PCR labeling
B	LOH	E	InterAlu-PCR
C	Quantitative multiplex PCR*	F	Degenerative priming PCR