Discover practical strategies for improving the quality and consistency of your laboratory results. In these best-practice sessions, we'll explore the essential processes, equipment, and instruments that support daily scientific work, along with emerging technologies that can help you work more efficiently and accelerate progress toward meaningful discoveries.
Curated by: Thermo Fisher Scientific (34 videos)
Carryover and cross contamination are among the most common causes of false positives in PCR and qPCR workflows. In this Lab Talk episode, Thermo Fisher Scientific experts explain what carryover contamination is, how it occurs, and why even trace amounts of unintended nucleic acids can compromise PCR results. The session outlines practical, real-world strategies to prevent contamination, including proper lab hygiene, cleaning and decontamination practices, unidirectional PCR workflows, and the use of dedicated workspaces for pre- and post-PCR activities. Viewers will also learn why reaction controls, personnel training, and equipment calibration are essential for maintaining assay integrity. A live demonstration highlights how aerosol-resistant pipette tips with self-sealing barriers can help prevent carryover contamination, protect pipettes, and reduce downtime caused by decontamination procedures. These best practices are critical for molecular biology laboratories performing sensitive PCR-based assays. Chapters: 00:00 Why PCR contamination matters 01:40 What is carryover contamination in PCR 02:50 Consequences of cross-contamination and false positives 03:40 General lab best practices to prevent contamination 05:40 PCR-specific contamination control strategies 07:10 Importance of reaction controls and labware 08:40 How aerosol-resistant pipette tips reduce risk 13:45 Key takeaways and best practices summary Suggested Related Videos Bleach & PCR Inhibition I What Molecular Biology Labs Need to Know. LabTalk Ep16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra2huz4doKc Discover ART™ (Aerosol Resistant Tips) technology designed to help reduce aerosol-based contamination, protect samples, & improve confidence in PCR, molecular biology, genomics, and clinical laboratory workflows. ART Universal Pipette Tips | Thermo Fisher Scientific – US https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/lab-plasticware-supplies/pipettes-pipette-tips/pipette-tips/products/art-universal-pipette-tips.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com