Find your perfect PCR match

  • Published: 14 February 2025
Have you ever thought about doing a PCR experiment, but you are not quite sure what product to use? Or the product you have chosen doesn’t work as well as it should and you are looking for an alternative? In our portfolio, we have more than 70 different products, so we understand the struggle. It isn’t easy to find your perfect match, but it is not impossible either. We are here to help you out with some recommendations from fellow scientists based on different application possibilities. 

Medicine & Healthcare 

Most people worldwide learned about PCR a few years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic started. So, it’s safe to say that PCR is a good method for studying and diagnosing infectious diseases. Also, bacteria and parasites. For example, a group of scientists from Côte d'Ivoire studied the evolution of genetic diversity in HIV-1 using the FIREPol® Master Mix [1]. Our temperature-stable products are also very popular when it comes to studying malaria - HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Mix Plus was used in a recently published paper about the association between asymptomatic submicroscopic and microscopic malaria infections and anemia [2]. HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® HRM Mix was used to study HPV [3] and HOT FIREPol® Probe Universal qPCR Kit was used to diagnose Buruli ulcer [4]. 

Another area where the PCR method is used is cancer diagnostics and genetic disorder testing to identify genetic mutations. For example, HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Supermix has been used to study breast cancer [5] and FIREPol® DNA Polymerase Kit has been used to study the infertility of men [6]. 

If you’d like to try an alternative to PCR then our partners have been successful in detecting human parasites using the LAMP assay and our SoliSD™ Bsm DNA Polymerase Kit. 

Agriculture  

PCR can also help detect plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses. For example, scientists from Spain studied the cucumber vein yellowing virus using HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Mix Plus [7] while scientists from Georgia and Italy studied fungal species present in infected grapevine using HOT FIREPOL® DNA Polymerase Kit [8]. 

The PCR method can be also used for crop breeding to identify desirable traits in crops, such as which ones would best survive climate change, which is what scientists did with cowpeas using HOT FIREPol® Multiplex Mix [9]. Another group of scientists used this method to produce barley with ultra-low gluten content using FIREPol® DNA Polymerase Kit [10]. 

Our products work efficiently with soil samples as well so that you can ensure that the field is in good condition for growing your preferred type of crops. HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Mix Plus is one good product for that, as proved by research carried out in Switzerland [11]. 

Veterinary Medicine & Biodiversity 

The PCR method can be used to diagnose or study diseases in animals just as well as in humans and plants. Like HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Mix Plus was used to study rabies virus in Nigeria [12], HOT FIREPOL® DNA Polymerase Kit was used to identify rumen fluke species infections in German dairy cows [13] and HOT FIREPol® Blend Master Mix was used to study the African swine fever virus in Estonia [14]. 

Like with plants it’s also applied in different breeding programs to understand the genetics of the animals and to identify their background properly. For example, in Italy they used HOT FIREPol® DNA Polymerase Kit to assign horse coat color [15]. 

Another application for PCR is to detect different species in a specific location to find invasive species or track migration patterns. This has been for example done in Taiwan using FIREPol® Master Mix [16]. 

Environmental Science, Food Safety & Quality Control 

The PCR method is also useful to check if the food is safe to eat and is of good quality. In Burkina Faso they have used FIREScript ® RT cDNA Synthesis Mix together with RiboGrip® RNase Inhibitor and FIREPol® Master Mix Ready to Load to detect norovirus in fresh fruits, vegetables, wastewater and manure from irrigated farms [17].  

Biotechnology & Research 

This is the biggest area where to use the PCR method. Probably your research falls into one of the already previously mentioned categories. That being said, (q)PCR is widely used in gene expression analysis and cloning or genetic engineering. For example, scientists in Germany have created Cas9-expressing chickens and pigs using FIREPol® DNA Polymerase Kit [18]. A group of scientists in Estonia used HOT FIREPol® EvaGreen® qPCR Supermix to identify genes responsible for depression [19]. Another research group in the USA has been using our HOT FIREPol® Probe qPCR Mix Plus (ROX) to develop new methods to be used in research and diagnostics [20]. 

Industry 

Outside of academic research our customers who are working on larger scale projects mostly prefer using the SolisFAST® range products for both DNA and RNA. We are quite proud of our all-in-one product SOLIScript® Fast 1-step RT-qPCR Mix with UNG that works well for everyone who wants to have a fast and automated workflow. 

Want to know how to mix and match our products? Read more about it HERE. 

If you are still unsure about which product to use, our customer support team is ready to advise you further. Simply contact support@solisbiodyne.com or write to the chat on our website. 

References: 

[1] Odegue, K. D., Kakou-Ngazoa, S., Dechi, J. J. R., Diallo, Z., Sina, K. M., Sylla, A., Tossea, K. S., Kouakou, V., Adagba, M., Apia, N. K. B., Touré, O. A., & Dosso, M. (2024). Evolution of genetic diversity in HIV-1 among infected adult’s patients from Côte d'ivoire between 2019 and 2023. International Journal of Genetics and Molecular Biology, 16(1), 12-17. 
[2] Chaves, A. R., Dossou, Y., Djènontin, A., Adimi, E., Akoho, R., Bailly, J., Bouraïma, A., Matondo, D., Sissinto, Y., Houinato, D., Massougbodji, A., Dechavanne, C., & Cottrell, G. (2025). Association between asymptomatic submicroscopic and microscopic malaria infections and anemia: A study in southern Benin. PloS one, 20(1), e0317345.  
[3] Bumrungthai, S., Duangjit, S., Passorn, S., Pongpakdeesakul, S., Butsri, S., & Janyakhantikul, S. (2024). Comprehensive breast cancer risk analysis with whole exome sequencing and the prevalence of BRCA1 and ABCG2 mutations and oncogenic HPV. Biomedical reports, 21(4), 144.  
[4] Marion, E., Hycenth, N., Vedithi, S. C., Robbe-Saule, M., Donkeng, V., Ganlonon, L. M., Dissou, A., Ngazoa, S. K., Kabedi, M. J., Mabika Mabika, A., Phillips, R., Frimpong, M., Yeboah-Manu, D., Walker, V. Y., Akinwale, O., Issaka, M., Bretzel, G., Asiedu, K., & Eyangoh, S. (2022). A combined effort of 11 laboratories in the WHO African region to improve quality of Buruli ulcer PCR diagnosis: The "BU-LABNET". PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 16(11), e0010908.  
[5] Boretto, C., Muzio, G., & Autelli, R. (2024). PPARγ antagonism as a new tool for preventing or overcoming endocrine resistance in luminal A breast cancers. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 180, 117461.  
[6] Hallast P., Kibena L., Punab M., Arciero E., Rootsi S., Grigorova M., Flores R., Jobling M. A., Poolamets O., Pomm K., Korrovits P., Rull K., Xue Y., Tyler-Smith C., Laan M. (2021). A common 1.6 mb Y-chromosomal inversion predisposes to subsequent deletions and severe spermatogenic failure in humans. Elife; 10:e65420.  
[7] García, B., Bedoya, L., García, J. A., & Rodamilans, B. (2021). An Importin-β-like Protein from Nicotiana benthamiana Interacts with the RNA Silencing Suppressor P1b of the Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus, Modulating Its Activity. Viruses, 13(12), 2406.  
[8] Baramidze, V., Sella, L., Japaridze, T., Abashidze, N., Lamazoshvili, D., Dzotsenidze, N., & Tomashvili, G. (2024). Long amplicon nanopore sequencing of Botrytis cinerea and other fungal species present in infected grapevine leaf samples. Biology methods & protocols, 9(1), bpad042.  
[9] Diallo, S., Badiane, F. A., Kabkia, B. A., Diédhiou, I., Diouf, M., & Diouf, D. (2024). Genetic diversity and population structure of cowpea mutant collection using SSR and ISSR molecular markers. Scientific reports, 14(1), 31833.  
[10] Rybalka, O., Katrii, V., Polishchuk, S., & Morgun, B. (2021). Development of hull-less barley with ultra-low gluten content via target genes combination. I. Isolation of triple mutants and black grained genotypes. Agricultural Science and Practice, 8(1), 47-57.  
[11] Walder, F., Schmid, M. W., Riedo, J., Held-Valzano, A., Banerjee, S., Büchi, L., Bucheli, T. D., & van der Heijden, M. G. A. (2022). Soil microbiome signatures are associated with pesticide residues in arable landscapes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 174, 108830. 
[12] Kanu, B., Kia, G. S. N., Aimola, I. A., Korie, G. C., & Tekki, I. S. (2021). Rabies virus infection is associated with alterations in the expression of parvalbumin and secretagogin in mice brain. Metabolic brain disease, 36(6), 1267–1275.  
[13] Hecker, A. S., Raulf, M. K., König, S., Knubben-Schweizer, G., Wenzel, C., May, K., & Strube, C. (2024). In-herd prevalence of Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron / Paramphistomum spp. infections in German dairy cows with comparison of two coproscopical methods and establishment of real-time pyrosequencing for rumen fluke species differentiation. Veterinary parasitology, 327, 110142.  
[14] Vilem, A., Nurmoja, I., Tummeleht, L., & Viltrop, A. (2023). Differentiation of African Swine Fever Virus Strains Isolated in Estonia by Multiple Genetic Markers. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 12(5), 720.  
[15] Mura, M. C., Carcangiu, V., Cosso, G., Columbano, N., Sanna Passino, E., & Luridiana, S. (2024). Discrepancies between Genetic and Visual Coat Color Assignment in Sarcidano Horse. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 14(4), 543.  
[16] Lin, Y. S., Liao, J. R., Shiao, S. F., & Ko, C. C. (2021). Origin and Potential Expansion of the Invasive Longan Lanternfly, Pyrops candelaria (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in Taiwan. Biology, 10(7), 678.  
[17] Traore, K. A., Fawa Djingtouin, A., Sanou, M., Ouoba, J. B., Ouoba, L. B., Roques, P., & Barro, N. (2024). Detection of norovirus in fresh fruits, vegetables, wastewater and manure from irrigated farms in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 18(9), 153-160. 
[18] Rieblinger, B., Sid, H., Duda, D., Bozoglu, T., Klinger, R., & Schlickenrieder, A. et al. (2021). Cas9-expressing chickens and pigs as resources for genome editing in livestock. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(10), e2022562118. 
[19] Kaare, M., Jayaram, M., Jagomäe, T., Singh, K., Kilk, K., Mikheim, K., Leevik, M., Leidmaa, E., Varul, J., Nõmm, H., Rähn, K., Visnapuu, T., Plaas, M., Lilleväli, K., Schäfer, M. K. E., Philips, M. A., & Vasar, E. (2022). Depression-Associated Negr1 Gene-Deficiency Induces Alterations in the Monoaminergic Neurotransmission Enhancing Time-Dependent Sensitization to Amphetamine in Male Mice. Brain sciences, 12(12), 1696. 
[20] Doherty, M., Grant, J. R., Pilotte, N., Bennuru, S., Fischer, K., Fischer, P. U., Lustigman, S., Nutman, T. B., Pfarr, K., Hoerauf, A., Unnasch, T. R., Hassan, H. K., Wanji, S., Lammie, P. J., Ottesen, E., Mackenzie, C., & Williams, S. A. (2023). Optimized strategy for real-time qPCR detection of Onchocerca volvulus DNA in pooled Simulium sp. blackfly vectors. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 17(12), e0011815.