Portable qpcr and qrt-pcr apparatus

A portable apparatus for performing uni-directional convective qPCR or qRT-PCR in a mixing reagent containing a target nucleic acid and a fluorescence dye including denaturation, annealing and extension processes, the apparatus comprises:

• a circulation-enabling container for containing the mixing reagent with the target nucleic acid and the fluorescence dye for performing uni-directional convective qPCR or qRT-PCR, wherein the circulating-enabling container comprises at least one opening, a closed-loop system, and a pathway connected from end to end which allows for the mixing reagent to flow through different zones of the circulation-enabling container in one cycle;
• a plurality of temperature controlling units wherein each temperature controlling unit comprises a heat source for supplying the heat and a temperature sensor for detecting the status of the heat source, wherein the plurality of temperature controlling units are placed and contacted in specific regions in the circulation-enabling container, wherein a first temperature controlling unit supplying heat in a lower portion of the circulation-enabling container to reach a relative high temperature region is placed lower in height and a second temperature controlling unit supplying heat in a higher portion of the circulation-enabling container to reach a relative low temperature region is placed higher in height in the circulation-enabling container, wherein the mixing reagent near the first temperature controlling unit reaches a relatively higher temperature than the mixing reagent near the second temperature controlling unit therefore to form a uni-directional circulation because of the buoyancy and gravity difference inside the circulation-enabling container;
• a light source for exciting the fluorescence dye in the mixing reagent to emit a fluorescent signal when the qPCR or qRT-PCR is initiated, wherein the light source is placed in a specific region;
• a photo-detector for converting the fluorescent signal to an electronic signal;
• an optical element for directing the fluorescent signal to the photo-detector, wherein the optical element is placed between the circulation-enabling container and the photo-detector;
• a filter for filtering out a non-predetermined wavelength of the light source, wherein the filter is placed between the optical element and the photo-detector;
• and
• a processor for receiving and analyzing the electronic signal which is detected from the temperature controlling unit and the photo-detector, wherein a programmed algorithm is built in the processor to quantify the PCR or RT-PCR in real-time;
• wherein when the temperature of the first temperature controlling unit increases to the reaction temperature of denaturation, a uni-directional circulation of the mixing reagent begins and the PCR or RT-PCR reaction is initiated, both the temperature sensors of the first and second temperature controlling units transfer the temperature status to the processor to initiate the light source to excite the fluorescence dye to emit the fluorescent signal, wherein the fluorescent signal is filtered by the optical device and is detected by the photo-detector and converted to the electronic signal and is analyzed by a programmed algorithm the processor to quantify the PCR or RT-PCR products in real-time.