Wide-Format Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis System

What is the Wide-Format Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis System?

A large horizontal tank with a wide gel bed, typically 20 x 25 cm, built for multi-channel pipette loading and up to 96 or more samples per gel. It is selected for high-throughput genotyping and PCR screening.

Overview

The wide-format system extends the gel bed sideways so that combs with 50, 96 or more wells can match 8- or 12-channel pipette spacing. The tank is usually moulded from thick acrylic or polycarbonate with gel beds between 20 x 20 and 25 x 25 cm, and it needs 1.0–2.0 L of buffer. Multi-row combs, often with 9 mm well pitch for direct loading from 96-well plates, reduce transfer errors. Runs commonly last 60–120 minutes at up to 150–200 V, so a power supply with adequate current is needed. The design is aimed at laboratories that screen large numbers of PCR products, such as SNP and microsatellite genotyping, agricultural breeding programmes and clone-library verification, where loading speed is the main bottleneck.

How does it work?

In a horizontal system the agarose gel is cast in a tray, placed in a tank and submerged a few millimetres below running buffer, usually TAE or TBE. When voltage is applied between the platinum or stainless-steel electrodes, negatively charged nucleic acids migrate toward the anode through the pores of the agarose. Shorter fragments move faster, so the bands sort by length, and a size ladder allows estimation of fragment size. The buffer carries current and conducts away Joule heat, which is why voltage per centimetre of electrode spacing is limited, typically to 5–10 V/cm. Bands are visualised with intercalating dyes such as ethidium bromide or safer alternatives under UV or blue light. Key components are the tank, gel tray, combs that form wells, electrode leads and a safety lid.

What are the key features?

• Gel bed of 20 x 25 cm accommodates combs with 50 to 100 wells for multi-channel loading
• Well pitch of about 9 mm matches standard 96-well plate and multi-channel pipette spacing
• Thick-walled tank resists warping and supports 1–2 L buffer volume during long runs
• Adjustable levelling feet and bubble level keep the gel bed horizontal for uniform migration
• Multi-row comb options allow two or three rows of samples on one gel
• Dual safety interlocks and shrouded leads meet typical IEC 61010-1 safety requirements

What are the technical specifications?

A typical wide-format horizontal gel electrophoresis system configuration offers gel size (W x L) of 20 x 25 cm, buffer volume of 1.0–2.0 L, electrode spacing of approx. 25–30 cm, maximum voltage of 300 V DC, maximum current of 500 mA and well pitch for multi-channel loading of 9 mm. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Wide-Format Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis System is used in SNP and microsatellite genotyping, agricultural breeding marker screening, clone library verification and high-throughput PCR product screening. Across the wider Horizontal Electrophoresis class, laboratories also deploy it for PCR product verification, restriction digest analysis and RNA integrity checking.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include IEC 61010-1, IEC 61326-1, ISO 17025 and Ph. Eur. 2.2.31. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 9001 manufacturing and RoHS; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place the tank on a level, vibration-free bench away from sinks and keep the power supply outside the splash zone. Replace running buffer regularly, because ion depletion and pH drift degrade resolution after repeated runs. Clean tanks with mild detergent and rinse with deionised water; avoid solvents that craze acrylic. Inspect electrodes for corrosion and check that lid interlocks and lead insulation remain intact. Handle ethidium bromide and UV sources under local chemical and optical safety rules, or switch to safer stains. Electrical safety should follow IEC 61010-1. Record voltage, time, gel percentage and buffer batch for traceability, and use ladders appropriate to the fragment range.

How do I select the right Wide-Format Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis System?

Select a wide-format tank when loading 96 samples quickly with multi-channel pipettes is the priority. It needs more buffer, bench space and a stronger power supply than smaller tanks. Specify gel bed size, well pitch, comb row configuration, maximum current and whether a casting system for large gels is needed.

How does it compare with other Horizontal Electrophoresis variants?

Choose the gel size first, because it fixes run time, sample number and resolution. Mini tanks give fast checks of a few samples, midi and standard formats balance throughput and resolution, and wide-format tanks accommodate multi-channel pipetting for 96-well workflows. Check the maximum voltage and buffer volume, as a larger tank needs a bigger power supply and more buffer. Consider whether dual trays or removable casting systems help speed. Pulsed-field systems are only needed for fragments above roughly 50 kb, such as genomic DNA typing. Also confirm comb thickness and tooth options, electrode material, lid interlock design and chemical resistance of the polycarbonate or acrylic body, and whether replacement trays and combs are easy to source.