Portable molecular biology labs

BENTO LAB

All-in-one lab with the following features:

  • Mini-centrifuge (up to 6 1.5ml tubes)

  • PCR thermocycler (up to 32 samples)

  • Gel electrophoresis box (up to 9 or 12 samples) and power supply

  • Blue LED transillumination


Prices:

Bento Lab Pro = ~$2,095

Bento Lab Entry = ~$1,700 (restricted functionalities)


Dimensions:

33 x 21.4 x 8.1 cm / 13 x 8.4 x 3.2 in

3.5 kg / 7.7 lb

MINIPCR

Separate systems to be combined to a full molecular biology lab:

  • Mini-centrifuge (up to 6 1.5 ml tubes or 16 0.2 ml tubes)

  • PCR thermocycler (up to 8 or 16 samples)

  • Gel electrophoresis box (up to 9 to 26 samples) and power supply

  • Blue LED transillumination


Prices

Gyro/Plus mini-centrifuge = $160/$250

Mini8/Mini16 thermocycler = $650/$840

BlueGel gel electrophoresis box = $350

BlueBox S/Pro transilluminator = $250/$350

Example cost of a full lab = $1,440


Dimensions:

Gyro/Plus = 13 x 10 x 4 cm / 5.1 x 3.9 x 1.6 in

Mini8/Mini16 = 5.1 x 12.7 x 10.2 cm / 2 x 5 x 4 in

BlueGel = 10.2 x 22.9 x 7.6 cm / 4 x 9 x 3 in

BlueBox S = 9 x 10 cm / 3.5 x 3.9 in

BlueBox Pro = 11.4 x 14 cm / 4.5 x 5.5 in

Advantages Bento Lab

  • Whole system powered by one power supply

  • Compact system that doesn't take up much bench space

  • Various PCR settings can be stored on the device

  • No seperate technologies needed to run: built-in control panel

Advantages miniPCR

  • Separate systems means users can buy more or less of each system, depending on lab needs

  • Gel electrophoresis system includes a 'dark room box' to simplify photography

Disadvantages Bento Lab

  • Thermocycler and gel electrophoresis system can't run at the same time

  • Thermocycler and timed centrifuge can't run at the same time

  • Gel electrophoresis system has maximum capacity of 12 samples

Disadvantages miniPCR

  • Each system requires individual power supply

  • Thermocycler and gel electrophoresis system need to be controlled with a smart phone or tablet

Tips & tricks Bento Lab

  • Use 1.5 ml tubes without cap as holders to spin 0.2 ml tubes down

  • To take good pictures of the gel:

    • remove gel from holder

    • place on the transilluminator

    • cover phone camera with the orange lid

    • make sure your environment is as dark as possible

  • If the centrifuge lid lock system blocks, turn the Bento Lab off and on again

  • For a 2% gel: use 0.5 g agarose with 27.5 ml 1x TBE buffer

  • Add ~40ml buffer to the gel electrophoresis box to run a gel

Tips & tricks miniPCR

  • If you have tips & tricks from your own experience, please contact us