Why are qPCR reagents so expensive and is there a cheaper option?

[John Cumbers]

Hi,
I'm trying to teach qPCR in a lab, ok the machine is really expensive
(Ab7300) but what is it about the reagents that make them cost so much (e.g
bio-rad, itaq SYBR supermix + ROX) it costs about $100 per 96 well plate.
Is it because the reagents are patented still?  Can I make my own?  Apart
from lower reaction volumes, is there anything else I can do to reduce the
costs?  Also are there more affordable qPCR machines on the market these
days?  The ab7300 is quite old now I think.

Cheers,
John


-- 
John Cumbers,  Graduate Student
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry
Biology and Medicine
Brown University, Box G-W
Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, USA
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