Identification using the ReaX Assay 16S beads is based on PCR amplification of the widely used 16S ribosomal RNA gene. In a comparative study of the identification of E. coli and S. aureus, the beads generated identical PCR bands for each triplicate and for each organism, compared with conventional liquid-based PCR methods. Less manual pipetting was required, with fewer opportunities for contamination, and reduced pipetting error, leading to less variability between reactions. PCR reaction set-up using the ReaX Assay 16S beads required no prior optimization and was quicker and more user-friendly to perform compared to conventional liquid-based PCR set-up.
