Fast PCR utilizing buoyant convection in a disposable chip

We report a portable polymerase chain reaction(PCR) device conducting multiple PCR reactions in less than 5 minutes. We designed a novel loop-shaped microchannel in order to circulate PCR reactants fast through it. Temperature differences among three zones in the microchannel continuously generate a buoyant convection along the microchannel. The microchannel is molded in a disposable polymer chip. Our group's first prototype was reported previously, and we present a newly optimized device of the enhanced performance especially in PCR speed and multiplexing. The buoyant flows in the microchannel are newly visualized and compared with results from numerical simulations.