Lentivirus titration by qRT-PCR

The Lenti-X qRT-PCR Titration Kit provides a fast and simple method for measuring lentivirus titer. The kits use a quick RNA purification step before quantifying the number of lentiviral genome copies using real-time PCR.

Rapid determination of lentiviral titer

Whereas traditional titration methods require up to 10 days to complete, these titration kits require only 4 hours and work with all HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors. Using qRT-PCR dramatically shortens the time interval between viral harvest and target-cell infection, allowing you to perform both on the same day.

Achieve consistent lentiviral transductions

A major advantage of lentiviral gene-delivery systems is the ability to control the level of gene expression by adjusting the multiplicity of infection (MOI) to dictate the number of viral genomes that enter your target cells. These titration kits allow you to make a rapid correlation between the lentiviral copy number and lentiviral infectivity in your cell type and ultimately allow you to control the expression level between experiments.

How it works

The qRT-PCR procedure entails subjecting serial dilutions of your sample and a control RNA of known copy number (provided) to one-step qRT-PCR. The lentiviral copy number contained in your sample can then be determined by comparing its Ct value to the standard curve.

RNA purification and DNase I treatment steps are critical to the protocol so even viruses packaged using transient transfections—which always contain residual plasmid DNA—can be accurately quantified using this kit.

The kit includes sufficient material for 200 qRT-PCR reactions.