Say Hello to… Azure Cielo Real-Time PCR System

There is no shortage of qPCR systems on the market. Most labs already have one, and many have been running the same platform for years. So when a genuinely different approach to real-time PCR comes along, it’s worth paying attention.

The Cielo Real-Time PCR System from Azure Biosystems is now available through Millennium Science across Australia and New Zealand. Built around a novel fibre optic detection architecture, the Cielo rethinks how fluorescence is delivered and captured at the well level, translating into meaningful improvements in sensitivity, reproducibility, and multiplex capability.

The Cielo is available in two configurations: the Cielo 3 (3-channel) for singleplex and lower-plex workflows, and the Cielo 6 (6-channel) for full multiplex experiments across the compatible dye spectrum.

Most conventional qPCR systems use a single illumination source that floods the entire plate. The light that misses the wells becomes background, the light path length varies from well to well, and the system compensates by requiring a passive reference dye like ROX to normalise those inconsistencies.

The Azure Cielo takes a different approach. A scan head comprising two sets of 16 fibre optics delivers excitation light directly into each individual well and collects emission from the same position. No light falls outside the well, and the path length is identical for every well.

Additionally, the Cielo’s total well detection technology captures approximately 100,000 data points per well, compared to the single pixel acquired by conventional scanning systems.

Because the Cielo’s optical design ensures uniform illumination well-to-well, there is no need to sacrifice a channel to a passive reference dye. ROX is simply not required.

For the Cielo 6, that means all six fluorescence channels are available for biological targets. The validated dye and probe panel includes:

Custom dyes and probes are also supported and can be easily calibrated to suit your workflow.

Sensitivity, speed, and reproducibility are the three things researchers demand most from a qPCR system. The Cielo delivers on each, and the fibre optic architecture is what connects all three.

On sensitivity, the in-well detection design reduces background and increases excitation efficiency, enabling detection of single-copy templates and resolution of subtle differences in gene expression that conventional systems would miss.

On speed, simultaneous scanning of 16 wells means the Cielo requires just 6 scan positions to read an entire 96-well plate across all six channels, completing a full plate scan in 9 seconds. Combined with the Peltier-based thermal block and fast ramp rates, total run times are competitive with the fastest systems on the market.

On reproducibility, the same thermal uniformity and optical consistency that eliminates the need for ROX also ensures that Cq values remain stable run-to-run and instrument-to-instrument. This is particularly relevant for multi-site studies or labs running multiple units.

The Cielo runs from an integrated 10.3″ touchscreen with no external PC required. Protocols are saved and recalled directly from the instrument. Email notifications are sent automatically at run completion, with data accessible via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB.

The companion Azure Cielo Manager software provides a full PC-compatible analysis environment, supporting dye/SYBR quantification, probe-based quantification, allele discrimination, comparative quantitation, and high-resolution melting. Plate layouts are colour-coded by sample type, replicate, and well ID for rapid visual QC. Data can be exported to MS Office, PDF, or in RDML format (the MIQE-preferred standard for qPCR data interchange). The onboard 32GB memory stores the equivalent of 20,000 experiments.

The Azure Cielo is available now through Millennium Science across Australia and New Zealand. Complete the form below, and a member of our team will be in touch promptly.