AmplifX

AmplifX is a Windows application designed to help you design new primers and browse primer collections, in order to amplify a fragment into a target sequence, for instance. It is wrapped in a user-friendly working environment that contains several settings to tinker with. Given the nature of the program, it clearly addresses experienced users.

Quick setup and simple-looking GUI

The installation procedure is a fast and easy job which does not need special attention. As for the interface, AmplifX adopts a classical window with a simple layout, split into three panels for opening a target sequence and a primer list, and for viewing information.
Primer lists can be opened from files with the XPL format (previously created with AmplifX), while target sequences may have ASC, ASCII, TEXT, TXT, GCP, FASTA, FAS, GB, STR, GENBANK or XDNA file extensions.

Configure program settings

It is possible to use a search function, set the origin at the insertion point, run PCR, add and check all primers, adjust the speed and sensitivity by moving a slider, as well as to set the amplicon maximum strength, among others. The graphic view may be exported to an image file.

Evaluation and conclusion

There were no type of issues in our tests, since AmplifX did not hang, crash or pop up error messages. It has a good response time to commands and runs on a light quantity of CPU and memory, so it does not affect the overall performance of the computer. Help documentation is available. All in all, AmplifX serves its purpose.