Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System — 96-Well 0.1 mL Block (REF A28133) — Used / Inspected & Tested — Includes Control Laptop

The Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 sits in the sweet spot of the real-time PCR market: enough optical horsepower for demanding multiplex work, in a footprint and price bracket that a single lab can actually justify. This unit is the 96-well 0.1 mL configuration — the fast-block variant built for high-throughput gene expression, SNP genotyping, pathogen detection, copy number variation, and high-resolution melt.

Optically, the system is built on OptiFlex technology: a bright white LED excitation source feeding six decoupled filters with up to 21 filter combinations, covering 450–680 nm excitation and 500–730 nm detection with whole-plate imaging. That translates directly into real bench capability — up to six-target multiplexing, ten logarithmic units of dynamic range, single-copy sensitivity, and the resolution to discriminate 1.5-fold differences in a singleplex reaction. Dye compatibility is broad out of the box: FAM/SYBR Green, VIC/JOE/HEX/TET, ABY/NED/TAMRA/Cy3, JUN, and ROX/Texas Red, plus the QuantStudio 5–exclusive Mustang Purple, Cy5/LIZ, and Cy5.5 channels.

Thermally, the 0.1 mL block is the fastest in the family — a 9.0 °C/sec maximum ramp rate with a 4.81 °C/sec average sample ramp, Peltier heating and cooling, 0.4 °C block uniformity, and six independent VeriFlex temperature zones for gradient-style annealing optimization without burning a separate instrument. Typical run times fall under 30 minutes.

For regulated and quality-driven environments, the QuantStudio 5 ships with security, auditing, and e-signature functionality to assist with 21 CFR Part 11 compliance — with no additional license fees required, plus 10 GB of onboard storage, good for roughly 2,000–5,000 run files, so the instrument can operate standalone, PC-connected, or networked.

This is a complete, ready-to-run package. The system ships with its control laptop already imaged with QuantStudio Design & Analysis Software v1.6.1 and configured to communicate with the instrument. There is no software hunt, no driver troubleshooting, and no waiting on IT — connect the Ethernet cable, power up, and you are designing plates the same afternoon. For a lab retiring a 7500 Fast or StepOnePlus, this is one of the most cost-effective upgrade paths on the secondary market.

Condition — Used / Inspected & Tested

Cosmetically excellent. Housing, bezel, and touchscreen are clean and free of significant scratching, staining, or damage. The 96-well 0.1 mL block was inspected and is clean, with no residue, corrosion, or damaged wells. Drawer travel is smooth and the motorized load/eject cycle operates correctly.

Functional testing performed by our technicians:

• Power-on and full system initialization — PASSED
• Touchscreen response and menu navigation — PASSED
• Motorized drawer open/close — PASSED
• Instrument-to-laptop communication (Ethernet, QuantStudio Design & Analysis v1.6.1) — PASSED
• Complete plate run executed to completion, start to finish — PASSED
• Data collection, amplification plot generation, and run transfer to the control computer — PASSED
• Export function to .xls (Sample Setup, Amplification Data, Results) — PASSED

The instrument run log confirms a full cycle: run started, run completed, and run transferred, all logged without errors. Screenshots of the run log, results screen, and export dialog are included in the listing photos.

Instrument Statistics (as displayed on the unit)

We publish these readings rather than hide them, so you can evaluate the unit on the same data we can see:

• Block Cycle Count: 62,475
• Block Degrees Climbed: 2,176,805
• LED Life: 8,705.74 hours
• Disk Space Remaining: 10,260 MB
• Firmware Version: 1.3.3

All onboard calibrations on this instrument are currently expired and will require renewal by the end user before quantitative work. Specifically: ROI, Uniformity, Dye Plate 1, Dye Plate 2, Dye Plate 3, Background, and RNase P all display an Expired status on the instrument's Calibration Reminders screen. Last recorded calibration dates were February 2023 (RNase P: September 2023).

This is normal and expected for a pre-owned research instrument that has been out of an active service contract, and it does not indicate a fault — the unit runs, collects data, and transfers files correctly, as documented above. Renewal requires the appropriate Applied Biosystems spectral calibration and RNase P verification plates for the 96-well 0.1 mL format, which are available directly from Thermo Fisher. Budget for these consumables, or for a Thermo Fisher PM/calibration service visit, when planning your purchase.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Applied Biosystems (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
• Model: QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR Instrument
• Reference / Catalog No.: A28133
• Instrument Serial Number: 272511892
• Block Serial Number: 20253904
• Date of Manufacture: July 7, 2020
• Country of Origin: Singapore
• Sample Block: 96-well, 0.1 mL (fast format), interchangeable
• Reaction Volume: 10–30 µL
• Maximum Ramp Rate: 9.0 °C/sec
• Average Sample Ramp Rate: 4.81 °C/sec
• Temperature Uniformity: 0.4 °C
• Heating/Cooling: Peltier
• VeriFlex Zones: 6 independent temperature zones
• Excitation Source: Bright white LED
• Optics: 6 decoupled filters, up to 21 filter combinations; whole-plate imaging
• Excitation / Detection Range: 450–680 nm / 500–730 nm
• Multiplexing: Up to 6 targets
• Dynamic Range: 10 logarithmic units
• Sensitivity: 1 copy; discriminates 1.5-fold differences in singleplex
• Onboard Memory: 10 GB (approx. 2,000–5,000 run files)
• Connectivity: Ethernet (RJ45), USB (front panel), RS232 (DB9)
• Interface: Integrated color touchscreen with real-time run viewing
• Software: QuantStudio Design & Analysis Software v1.6.1 (installed on included laptop)
• Electrical: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 960 W max
• Fuse Rating: 10 A, 250 VAC, time-lag
• Compliance Marks: CE, TÜV SÜD (c/us), RCM; IEC 61326 Class A, Group 1
• Dimensions: 27 × 50 × 40 cm (W × D × H)
• Weight: Under 26 kg (57 lbs)
• Regulatory Status: For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Included

• (1) Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR Instrument, 96-Well 0.1 mL Block, REF A28133
• (1) 96-well 0.1 mL sample block, installed
• (1) Dell laptop with QuantStudio Design & Analysis Software v1.6.1 installed and configured
• (1) USB mouse
• (1) Ethernet cable (instrument-to-laptop)
• (1) Laptop power supply
• (1) IEC power cord

Not Included

• Spectral calibration plates (ROI, Uniformity, Background, Dye Plates 1–3)
• RNase P verification plate
• Reaction plates, optical adhesive films, caps, or any consumables
• Reagents, master mixes, assays, or dyes
• 384-well or 0.2 mL blocks
• Printed manuals or original packaging
• Software licenses beyond what is installed on the included laptop