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BioTek Instruments, Inc.
Optimize Performance
Important
:
Always
fully prime the washer before running a wash or dispense program. Do
not rely on
AutoPrime
to pre-prime the tubing for a protocol. AutoPrime is designed for
maintenance purposes to keep the tubing in a wetted state between runs. Enable "Prime before
Washing" when creating a protocol and when using the
Quick
menu, prime the tubing before
running a basic wash.
Always prime the washer with dispense fluid before a run and when finished with the
washer. Flush the tubing by running a prime or maintenance program. Find
guidelines in the Maintenance chapter.
Vacuum Inline Filter:
Installing the hydrophobic inline vacuum filter before using
the 50 TS is strongly recommended.
Before Running the Washer
•
Fill the wash/rinse bottles with sufficient fluid. Make sure the supply tube is in
the liquid.
•
Empty the waste bottle and firmly seat the waste bottle’s stopper. To prevent
fluid from backing up into the vacuum pump, never allow the waste bottle to
become more than three-quarters full. Alternatively, install the Liquid Level
Alert.
•
Check the external tubing connections for kinks and clogs.
•
Make sure the bottles, solutions, and tubing are clean and do not contain any
particles or mold.
•
To avoid creating air bubbles every time the supply bottle is filled, make a mark
halfway down the bottle and refill when the fluid level drops to that point.
Unscrew the cap and let it hang over the side just enough to avoid emptying the
inside tube and enough to refill the bottle.
•
Enable AutoPrime to keep the tubing wet during idle periods.
•
Always use the correct microplate/microstrip types for the manifold:
•
8, 8s, and 2x8 Well manifold: 96-well plates, 8-well strips.
•
12 Well manifold: 96-well plates, 12-well strips.
•
8,16 Well manifold: 96- or 384-well plates, 8-well strips.
•
4 Well manifold: 24-well plates.
•
Vacuum filtration is performed only on full plates. Microstrips are not
supported.
•
Always put microstrips in the holder before loading them onto the carrier.
•
Position microplates or strip holders with well A1 closest to the rear of the
washer.
•
Vacuum filtration models: make sure there is sufficient flex room for the tubing
connected to the vacuum filtration carrier during operation.
