Biotek MicroFlo select Operator'S Manual Download

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Chapter 4

Operation

This chapter provides instructions for operating the MicroFlo Select

Microplate Dispenser using the keypad. When using the Liquid
Handling Control™ (LHC) software refer to its Help system to learn
how to control the MicroFlo.

Basic Operation .......................................................................38

Turn On/Off the MicroFlo ..........................................................38

Using the Keypad ....................................................................38

Main Menu ..............................................................................39

Dispenser Run Menu ................................................................40

Dispenser Action Menu .............................................................40

Run a Quick Dispense...............................................................42

Run a Dispense Protocol ...........................................................43

Prime the MicroFlo ...................................................................48

Purge the MicroFlo ...................................................................49

Define the Cassette..................................................................50

Define the Plate Type and Plate Map...........................................51

About Plate Types and Plate Maps ..............................................51

Setup Menu Options.................................................................53

Utility Menu Options.................................................................54

Using the BioStack...................................................................55

Summary of Contents for MicroFlo select

Page 1: ...Operator s Manual Dispenser MicroFlo Select ...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...MicroFlo Select Microplate Dispenser Operator s Manual February 2010 2010 Part Number 7171000 Revision C BioTek Instruments Inc ...

Page 4: ...elect BioStack and Liquid Handling Control Software are trademarks of BioTek Instruments Inc Microsoft Windows Windows XP Windows 2000 Windows Vista and Excel are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders Restrictions and Liabilities Information in this document i...

Page 5: ...Warnings x Hazards x Precautions xi CE Mark xii Directive 2004 108 EC Electromagnetic Compatibility xiii Directive 73 23 EEC Low Voltage Safety xiii Directive 2002 96 EC Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipmentxiii Directive 2002 95 EC Reduction of Hazardous Substances RoHS xiv Directive 98 79 EC In Vitro Diagnostics xiv Electromagnetic Interference and Susceptibility xiv USA FCC CLASS A xiv Cana...

Page 6: ...e instrument and its accessories 22 Repacking Illustration 25 Essential Concepts 27 How it works 28 How to optimize performance 29 Quick Dispense or Protocol 31 Handling Special Plates and Test tube racks 33 6 12 24 and 48 Well Plates 33 Test Tube Racks 34 Chemical Compatibility 35 Table 1 Material Where Used List 35 Table 2 Chemical Compatibility Ratings 36 Operation 37 Basic Operation 38 Turn On...

Page 7: ...IQ OQ PQ 70 Recommended Qualification Schedule 71 System Self Check and Checksum Test 72 System Self Check 72 Checksum Test 72 Dispense Precision and Accuracy Tests 73 Materials 75 Test Solutions 76 Performing the Precision and Accuracy Tests 77 Procedure 77 Documenting Test Results 79 MicroFlo Select Dispense Precision Accuracy Test Worksheet 1 µL Cassette Test 80 MicroFlo Select Dispense Precisi...

Page 8: ...r TAC 90 European Coordination Center Authorized European Representative 90 Error Codes 91 Error Codes 92 Instrument Error Codes 92 Software Error Codes 94 Dispensing to Test Tubes 95 Install the test tube rack 96 Dispensing to the test tube rack 97 Gravimetric Calibration Instructions 99 Calibrating the Tubing Cassette Gravimetrically 100 Procedure 101 Gravimetric Cassette Calibration Worksheet 1...

Page 9: ...5171 toll free in the U S 802 655 4740 outside the U S Fax 802 655 7941 E Mail customercare biotek com Service TAC Phone 800 242 4685 toll free in the U S 802 655 4740 outside the U S Fax 802 654 0638 E Mail tac biotek com European Coordination Center Authorized European Representative BioTek Instruments GmbH Kocherwaldstrasse 34 D 74177 Bad Friedrichshall Germany Internet www biotek de Phone 49 0...

Page 10: ...d Optional Accessories sections C 02 2010 Description and pictures of the Dispense Cassette were revised to match new design Added descriptions of the Tip Guard and break away tabs Added description of the new Plate Clearance Height parameter Optional accessories were updated with angled dispensing and tubing extensions products Revised the Intended Use statement for IVD Document Conventions The i...

Page 11: ...The dispense tubing cassettes are autoclavable for those applications requiring a sterile fluid path The MicroFlo Select can operate with standard robotic systems such as BioTek s BioStack Microplate Stacker This product may be used for In Vitro Diagnostic research and development or other non clinical purposes Quality Control It is considered good laboratory practice to run laboratory samples acc...

Page 12: ...ek will replace the cassette components free of charge Warnings Operate the instrument on a flat surface away from excessive humidity When operated in a safe environment according to the instructions in this document there are no known hazards associated with the instrument However the operator should be aware of certain situations that could result in serious injury these vary depending on the in...

Page 13: ...uality control checks could result in erroneous test data Precautions The following precautions are provided to help avoid damage to the instrument Caution Service The instrument should be serviced by BioTek authorized service personnel Only qualified technical personnel should perform troubleshooting and service procedures on internal components Caution Environmental Conditions Do not expose the ...

Page 14: ...ltages Caution Disposal This instrument contains printed circuit boards and wiring with lead solder Dispose of the instrument according to Directive 2002 96 EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment WEEE or local ordinances Caution Warranty Failure to follow preventive maintenance protocols may void the warranty Caution Shipping Hardware All shipping hardware must be removed before operating...

Page 15: ...0 4 4 Electrical Fast Transient Burst EN 61000 4 5 Surge Immunity EN 61000 4 6 Conducted Disturbances EN 61000 4 11 Voltage Dips Short Interruptions and Variations Directive 73 23 EEC Low Voltage Safety The system has been type tested by an independent testing laboratory and was found to meet the requirements of EC Directive 73 23 EEC for Low Voltage Verification of compliance was conducted to the...

Page 16: ...similar equipment this equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual may cause harmful interference to radio communications Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at their own expense Canadian Depart...

Page 17: ... courant alternatif Gleich und Wechselstrom Corriente continua y corriente alterna Corrente continua e corrente alternata Direct current Courant continu Gleichstrom Corriente continua Corrente continua Earth ground terminal Borne de terre Erde Betriebserde Borne de tierra Terra di funzionamento On Supply Marche alimentation Ein Verbindung mit dem Netz Conectado Chiuso Protective conductor terminal...

Page 18: ...ntion risques biologiques potentiels Warnung Moegliche biologische Giftstoffe Atención riesgos biológicos Attenzione rischio biologico In vitro diagnostic medical device Dispositif médical de diagnostic in vitro Medizinisches In Vitro Diagnostikum Dispositivo médico de diagnóstico in vitro Dispositivo medico diagnostico in vitro Separate collection for electrical and electronic equipment Les équip...

Page 19: ...cribes its hardware and software features The MicroFlo Select Microplate Dispenser 2 Software 3 Compatibility with the BioStack Microplate Stacker 3 Hardware Features 4 Package Contents 5 Optional Accessories 6 Specifications 7 Labware 7 Hardware Environmental 7 Dispense Precision and Accuracy 8 ...

Page 20: ...ch solution The dispenser s standard carrier accommodates 6 12 24 48 96 384 and 1536 well plates that comply with SBS microplate standards 4 2004 A custom carrier is available for dispensing into 12 mm X 75 mm and 13 mm X 100 mm test tubes Plate types are stored in the onboard software Dispensing can be performed instantly for the most common applications The MicroFlo saves the 10 most recently us...

Page 21: ... Software offers a NET software component for robotics programmers Compatibility with the BioStack Microplate Stacker The MicroFlo Select is compatible with BioTek s BioStack Microplate Stacker Controlled serially by the MicroFlo or BioTek s Liquid Handling Control LHC software the BioStack system can rapidly and systematically transfer microplates one at a time to and from the dispenser and inclu...

Page 22: ...e serial RS 232 COM port 9 pin female connector One USB COM port Two user selected tubing cassettes Controllable flow rates and volumes provided by a peristaltic pump Stepper motors provide accurate and repeatable carrier and dispense head positioning Plate Carrier and Priming Trough are easily removed for cleaning Prime Trough Insert is supplied as an accessory to capture expensive reagents for r...

Page 23: ... strip microplate 98265 Priming trough insert 7172062 Priming trough drain hose 67483 MicroFlo Select Installation Guide 71710013 MicroFlo Select Operator s Manual User Support Tools on CD 7171014 Tubing Cassettes 2 Customer specified Small plastic sealable bag containing a screwdriver hex wrench 10 cc syringe and a self adhesive strip for securing the bag to the back of the instrument Part number...

Page 24: ...ense cassettes and accessories Cassette Type PN Tips Replacement tubing kit Tubing extension kit 1 µL molded tip 7170012 1 µL 1536 molded tips 7170018 7172060 1 µL steel tip 7170015 1 µL 1536 steel tips 7170016 7172129 7170009 7170022 5 µL molded tip 7170011 7172059 5 µL steel tip 7170014 7172128 7170008 7170021 10 µL molded tip 7170010 7172039 10 µL steel tip 7170013 7172127 7170007 7170020 Part ...

Page 25: ...ements 250 1536 well plates 5µL well 96 mL 1 2 mL 5 µL 5 2500µL in 5µL increments 1000 96 well plates 50µL well 3 4 mL 4 2 mL 10 µL 10µL 10mL in 10µL increments 1000 96 well plates 100µL well 5 9 mL 7 4 mL Peristaltic pump Positive displacement peristaltic pump with 4 rollers that stretch the 8 tubes one per channel to deliver fluid User Interface 2 line x 24 character LCD screen 25 alphanumeric s...

Page 26: ...well 1µL 5 CV 2 L per well 5 2 L per well 10 CV 1 L per well 10 1 L per well 1µL 1536 5 CV 2 L per well 5 2 L per well 5 CV 5 L per well 4 5 L per well 5µL 2 5 CV 10 L per well 2 10 L per well 4 CV 10 L per well 4 10 L per well 10µL 2 CV 20 L per well 2 20 L per well These specifications are for these dispense volumes and higher ...

Page 27: ...12 Remove the shipping brackets 12 Remove the rubber band 13 Attach the plastic storage pouch to the rear panel 13 3 Install the MicroFlo s Components 14 Install the Tubing Cassette 14 Tubing Cassette Diagram 15 Insert the Prime Trough Drain Tube 18 Prime Trough Insert 19 Power Supply and Cords 20 Data Communication 20 Operating the MicroFlo with the BioStack 20 4 Verify Performance 21 Repacking a...

Page 28: ...box packaging instrument and accessories for signs of damage If the MicroFlo Select Microplate Dispenser is damaged notify the carrier and your BioTek representative Keep the shipping cartons and packing material for the carrier s inspection BioTek will arrange for repair or replacement of your instrument immediately before the shipping related claim is settled Accessories Checklist Use this check...

Page 29: ...ng for flushing cassette tubes and tips Hex wrench for removing shipping hardware Velcro strips for attaching plastic pouch on rear panel Optional accessories shipped separately Liquid Handling Control LHC software MicroFlo Select Qualification and Maintenance Package Cassette Calibration kit Carrier test tube rack Angled Dispense Kit ...

Page 30: ...g brackets 1 First remove the dispense arm shipping bracket use the hex wrench to remove the two screws that hold it to the dispense arm and slide it forward and off the back rail 2 Next remove the plate carrier shipping bracket use the hex wrench to remove the two screws that hold it to the plate carrier and slide it forward and off the back rail 3 Attach the shipping brackets to the back of the ...

Page 31: ...crews to attach the brackets to the instrument Store the hex wrench in the plastic storage pouch Remove the rubber band 4 Carefully remove the rubber band that holds the pump cover in place around the pump Store the rubber band in the small plastic storage pouch for future use Attach the plastic storage pouch to the rear panel 5 Use the Velcro strips to attach the plastic storage pouch to the rear...

Page 32: ...nts are all that is required to run the MicroFlo to process standard microplates Additional steps are required to dispense to test tubes and plates with fewer than 96 wells Review the section on Special Plates in the Essential Concepts chapter Install the Tubing Cassette Take a moment to identify the MicroFlo s parts that are named in the instructions for installing the tubing cassette Figure 3 Di...

Page 33: ... center holder is labeled to identify the size of the cassette tubing It also has a serial number for tracking purposes It fits in between the tip holder and the tube tensioner and fixes the tubes in place On the MicroFlo it slides into grooves on the right side of the pump 3 Tube Tensioner The transparent 5 mm scale on its front surface identifies the tube tensioner It has 8 internal screws for s...

Page 34: ...teel plate It will hang loosely from the pump 1 Slide the Center Holder into its slot on the right side of the pump A tab on the back plate of the center holder fits into a notch Figure 5 Slide the Center Holder into place 2 Slide the Tip Holder into the dispense arm Do not twist the tubing The Tip Holder s front plate with the BioTek logo faces the Center Holder Make sure the tip holder is level ...

Page 35: ... wraps around and up against the pump Be sure the knobs on top of the tensioner fit correctly into the grooves in the stainless steel plate as you move both parts and click them into place When installing the cassettes guide the steel plate first to the right to align with the tensioner then push both pieces clockwise around the pump Figure 7 Align the Tube Tensioner with the steel plate ...

Page 36: ...er over the pump cover Place it in the fluid vessel when you re ready Figure 9 Put the Tube Organizer in the fluid supply vessel 5 Return the Pump Cover to its RUN position covering the pump Insert the Prime Trough Drain Tube The MicroFlo ships with a tube to drain the priming trough You must supply a vessel to catch the fluid ...

Page 37: ...Alternative Option You can change the position of the bracket that holds the drain tube The bracket can be secured to the back left corner of the dispenser to redirect the waste tube if that position better accommodates your workspace You will find two screw holes in the bottom of the instrument to hold the bracket 3 Put the other end of the tube into your waste vessel 0 Prime Trough Insert Figure...

Page 38: ...ards Data Communication Communication with Computer or Other Devices You will find a 9 pin serial RS 232 port and a USB port located on the left side of the instrument These communication ports COM Ports allow the dispenser to communicate with the BioStack Microplate Stacker Liquid Handling Control LHC software Robotics software application The MicroFlo ships with a USB cable PN 75108 to communica...

Page 39: ...r cassette status pump positioning and operation If the test passes the Main Menu appears and the dispenser is ready for use If the self test fails the dispenser will chirp and display an error code Press the Stop button on the keypad and then look up the code in Appendix A Error Codes Note You can also run this test from the dispenser s keypad by selecting Dispenser Action Menu UTIL SLFCHK When u...

Page 40: ... regulations The instrument s packaging design is subject to change over time If the instructions in this section do not appear to apply to the packaging materials you are using please contact BioTek s Technical Assistance Center for guidance Before shipping the instrument Decontaminate the dispenser and its accessories as necessary find instructions in Chapter 5 Obtain a Return Materials Authoriz...

Page 41: ...lace the eight foam corner blocks on the inner box Place the inner box with corner blocks into the outer shipping box Securely tape the shipping box closed Record the RMA on the side of the shipping box Install the Shipping Hardware After removing the cassette and the drain tube you can install the shipping brackets Two shipping brackets and a rubber band protect the MicroFlo during shipping Insta...

Page 42: ...late carrier s rail See the picture on page 12 Removing the plate carrier may make it easier to install the plate carrier shipping bracket Restore the carrier before installing the dispense arm bracket 3 To install the dispense arm shipping bracket put the hole in the bracket s short arm over the back rail so that the black foam patch on the wider branch protects the plate carrier from being scrat...

Page 43: ...epacking Illustration Illustration 1 Illustration 2 Securely tape the boxes closed Write the RMA in large clear letters on the outside of the outer box and return to BioTek Instruments Inc ATTN RMA xxxxx 100 Tigan Street Highland Park Winooski VT 05404 0998 USA Illustration 3 ...

Page 44: ...26 Installation BioTek Instruments Inc ...

Page 45: ...ribes hardware and software features How it works 28 How to optimize performance 29 Quick Dispense or Protocol 31 Quick Dispense Main Menu 31 Protocols 31 Handling Special Plates and Test tube racks 33 6 12 24 and 48 Well Plates 33 Test Tube Racks 34 Chemical Compatibility 35 Table 1 Material Where Used List 35 Table 2 Chemical Compatibility Ratings 36 ...

Page 46: ...volume of the fractions is variable depending as it does on many factors exact rotor position tubing tension tip geometry etc The variation between volumes of fractional aliquots is significantly higher than between dispenses done with full aliquots Thus the best possible performance and reproducibility from dispense to dispense is done in full aliquot increments That is 1 µL dispenses when using ...

Page 47: ... clogging Select the right cassette for the job match your desired dispense volume to the recommended cassette The smallest recommended volume for a cassette type is one aliquot An aliquot matches the cassette type 1µL for the 1µL cassette 5µL for the 5µL cassette and 10µL for 10µL cassette Dedicate cassettes for specific fluids or applications Reserving specific cassettes for specific uses avoids...

Page 48: ...s etched into the two remaining shields on the outer edge of the Tip Holder 2 You can use your thumb and forefinger to snap the tab off and away from the tips but the job is easier when a small set of pliers a wrench or similar tool is used to get a good grip on the tab You can remove the outer shields if necessary ...

Page 49: ...y may not be permanently saved The last used program is always ready to run It is shown in the top line of the Main Menu with the plate type cassette type and dispense volume as in the example shown above The Options button scrolls through the Quick Dispense programs beginning with the most recently run The easy access and instant nature of the Quick Dispenses are obvious advantages They are perfe...

Page 50: ...Dispense Dispense Volume Plate Type Plate Map Flow Rate Dispense Height Plate Clear Height Horizontal Position Prime Volume Prime Cycles Protocols offer some of the convenience of a Quick Dispense Prior to running a selected protocol the MicroFlo displays its dispense volume and plate map You can temporarily change one of these values Upon completion of the run the MicroFlo displays a Repeat optio...

Page 51: ... e full aliquots are more accurate than fractions of an aliquot Another tool to consider using with special plates is the Horizontal Dispense Position setting You may be able to use it to aim the dispense tubes to a certain region of the well 6 12 24 and 48 Well Plates BioTek recommends experimenting with different dispense tube to well configurations when using these special plates For some plate...

Page 52: ...to the tubes Remove channels 1 3 5 and 7 from the cassette or fluid supply before dispensing to test tubes You must also remove the plate carrier and replace it with the test tube rack Follow the instructions to Install the Test Tube Rack in Appendix B Plate Type Columns Rows Tubes per Well Tubes removed 20 75mm Tubes 5 x 4 1 1 3 5 7 20 100mm Tubes 5 x 4 1 1 3 5 7 If you regularly use the special ...

Page 53: ... Materials listed as 1 10 in Table 1 are cross referenced as headings 1 10 in Table 2 Table 1 Material Where Used List Material Where Used 1 316 Stainless Steel Steel dispense tips Tip Holder cover plate on 1536 cassette pump rollers carrier rails cassette bolts 2 Aluminum Center Holder Tube Tensioner pump head dispense arm 3 Brass Threaded inserts in Center Holder and Tip Holder 4 Polycarbonate P...

Page 54: ...A A A ND A A C A Hexane A A A D B D A A D A Hydrocholoric Acid 20 D D D B B C A D D A Hydrofluoric Acid 20 D D ND D A ND A A D ND Hydrogen Peroxide 10 B A D A A A A C A A Isopropyl Alcohol 70 A A A A A A A A A A Methyl Alcohol 70 A A A B A ND A A A A Methylene Chloride B C A D B D A A D D Phosphoric Acid 10 D C D A A B A A C A Propylene Glycol B B ND B A A A A A ND Sodium Chlorate B C ND A A ND A ...

Page 55: ...how to control the MicroFlo Basic Operation 38 Turn On Off the MicroFlo 38 Using the Keypad 38 Main Menu 39 Dispenser Run Menu 40 Dispenser Action Menu 40 Run a Quick Dispense 42 Run a Dispense Protocol 43 Prime the MicroFlo 48 Purge the MicroFlo 49 Define the Cassette 50 Define the Plate Type and Plate Map 51 About Plate Types and Plate Maps 51 Setup Menu Options 53 Utility Menu Options 54 Using ...

Page 56: ...es the Main Menu will appear and the dispenser is ready for use If the self test fails the dispenser will chirp and display an error code Press the Stop key Look up the code in Appendix A Error Codes Using the Keypad The MicroFlo features a 25 key keypad and a 2 line x 24 character LCD display as the user interface The keypad is shown below Figure 13 Keypad 96 CASS 5 VOL 0010uL PRIME PURGE uPLATE ...

Page 57: ...or appears to underline a number 0010 When the correct position is selected use the number pad to enter the desired value To select a menu option in the second line of the MicroFlo s display press the SoftKey on the keypad below it Prime press and hold down the Softkey to prime the tubing Fluid flows into the prime trough for as long as you press the key Purge press and hold down the Softkey to pu...

Page 58: ...n to run one of the Protocols Enter the protocol s number in the top line or use the Options button to scroll through the list of programs Press Enter to select it and follow the prompts The plate map and dispense volume can be changed for the current run Upon completion of the run you can put another plate on the carrier and select Repeat Or select New to change the parameters or select another p...

Page 59: ...Define menu 2 Enter the program s number in the top line or use the Options button to scroll through the list of programs Press Enter to select it 3 Enter a new unique name for the program The MicroFlo will assign it the next available number 4 Back at the Define menu select Edit to modify the new program 0 Util The Utility option offers System Self Check and CheckSum see Utility Menu Options on p...

Page 60: ...uick retrieval and execution The last used program is always ready to run It is shown in the top line of the Main Menu with the plate type cassette type and dispense volume as in the example shown above Quick Dispenses perform a two cycle pre prime immediately before execution The prime volume matches the cassette volume and two primes are performed A Quick Dispense using a 5 µL cassette will be p...

Page 61: ... To create or modify a Protocol using the keypad Use the Liquid Handling Control LHC software s Help system to learn how to create or modify protocols using the LHC 1 At the main menu select by pressing the arrow s Softkey twice to get to the Dispenser Action Menu 2 Select Define 3 Choose an option Create or Edit Learn about the Copy and Delete on page 41 4 When creating a program enter a Name See...

Page 62: ...chapter Flow Rate Low Medium or High Low rate is recommended when using PCR or round bottom plates to avoid fluid splashing High rate is recommended for faster throughput Dispense Height The distance between the bottom of the well and the dispense tips when dispensing Plate Clearance Height The height the dispense arm moves to after dispensing to a column and while it moves to the next column The ...

Page 63: ...the tubing before dispensing to the plate then define the prime values Otherwise select No to not perform a prime before dispensing Prime Volume Enter the amount of fluid in microliters µL to pump through each tube into the priming trough per prime cycle The recommended prime volume is 10 times the cassette size 10 µL for 1 µL cassette 50 µL for 5 µL 100 µL for 10 µL Number Pre Dispenses Enter the...

Page 64: ...line Select a symbol Use Options button to scroll through alphabet Press Shift key A H or scroll through the alphabet with the Options key for A Z Shift Options reverses direction Use the arrow keys to move the cursor within the display It underlines the current space The second line of the NAME display offers four symbols _ that can be used in a protocol name dash hyphen percent sign ampersand an...

Page 65: ... a protocol number Up to 99 can be stored onboard Be sure to select a protocol that is optimal for your cassette type 4 Press Enter to select the protocol 5 You can change the plate map if desired Press Enter to save the map and move to the next option 6 You can change the dispense volume if desired Press Enter to save the volume and proceed 7 Follow the prompt put the microplate on the carrier an...

Page 66: ...ine Second line Softkeys Press and hold the Prime key to flush the tubing Fluid flows into the prime trough for as long as you press the key For top efficiency Purge the fluid at the end of run and Prime the tubing before the run Pre Prime Pre priming before a dispense run to condition the tips is a standard operating procedure MicroFlo s Quick Dispense programs include 2 pre prime cycles before e...

Page 67: ... Purge uPlate Top line Second line Softkeys Press and hold the Purge key to reverse the direction of the fluid and return it to the supply vessel Press and hold the key until all the fluid in the tubing is evacuated Using the LHC You can use BioTek s Liquid Handling Control LHC software to purge the MicroFlo before or after a dispense run by adding a Purge Step to the protocol Consult the LHC s He...

Page 68: ...your intention or cancel the run To define the cassette type 1 At the MicroFlo s main menu select twice to get to the Dispenser Action Menu 2 Select SETUP 3 Select CASS 4 Select the 1 µL 5 µL or 10 µL cassette 0 This action returns you to the Setup Options The cassette type is changed to your selection Confirm this at the main menu press Main Menu twice Removing the Tubing Cassette Review the Tubi...

Page 69: ...columns This is useful when you want to dispense to only a couple columns To change the plate map 3 Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to the column you want to define The cursor underlines the currently selected column and its number is shown in the display In the example above column 2 is currently selected 4 Press the Options key to toggle between filling the column or not When the image of ...

Page 70: ...from the fluid supply vessel See Special Plates Handling on page 33 Fill Pattern When using 384 and 1536 well plates the MicroFlo offers two dispense patterns Column or Row For these high density plates the 8 tip manifold must address the plate multiple times to fill it Column wise dispensing fills each column before moving to the next Row wise dispensing fills the first 8 rows then reverses direc...

Page 71: ...ing cassettes gravimetrically or when using the Cassette Calibration Kit CASS short for cassette tells the MicroFlo which cassette type is installed This is critically important for expected performance The size of the tubing determines the amount of fluid dispensed per well BioStack offers controls for using the BioStack to process plates with the MicroFlo See Using the BioStack on page 55 Patter...

Page 72: ...s the dispenser will chirp and display an error code Press the Enter key look up the Error Code and fix the problem Re run the SLFCHK Error Codes are listed in Appendix A Checksum Recording the Checksum is a regular part of the instrument qualification procedures and useful when troubleshooting The MicroFlo has two internal processors the User Interface UI to control the LED display and communicat...

Page 73: ...use the BioStack After installing the BioStack tell the MicroFlo to use it to process plates 1 At the main menu press twice to get to the Dispenser Action Menu 2 Select SETUP 3 Select BioStack 4 Select Conf0 BIOSTACK UTILITIES CONF ALIGN VERIFY Top line Second line Softkeys 5 At the Operating Mode menu select BioStack Repeat these steps except select Manual to run the MicroFlo without the BioStack...

Page 74: ...56 Operation BioTek Instruments Inc ...

Page 75: ...form to specification Overview 58 Recommended Maintenance Schedule 58 Flush the Tubing Cassette 59 Record the number of plates processed 60 Clean Exterior Surfaces 61 Clean Priming Trough and Drain Hose 61 Verify Performance 62 Unclogging the Dispense Tips 63 Replace the Tubing 65 Recalibrate the Cassette 65 Decontamination 66 Purpose 66 Tools and Supplies 67 Decontamination Procedure 67 ...

Page 76: ...re than an hour as well as at the end of the day Another important daily requirement is keeping track of the number of plates processed with a cassette This is necessary to determine when the cassette has reached its expected lifetime and is due for replacement or recalibration Replacement Tubing Kits as well as new cassettes are available from BioTek Instruments Monthly maintenance requires overa...

Page 77: ...the supply vessel When dispensing solutions not effected by water simply prime with the dispense fluid When dispensing protein solutions first prime the tubing with a buffered saline solution to remove any traces of water in the tubing then prime with the dispense fluid 2 Hold the Prime button on the keypad until fluid flows into the priming trough and all visible air bubbles have been removed 0 A...

Page 78: ...date for replacement or recalibration Cassette Types Cassette Life Total Volume 1 µL 1000 384 well plates 5µL well 2 000 mL 1 µL 1536 250 1536 well plates 5µL well 2 000 mL 5 µL 1000 96 well plates 50µL well 5 000 mL 10 µL 1000 96 well plates 100µL well 10 000 mL Example table for recording cassette usage You may want to create a form similar to this table to keep track of the volume dispensed wit...

Page 79: ...If detergent was used wipe all surfaces with a cloth moistened with water 5 Use a clean dry cloth to dry all wet surfaces 0 Clean Priming Trough and Drain Hose Remove the priming trough priming trough insert and the priming trough drain hose and soak them in warm water and a mild detergent You ll need Deionized or distilled water Clean lint free cotton cloths Mild detergent To clean these accessor...

Page 80: ... the cassette Perform the initial steps of one of these calibration procedures to verify performance The results will determine the need to actually recalibrate the cassette Use the Cassette Calibration Kit described in the PDF on the Operator s Manual CD titled 7171009_ current Rev _Calibration Kit Instructions PDF Use the Gravimetric Calibration method described in Appendix C of the Operator s M...

Page 81: ...using liquids that crystallize or harden In case the need arises BioTek ships a 10 cc plastic syringe with special tubing and fitting for use unclogging tips Installation instructions recommend storing it in the pouch on the back of the instrument The remedy involves removing the dispense tip and flushing it with water Depending on the type of clog soaking the tip holder in hot water with mild det...

Page 82: ...t into the tubing on the end of the syringe 6 With the tip poised to expel the clog and the water into the beaker or a sink discharge the syringe 7 Fill and discharge the syringe as many times as needed to flush the tip 8 Reassemble the cassette 0 Put the straight end of the tip into the bottom of the tube the tapered end of the dispense tip is exposed Reinsert the tube into the Tip Holder Seat th...

Page 83: ...se instructions print them on legal size paper 8 x 14 Recalibrate the Cassette Cassette Calibration Kit BioTek offers an accessory to the MicroFlo a Calibration Kit that speeds up the process of recalibrating a cassette It is also useful to verify performance one of the recommended monthly maintenance routines Follow the instructions shipped with the kit or find them in on the Operator s Manual CD...

Page 84: ... recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Neither BioTek nor the CDC assumes any liability for the adequacy of these solutions and methods Each laboratory must ensure that decontamination procedures are adequate for the Biohazard s they handle Wear prophylactic gloves when handling contaminated instruments Gloved hands should be considered contaminated at all times kee...

Page 85: ...olution to run into the interior of the instrument If this happens contact the BioTek Service Department Do not soak the keypad This will cause damage Wipe the keypad with a damp cloth 1 Turn off and unplug the MicroFlo Select 2 Unload the cassette and the prime trough drain tube 3 Autoclave the cassette 4 Prepare an aqueous solution of 0 5 sodium hypochlorite bleach As an alternative 70 isopropyl...

Page 86: ...20 minutes Moisten a cloth with DI or distilled water and wipe all surfaces of the instrument that have been cleaned with the bleach solution or alcohol 8 Use a clean dry cloth to dry all wet surfaces 9 Soak the drain tube in hot soapy water or the remaining bleach solution for twenty minutes or more Rinse well and set aside to dry 10 Discard the used gloves and cloths using a Biohazard trash bag ...

Page 87: ...ves BioTek IQ OQ PQ 70 Recommended Qualification Schedule 71 System Self Check and Checksum Test 72 System Self Check 72 Checksum Test 72 Dispense Precision and Accuracy Tests 73 Materials 75 Test Solutions 76 Performing the Precision and Accuracy Tests 74 Procedure 77 Documenting Test Results 79 MicroFlo Select Dispense Precision Accuracy Test Worksheet 80 ...

Page 88: ...on initially and over time The recommended OQ procedure consists of performing the System Self Check the Checksum Test and the appropriate Dispense Precision and Accuracy Tests Your facility s operating policies may also require that you perform an actual assay prior to accepting the dispenser for routine use You should not use the data obtained from the first assay that utilizes the dispenser unt...

Page 89: ...tinely perform an actual assay to confirm that the dispenser will consistently give adequate results for the assays to be run with it These tests should be performed routinely the recommended interval is monthly This frequency may be adjusted depending on the trends observed over time The successful completion of the PQ procedure confirms that the dispenser is performing consistently under normal ...

Page 90: ...L SLFCHK Using the LHC Select Tools Instrument Utilities Self Check When the test completes successfully a passed message is displayed If the test fails the dispenser will chirp and display an error code Checksum Test Using the Keypad Select UTIL CHKSUM Select UI record the version code displayed and press Enter to return to the Checksum options Repeat for MC Using the LHC Select Tools Instrument ...

Page 91: ... greatly over a plate yet the accuracy may be exact because it is an average of the volumes The accuracy specifications for the cassettes are intended to describe the performance of tubing throughout its life Typically achieving a dispense accuracy that is 1 10Th of the specified accuracy is the goal of calibration Dispense accuracy is computed gravimetrically using this formula ected ected actual...

Page 92: ...one at the volume that matches the cassette type and another that best represents the cassette type and dispense volume most common to your applications Cassette Types Tests Solutions 1 µL 1 µL 1536 5 µL 10 µL 1 µL 5 µL 10 µL 50 µL 100 µL 1536 µL 1 µL Test The 1 L test is used to confirm the performance of the 1 L cassettes when dispensing a single aliquot 1 4 turn of pump into each well of the pl...

Page 93: ...ing straight into the wells Dispense 6 L into every other column of a 1536 well plate using the solution called 1536 solution Then perform the 1 µL Test described above Materials Corning Costar 3590 96 well plates or equivalent 1536 well plates when testing 1536 models Nunc 264710 Precision balance with readability of 0 0001 g resolution is preferable 0 001 g resolution is acceptable and capacity ...

Page 94: ... Solution for 1536 well testing Prepare the solutions you will need to validate the cassette types and dispense volumes used most commonly in your applications The 5 µL Solution is used to make the higher volume test solutions 1 µL Solution Using BioTek s 10X concentrated blue dye solution PN 7773001 mix 5 mL of DI H2O with 8 mL of the blue dye solution 5 µL Solution Using BioTek s 10X concentrate...

Page 95: ...and save it for reuse Set the parameters based on the desired test volume Set the Dispense Volume to match the Test Set the Flow Rate to 1 µL cassette Medium 5 µL cassette High 10 µL cassette High Retain the default settings for Dispense Height Plate Clear Height and Horizontal Position Define a Prime before start set the volume to 10 µL Set the Number of Pre dispenses to 2 1536 Test only Change t...

Page 96: ... based absorbance readers such as the ELx800 or ELx808 ensure that the reader is not running in Rapid mode To check this select UTIL READ and cycle through the prompts 12 Calculate the Delta OD 630nm 450nm Mean Absorbance Standard Deviation and the CV for the wells under test CV Standard Deviation Mean 100 13 Print the report obtain required signatures and store it according to regulatory guidelin...

Page 97: ...t Worksheets We recommend you make copies of the appropriate pages and use them to record your calculations and test results Alternatively you can purchase the MicroFlo Select Qualification Maintenance Procedures Kit from BioTek which contains additional tools for conducting test procedures and recording the results including logbooks and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets ...

Page 98: ...ls 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 11 0 Pass Fail 1 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 10 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By Date...

Page 99: ...ll wells 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 6 0 Pass Fail 5 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 4 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By ...

Page 100: ...lls 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 6 0 Pass Fail 10 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 5 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By Date...

Page 101: ...ll wells 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 5 0 Pass Fail 10 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 4 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By...

Page 102: ...lls 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 3 5 Pass Fail 50 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 2 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By Date...

Page 103: ...ll wells 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 3 0 Pass Fail 100 µL Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 2 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed B...

Page 104: ...lls 96 CV SD Mean x 100 CV must be 6 0 Pass Fail 1536 Dispense Accuracy Test Total Dispense Actual Weight grams Expected Weight mL well x number of wells dispensed grams Accuracy Error Actual Weight Expected Weight Expected Weight x 100 Accuracy Error must be 5 0 Pass Fail Visual verification that no well varies considerably from the others Pass Fail Cassette Serial Number Tests Performed By Date ...

Page 105: ...ubleshooting This chapter offers suggestions for troubleshooting performance problems with the MicroFlo Select Microplate Dispenser Performance Issues 88 Error Codes 89 Contact BioTek Technical Assistance Center 90 ...

Page 106: ...ated in their respective positions Tips are clogged See Unclogging Tips in the Preventive Maintenance chapter Recalibrate the cassette Replace the tubing On the Operator s Manual CD see 7171017_ current Rev _Replacing the tubing_8x14 PDF Dispenser skipping columns Check define the Plate Map uPlate Tips clogging Filter the dispense fluid to 50 microns before dispensing Replace the tubing Viscous fl...

Page 107: ... Press the DISP key to home the dispenser Press the BioStack key to home the BioStack Press Main Menu twice when the homing is completed to return to the start screen Correctable Errors Error Code Message Corrective Action 304 Pump motor safety switch open Close the Pump Cover 401 X axis failed positional verify Make sure the Prime Trough Drain Tube does not impede plate carrier movement 403 Z axi...

Page 108: ...cal Assistance Center If you cannot resolve technical or performance issues with the MicroFlo Select from the information provided contact BioTek Service Technical Assistance Center TAC Phone 800 242 4685 toll free in the U S 802 655 4740 outside the U S Fax 802 654 0638 E Mail tac biotek com European Coordination Center Authorized European Representative BioTek Instruments GmbH Kocherwaldstrasse ...

Page 109: ...Error Codes This section lists the MicroFlo s error codes with a brief description of how to resolve them if possible Contact BioTek TAC for additional assistance Instrument Error Codes 92 Software Error Codes 94 ...

Page 110: ...or example error code 304 means the Pump Cover is not in the safe position closed over the pump for operation This meaning is extrapolated from the error code table 0304 4 Pump Motor interlock safety switch is open Motor Definitions shown as motor in error table Carrier Motor X 1 Carrier Motor Y 2 Dispense Arm Motor 3 Pump Motor 4 Error Name Code Brief Description BTI_NO_ERROR 0000 No instrument e...

Page 111: ...busy and unable to process message SC_RX_BUF_OVERFLOW_ERROR 8103 Receive buffer overflow error SC_CHECKSUM_ERROR 8104 Checksum error SC_INVALID_SCRUCT_TYPE 8105 Invalid structure type in byMsgStructure header field SC_INVALID_DESTINATION 8106 Invalid destination in byMsgDestination header field SC_OBJECT_NOT_SUPPORTED 8107 Request object received not supported by instrument SC_MSG_BODY_SIZE_ERROR ...

Page 112: ...valid Horizontal dispense position 6020 Invalid dispense height 6021 Invalid plate clear height 6022 Invalid column selection value must be 0 or 1 6023 Invalid protocol step type 6024 The definition string contains invalid data Communication Errors 6040 Invalid baud rate 6041 Invalid data bits selection 6042 Invalid stop bits selection 6043 Invalid parity selection 6044 Serial port error 6045 Seri...

Page 113: ...croFlo Select with the optional test tube rack for dispensing to 12 mm X 75 mm 6 mL capacity tubes or 13 mm X 100 mm 9 mL capacity tubes Important Read the Special Plates section in the Essential Concepts chapter before dispensing to test tubes Install the Test Tube Rack 96 Dispensing to Test Tubes 97 ...

Page 114: ...y from the dispenser 6 Move the plate carrier all the way to the left and lift it up and off its rails Lift the carrier s left side first 7 Place the test tube rack on the rails with the engraved FRONT label oriented to the front of the instrument Notches in the base of the test tube rack secure it in place Make sure the rack is level 8 Reinstall the priming trough and drain tube 0 Note Only four ...

Page 115: ...dd numbered dispense tubes must be removed from either the fluid supply or from the cassette itself Only the even numbered channels are properly positioned to dispense to the tubes Remove channels 1 3 5 and 7 from the cassette or fluid supply before dispensing to test tubes Plate Type Columns Rows Tubes per Well Tubes removed 20 75 mm Tubes 5 x 4 1 1 3 5 7 20 100 mm Tubes 5 x 4 1 1 3 5 7 When the ...

Page 116: ...98 Dispensing to Test Tubes BioTek Instruments Inc ...

Page 117: ... an overview and step by step instructions for gravimetrically calibrating a cassette This procedure can also be used to meet the monthly requirement to Verify Performance Calibrating the Tubing Cassette Gravimetrically 100 About Calibrating Cassettes Gravimetrically 105 ...

Page 118: ...ravimetrically on page 105 These instructions are based on dispensing water to calibrate the tubing which is sufficient for most applications Adjust the formulas used in this method to accommodate a different test fluid if desired Recommended Allow the cassette to equilibrate to ambient room conditions for at least 2 hours prior to calibration Required Materials A supply vessel containing the deio...

Page 119: ...the MicroFlo Select and make sure the cassette type setting is correct 3 Turn on the balance 4 Define a Protocol with the following parameters Set the Dispense Volume to match the cassette Set the Flow Rate to 1 µL cassette Medium 5 µL cassette High 10 µL cassette High Retain the default settings for Dispense Height and Horizontal Position Define a Prime before start set volume to 10 µL Set the Nu...

Page 120: ... easier to keep track of them when weighing each one individually 5 Place each strip on the scale and record its mass using the provided worksheets This will be the Tare mass for each of the strips 6 Put the tube organizer into the test fluid supply vessel 7 Prime the tubing until any visible air bubbles are removed 8 Run the dispense protocol Figure 3 Measure and record the weight of each of the ...

Page 121: ...ust the tube s tension screw Correction turns the Gravimetric Cassette Calibration Worksheet displays a recommended number of turns Turn clockwise for a positive number turn counter clockwise for a negative number Actual Expected Positive Value Actual Expected Negative Value When the difference between the expected and the actual mass is positive too much fluid dispensed turn the adjustment screw ...

Page 122: ...No V m ected exp Accuracy _____________ ected ected actual m m m Accuracy exp exp 100 Dispensed Mass Tare Gross Actual Actual Mass Expected Mass Correction Accuracy g g g g turns A B C D E F G Trial 1 1 x 12 Strip H Dispensed Mass Tare Gross Actual Actual Mass Expected Mass Correction Accuracy g g g g turns A B C D E F G Trial 2 1 x 12 Strip H Dispensed Mass Tare Gross Actual Actual Mass Expected ...

Page 123: ...for a cassette to meet the MicroFlo s specifications Determining Expected Mass The expected mass ected mexp of the fluid in the strip is the product of the density of the fluid the volume of fluid dispensed into each well V and the number of wells being dispensed to and the number of runs performed Runs of No Wells of No V m ected exp BioTek calibrates the cassettes using deionized water The densi...

Page 124: ...ssette Calibration Worksheet to facilitate the calibration procedure This Excel spreadsheet uses this formula to recommend the direction and number of turns of the screw required to calibrate the tube Accuracy Specifications The accuracy specifications for the cassettes are intended to describe the performance of tubing throughout its life Typically achieving a dispense accuracy that is 1 10Th of ...

Page 125: ... may change increase the tubing s capacity After multiple autoclave cycles recalibration may be required When working with a newly built cassette use the numbered scale on the Tube Tensioner s face to evenly line up the blocks Calibration will be easier when all the tubes begin at the same point ...

Page 126: ...108 Gravimetric Calibration Instructions MicroFlo Select Microplate Dispenser ...

Page 127: ...tack compatibility 3 BioTek Contacting vii European Representative vii Service vii Bleach solution 67 C Calibration Gravimetrically 100 Calibration Kit 65 Cassette Diagram 15 How to define 50 How to remove 50 Installing 14 Life 60 Recalibration 65 Cassette Calibration Gravimetrically 100 Cassette Types 60 CE Mark xii Center Holder 15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 66 Checksum 54 72 Che...

Page 128: ...thylsulfoxide 36 E Electromagnetic Compatibility xiii Environmental specifications 7 error codes 92 Error Codes 89 91 92 European Coordination Centervii 90 F Fill Pattern 52 Flow Rate 44 Fluid How to reclaim 49 Flush the Tubing 59 G Gravimetric Calibration 65 99 H Hardware specifications 1 7 Hardware Features 4 Hazardous material 22 Horizontal Position 45 How it works 28 I Immunity Compliance xiii...

Page 129: ... 20 precious fluids 19 Pre Prime 48 preserve expensive reagent 49 Preventative maintenance Tools and supplies 59 Previous Screen key 40 Prime How to 48 Prime Before Start 45 Prime Trough Drain Tube 18 Prime Trough Insert 19 Prime Volume 45 Priming Trough 61 Product registration x Program name entering via keypad 46 Protocol Copy 41 Delete 41 How to run 47 Protocol Names 45 Protocols 31 43 Transfer...

Page 130: ...nical assistance Europe 90 Technical Assistance vii Technical Assistance XE Technical assistance Europe XE Support Technical XE Service Technical Center 90 Technical support vii Test Tube Rack Installing See Test tube racks 33 Test Tube Racks 52 Test Tubes 95 Tests Accuracy and precision 73 Theory of operation 28 Tip Holder 15 Tips Unclogging 63 Tools and supplies Decontamination 67 Maintenance 59...

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