GE HEALTHCARE Biacore T100, Handbook

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5 Methods
5.2 Method structure
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Biacore T100 Software Handbook BR-1006-48 Edition AE
5.2 Method structure
Methods are handled in Method Builder in a series of sections representing
different aspects of the method definition.
Overview
The Overview screen summarizes the method definition. Use this information as
an aid in checking that the method is correctly built.
General settings
Here you define general parameters such as the concentration unit for samples,
sample compartment temperature, data collection rate, detection mode and
buffer names.
Assay steps
An assay step represents a specific function in the assay, defined in terms of
what the step is intended to achieve. Assay steps may for example be start-up
operations, solvent correction, sample analysis or control sample analysis. Steps
can be run singly or repeated within the context of other steps: for example,
start-up operations are typically performed once at the start of a run, while
control samples may be repeated at intervals during the sample analysis.
Analysis temperature and buffer can be set individually for each assay step.
Cycle types
Cycle types define the details of how assay steps will be performed, in terms of
sample and reagent injections. Each assay step is linked to one cycle type, but
the same cycle type can be used in multiple assay steps. For example, sample
and control sample analysis are two assay steps that will typically use the same
cycle type, ensuring that controls are analyzed in exactly the same way as
samples.
Parameters for injections in a cycle type definition may be variable, so that they
can be assigned a series of different values when the method is used. Sample
names will typically be variable. The number of values for variable parameters
together with assay step repetition determines the number of cycles that will be
run.
Report points can also be defined for each cycle type.
Variable Settings
This section determines how values for variable parameters are specified. You
can choose whether values are specified in the method or at run-time: this can
be used to restrict the number of parameters that have to be entered when the
method is run while at the same time maintaining flexibility for method
development purposes.