Direct Detect® Spectrometer User Guide
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10.2 Loading and Installing the Card
1. Place the Assay-free card(s) on the spotting tray or other clean surface. Select an
appropriate buffer/solvent blank, preferably the same solution in which the protein
or lipid/detergent has been prepared. If that buffer/solvent is not fully characterized,
select the closest buffer/solvent possible. Pipette 2 µL of the buffer/solvent solution to
the default blank position on the card (position 1).
2. Pipette 2 µL of sample to sample positions 2 through 4 as needed. Unused positions can
be loaded and read at a later time as long as the buffer/solvent blank is appropriate for
them. Card positions can be labeled if desired.
NOTE:
Cards spotted with samples in flammable solvents must be dried at ambient
conditions prior to inserting the Assay-free card into the instrument. However,
for nonflammable samples, the Direct Detect® spectrometer has a built-in
drying system that can automatically dry the sample to the point where it will
give an accurate reading.
3. Insert the card vertically into the slot in the top of the card holder module with the
card facing left and the alignment notch in the corner of the card oriented towards the
center of the instrument.
Figure 11. Inserting sample card
The arrow on the bottom right side of the card should be aligned with the arrow on
the Direct Detect® card holder module (5D in Figure 5). Gently release the card and the
instrument will accept it for analysis.
When the card is inserted properly the instrument will respond by jogging the card
holder up and down briefly. The bottom green LED on Direct Detect® card holder
module will light and the system will produce a brief tone confirming correct
placement of the Assay-free card.
NOTE:
The software will not allow sample measurement if the card is not inserted
properly.
