Molecular Devices SPECTRAmax 340PC, Operator'S Manual

Page: 42 / 69

Chapter 3
3-6 SPECTRAmax 340PC Microplate Spectrophotometer Operator’s Manual
Read the
Microplate
The underside of the microplate must be dry prior to placing
it in the drawer. If the microplate has fluid on the underside, dry it using
a paper towel (or equivalent) and then place it in the drawer. Alterna-
tively, place a clear Mylar sheet (such as a Molecular Devices blank pat-
tern template) beneath the microplate before inserting it in the drawer.
If you are reading filter-bottom microplates, fluid may drip off the filter
membrane.
You must place a clear mylar sheet (such as a Molecular
Devices blank pattern template) beneath the microplate when
inserting it in the drawer.
These precautions are necessary to prevent fluid from dripping from the
microplate onto any lenses when the microplate is in the reading cham-
ber and to minimize potential exposure to biohazardous fluids to your-
self and other users of the instrument.
After selecting the read mode, setting the temperature (if desired), and choosing
the wavelength(s), insert the filled microplate into the drawer, matching well A1
with position A1 in the drawer. Make sure the microplate is flat on the drawer
bottom. Touch the
[READ]
key to begin reading the microplate. The SPEC-
TRAmax 340PC will automatically calibrate for less than two seconds (four sec-
onds if dual wavelength has been selected), send a header for the reading to the
printer, close the drawer (if it was open), and read the microplate according to the
selected instrument settings.
The CALIBRATING status indicator on right side of the display will be illumi-
nated during calibration, followed by illumination of the READING status indi-
cator during the reading. When reading is complete, the drawer will open,
allowing you to remove the microplate. If the incubator is on, the drawer will
close again after approximately 10 seconds. If you return to the SPECTRAmax
340PC and find the drawer closed after a microplate has been read, press the
[Drawer]
key. When the drawer opens, you can remove the microplate.
You do not have to wait for the printer to finish before loading another micro-
plate.
Operation
Overview
The following steps provide a quick reminder of the basic operating procedures
required to perform an assay using the SPECTRAmax 340PC.
1) Turn on the printer and make sure it is properly connected.
2) Turn on the power switch of the SPECTRAmax 340PC (located on the back
panel). The microplate drawer will open automatically.
3) If you wish to regulate the temperature inside the microplate chamber, touch the
[On/Off]
key below the
[Temp °C]
(incubator) key to bring the microplate
chamber to the default temperature of 37.0°C. The microplate drawer will close
and the indicator on the right of the LCD will flash until the set temperature is
reached.
BIOHAZARD: