To clean the sample wells:
1.
Follow the steps in “Preparation”
.
2.
Remove the sample tray from the sample block and set it aside.
3.
Use a cotton swab soaked in isopropanol to clean the sample wells thoroughly. Make certain that
the isopropanol has evaporated completely before reloading a sample tray.
Decontaminate the sample wells
If the sample wells become contaminated with any biological agents, clean the wells thoroughly with a
cotton swab soaked in 1:10 v/v dilution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (Clorox
®
bleach).
IMPORTANT!
Use bleach solution in moderation.
We recommend the use of 10% bleach solution
for removing contamination from the Automated Thermal Cycler (ATC) System sample block; excessive
use of the solution, however, can corrode the sample block material. To prevent damage to the sample
block:
·
Avoid applying excessive amounts of bleach solution. If possible, instead of using a squeeze bottle or
soaked cloth, use an atomizer to deliver the solution to the wells of the block(s).
·
After treating with bleach solution, rinse the sample block(s) thoroughly using deionized water.
Note:
Removing residual bleach from the surfaces of the instrument using water minimizes the long-
term effects of bleach treatments.
If the sample block becomes contaminated with radioactivity, use a commercially available
decontaminant to remove the contamination. If the block cannot be decontaminated, the instrument
cannot be returned to Thermo Fisher Scientific for service.
Chapter 4
Maintain the Automated Thermal Cycler (ATC) System
Clean the instrument
4
Automated Thermal Cycler (ATC) System User Guide
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