F
LEXCELL
®
I
NTERNATIONAL
C
ORPORATION
20
true, close and restart the software. Try
downloading the regimen again. If the
problem is not resolved, call Flexcell
®
for
further instructions.
6.
APPLICATION NOTES
B
ASEPLATE AND
G
ASKET
C
LEANING AND
D
ISINFECTING
Neither the black urethane nor the black ABS
(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) baseplate
should be autoclaved as the high temperature
could cause warping. The red rubber gasket
should also not be autoclaved or washed in a
dishwasher. Both baseplate and gasket should
be cleaned with regular laboratory detergent,
rinsed with warm tap water, followed by
distilled or deionized water and allowed to
dry. The baseplate should be dried and stored
on a flat surface. Do not hang the red gasket
on pegs to dry as the gasket can be stretched.
Protect both pieces from UV light exposure.
To disinfect, use a mild bleach (commercial
bleach solution such as "Clorox" or other
laundry bleach solution is normally 5.25%
sodium hypochlorite) solution (1:500, bleach
to water) or a 1% benzalkonium chloride
solution, which can be sprayed, poured or
wiped on both pieces and allowed to stand on
surfaces for at least 5 min. Rinse with distilled
or deionized water. The above solutions are
effective against yeast and fungi. A 70%
ethanol solution also can be applied and
pieces allowed to air dry, do not wipe dry.
Tubing on the baseplate may be flushed with
70% ethanol, but be sure tubing is completely
dry before connecting to the FX5K
™
Tension
FlexLink
®
. Contact time (time surface
remains wet) of the above solutions is critical
to the effectiveness of disinfecting. Times
given are minimal and longer contact times
are recommended in cases where
contamination is severe.
The above decontamination procedure
should be performed before and after each
use of the baseplate and gasket or whenever
media is spilled onto these surfaces. Be sure
that the openings and the channels in the
baseplate are dry and clear of any
obstructions before using.
Do not store baseplate or gasket in incubator
as the warm, humid conditions will promote
growth of microorganisms. After cleaning
and disinfecting, seal baseplate and gasket in
a plastic bag. Store baseplate flat and be sure
that the entire bottom of baseplate is
supported to prevent warping. Store gasket
away from UV light exposure.
R
UNNING
L
OW
F
REQUENCY
R
EGIMENS WITH
B
IO
F
LEX
®
C
ULTURE
P
LATES
If running a low frequency or constant
stretch regimen with the BioFlex
®
culture
plate without Loading Stations
™
, keep in
mind that the 2-2.5 mL of medium in the
well may not cover the entire surface area of
the BioFlex
®
well under stretch. When the
membranes are stretched and held for long
periods of time, the cells around the outer
edge of the well will be exposed to open air
and will be in danger of drying out. It is
therefore necessary to use additional
medium (3-5 mL) when running low
frequency and high strain regimens on the
BioFlex
®
plate without the Loading
Stations
™
.
Running Low Frequency Regimens With BioFlex
Culture Plates, Flexcell International Corporation,
July, 1997, 1p.
