Maintenance guidelines
CAUTION!
During instrument operation, the temperature
of the heated cover can be as high as 110°C, and the
temperature of the sample block(s) can be as high as 100°C.
Before performing the procedure, keep hands away until
the heated cover and sample block(s) reach room
temperature.
To ensure proper operation:
• Regularly:
– Wipe the instrument surfaces with a lint-free cloth.
– Clean the vents, touchscreen, and sample block of the
instrument.
– Clean the sample wells with 100% isopropanol.
• Use only consumables recommended by Thermo Fisher
Scientific for the instrument.
Use of consumables that are larger or smaller than the
specified volume can damage the instrument, contaminate
the sample block, and/or decrease the PCR yield (due to
inefficient thermal transfer).
• Do not use sharp objects on the touchscreen.
Use only your fingers or blunt objects to enter commands on
the instrument touchscreen. Sharp and/or pointed objects
such as writing utensils can damage the surface of the
touchscreen.
• Back up frequently.
Routinely back up the configurations and files on your
instrument to a USB drive. Regular backups protect against
data loss caused by user error, power failure, or instrument
error. For more information, see the SimpliAmp
™
Thermal
Cycler User Guide (Pub. No. MAN0009889).
How to use the MicroAmp
™
96-well Tray and
Retainer
IMPORTANT!
Use the MicroAmp
™
96-well Tray and Retainer to
prevent crushing of tubes in the thermal cycler.
When small number of tubes (1–2 tube strips or ≤8–16 tubes are
placed in the sample block without support, they can be crushed
or deformed when the lid of the thermal cycler is closed over the
block. Using the tray and retainer set allows the pressure to be
distributed evenly over the tubes and prevents uneven pressure
across the block.
Using the tray and retainer set is optional when using ≥3 tube
strips or ≥16 tubes that are distributed evenly across the block.
• The blue tray and retainer set is compatible for use with
MicroAmp
™
single tubes or tube strips with separate cap
strips.
• The blue tray by itself is compatible for use with MicroAmp
™
tube strips with attached caps.
• The black retainer is compatible for use with single
MicroAmp
™
reaction tubes with attached caps.
Prepare samples using MicroAmp
™
tubes/tube strips
with separate cap strips
1.
Separate the blue tray and retainer by squeezing the release
catch as indicated in the graphic.
1
2
3
1
1
Release catch
2
MicroAmp
™
96-Well Retainer
3
MicroAmp
™
96-Well Tray
2.
Place the blue tray on the 96-well base.
3.
Load the tube strips on the tray.
4.
Pipette the reaction mixture into the tubes.
5.
Place the blue retainer over the tubes and snap the retainer
into the tray.
6.
Seal the tube strip using a MicroAmp
™
cap strip. See “Seal
tubes strips with cap strips“ on page 5 for instructions.
7.
Remove the blue tray/retainer assembly containing the
sealed tube strips from the 96-well base and place the
assembly into the instrument.
1
2
4
3
5
1
MicroAmp
™
8-Cap strip
2
MicroAmp
™
96-Well Retainer
3
MicroAmp
™
8-Tube Strip (0.2-mL) or MicroAmp
™
Reaction
Tube without Cap (0.2-mL)
4
MicroAmp
™
96-Well Tray
5
MicroAmp
™
Splash Free 96-Well Base
4
SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference
