Instruction manual

QX200 Droplet Generator Instruction Manual
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Chapter 1 QX200 Droplet Generator
1.2 QX200 Droplet Generator
The QX200 droplet generator uses microfluidics to combine oil and water (sample) to create the droplets
required for ddPCR analysis. It generates droplets from up to eight samples at a time in about 2 minutes.
Following reaction preparation using the appropriate ddPCR supermix, 20 μl each of up to eight prepared
samples (or blanks) and droplet generator oil are transferred to the droplet generator (DG8
™
) cartridge. The
loaded cartridge is covered with a gasket and placed in the QX200 droplet generator. There, the samples
and oil are combined within the microchannels of the cartridge to create an emulsion of ~20,000 monodisperse,
nanoliter-sized droplets for each of the samples. Following droplet generation, the droplets are transferred to a
standard 96-well PCR plate and amplified to end point using a standard thermal cycler.
When cycling is complete, the plate is loaded into the QX200 droplet reader. The droplet reader sips each
sample, singulates the droplets, and streams them in single file past a two-color detector. The detector reads
each droplet and determines which contain a target (+) and which do not (–). If quantitation of droplets is not
required, PCR products can be extracted from droplets following thermal cycling for downstream applications,
such as sequencing or cloning.
The QX200 droplet generator includes the components listed in Table 1.1. Additional requirements for droplet
generation and PCR are listed in Table 1.2. For complete system requirements, refer to the QX200 Droplet
Reader Instruction Manual (bulletin 10031906).
QX200 droplet generator.
Table 1.1. QX200 droplet generator components. Catalog # refers to replacement items (quantities may be different).
Component Description Catalog #
Q
X200 droplet generator
I
nstrument used for droplet generation
1
86-4002
DG8 droplet generator
Mi
crofluidic cartridge used to mix sample and oil to
1
86-4007
cartridges and gaskets (24)
g
enerate droplets; gaskets seal the cartridge to
p
revent evaporation and apply pressure required
f
or droplet formation
Droplet generator cartridge Positions and holds the droplet generator cartridge 186-3051
holder in the instrument for droplet generation
Power cord Connects QX200 droplet generator to power source Call technical support