T100™ Thermal Cycler Instruction Manual Catalog #186-1096
Copyright ©2011 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Reproduction in any form, either print or electronic, is prohibited without written permission of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. LICENSE NOTICE TO PURCHASER This base unit, Serial No. ____________, conveys a limited non-transferable immunity from suit for the purchaser’s own internal research and development and for use in applied fields under U.S. Patent No. 5,475,610 (claims 1, 44, 158, 160-163 and 167 only), or corresponding claims in their non-U.S.
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T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Bio-Rad Laboratories Resources Bio-Rad Laboratories provides many resources for scientists. The following web sites contain useful information for running PCR and real-time PCR experiments: • Life Science Research web site (discover.bio-rad.com) This site includes links to technical notes, manuals, product information, and technical support.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance The T100 thermal cycler heats and cools very quickly during operation. We strongly recommend that you follow the safety specifications listed in this section and throughout this manual. Safety Warning Labels Warning labels posted on the instrument and in this manual warn you about sources of injury or harm. Refer to Table 3 to review the meaning of each safety warning label. Table 3. Instrument safety warning labels.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Table 4. Instrument safety warning labels. (continued) Icon Meaning Never remove the outer case of a thermal cycler base. This may cause you to receive an electrical shock. This thermal cycler uses neutral fusing, which means that live power could still be exposed inside the instrument even when the fuse is blown or removed. Warning about risk of burning. A thermal cycler generates enough heat to cause serious burns.
• EN 61010-2-010:2003 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use —Part 2-010: Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for the heating of material • UL 61010-1:2004(R2008) Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use —Part 1: General Requirements • UL 61010A-2-010:2002 Standard for Electrical Equipment for Laboratory Use; Part 2: Particular Requirements for Laboratory Equipment for the Heating of Material EL
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Table of Contents Bio-Rad Laboratories Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Writing Conventions Used in This Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety and Regulatory Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 1 Introduction to the T100™ Thermal Cycler Read this chapter for information on setting up the T100 thermal cycler. • System overview (page 1) • Setting up the T100 thermal cycler (page 2) • Home screen (page 3) • Loading samples (page 3) • Selecting compatible reaction vessels and sealing options (page 4) System Overview The T100 thermal cycler has a 96-well block that is compatible with standard height tubes, tube strips, and plates.
Heated inner lid Reaction block Status LED Touch screen Air vents USB port Figure 1. Front view of the T100 thermal cycler. Setting Up the T100 Thermal Cycler The T100 thermal cycler package includes: • T100 thermal cycler • Power cord • Support ring for individual tubes • Instruction manual Remove all packaging materials and store them for future use. If any item is missing or damaged, contact your local Bio-Rad office.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Home Screen Overview The home screen provides access to all the main functions of the thermal cycler (Figure 2), as well as the date, time, and name of the thermal cycler (optional). Figure 2. The home screen of the T100 thermal cycler.
2. Load the samples To ensure uniform heating and cooling of samples, vessels must be in complete contact with the reaction block. Adequate contact is achieved by: • Confirming that the block is clean before loading samples • Firmly pressing the individual tubes or the microplate into the block wells NOTE: When running individual tubes, place the support ring in the block to prevent deformation of the tubes by the heated lid. The ring is reversible for domed cap tubes or flat cap tubes (Figure 4).
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 2 Creating, Editing, and Saving Protocols Read this chapter for information on creating, editing, and saving protocols. • Creating a new protocol or editing an existing protocol (page 5) • Sample volume and lid temperature (page 11) • Saving a protocol (page 12) Creating a New Protocol or Editing an Existing Protocol To create or edit a protocol: 1. To create a new protocol, touch New Protocol from the home screen. 2.
Creating a New Protocol or Editing an Existing Protocol . Figure 6. The template for a PCR protocol. 4. The protocol editor displays the protocol in a graphical format using editable boxes. 5. To edit the temperature or time for each step, the sample volume, and the lid temperature, touch the appropriate box and enter a new value in the numeric keypad. 6. Touch Run to run the protocol immediately without saving it.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Table 2. Protocol steps and parameters of the T100™ thermal cycler. (continued) Step Name Parameters and Ranges Description Increment A temperature from –10.0 to 10.0°C per cycle in tenths of a degree Ramp Rate A number from 0.1 to 4°C per sec Extend A time from –60 to 60 sec per cycle Applies only to a temperature step.
Creating a New Protocol or Editing an Existing Protocol Inserting a Protocol Step Insert a protocol step if a new temperature, GOTO, or gradient step is needed: 1. Select a step to the left of where the new step is to be inserted. 2. Touch Insert. A pop-up menu displays types of steps to insert (Figure 8). Figure 8. Insert a new step to the right of step 1. 3. Touch Temperature to insert a temperature step, Gradient to insert a gradient step, or GOTO to insert a GOTO step to create a cycle for PCR. 4.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 2. Select the Gradient checkbox. The temperatures for each row are displayed (Figure 10). 3. Touch the Back Row and Front Row fields to edit the gradient, and touch OK. NOTE: A gradient range must be between 1 and 25°C. NOTE: A gradient step can also include an Extend parameter, but the Increment and Ramp Rate options are not allowed. Figure 10. The Step Options window displays the gradient temperatures. 4.
Creating a New Protocol or Editing an Existing Protocol Temperature Increment, Extend, and Ramp Rate To add increments, extensions, and ramp rates to a step: 1. Select a step and touch Options to open the Step Options window (Figure 12). 2. A step can contain all three options. To edit an option, touch the field for Increment, Extend, or Ramp rate. 3. Enter a value using the numeric keypad, and touch OK. Figure 12. Step 4 has a temperature increment option.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 3. Enter a value for the first step in the GOTO loop using the numeric keypad and touch OK. 4. To change the number of times the cycler will repeat the cycle, touch the X field. 5. Edit the number of repeats using the numeric keypad and touch OK. NOTE: The X field is the number of additional repeats. For example, 34 X will repeat steps 2–4 an additional 34 times for a total of 35 cycles of PCR.
Saving a Protocol To change the lid temperature: 1. From the New Protocol screen, touch the Lid field. 2. Using the numeric keypad, enter the lid temperature and touch OK. Saving a Protocol To save a new or modified protocol: 1. From the New Protocol screen, touch Save. 2. Name the protocol by typing a name up to eight characters using the alphanumeric keypad (Figure 14) NOTE: Saving the protocol with the same name replaces the original protocol.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 3 Running Protocols Read this chapter for instructions on running protocols.
Starting a Run The Saved Protocols screen is organized into three panes: • The Folders pane displays all folders on the instrument and the USB flash drive if a USB flash drive is connected • The Files pane displays all the protocol files in the selected folder • The Preview pane displays a preview of the selected protocol file To select and run a specific protocol: 2. Touch any folder to view the protocols in the folder. 3. Touch any protocol to view a preview of the protocol. 4. Touch Run.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Figure 18. The Clock screen. Pausing and Resuming a Run A running protocol can be paused temporarily. During a pause, the thermal cycler maintains the block temperature of the current step and the lid temperature until the run is resumed. If it is paused during ramping, then it will continue ramping until it reaches the target temperature of the current step.
Skipping Steps in a Protocol Skipping Steps in a Protocol Skip a step if it is necessary to shorten a protocol while it is still running. By repeatedly skipping steps, it is possible to bypass several GOTO loops and shorten a protocol. To skip the current protocol step, follow these steps: 1. View the current step from the Status screen. 2. Touch Skip Step to bypass the current step. 3. Touch Skip Step multiple times to skip more than one step.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 4 Managing Protocol Files and Folders Read this chapter for instructions on managing protocol files and folders: • Saved Protocols overview (page 17) • Creating a new folder (page 18) • Copying folders and files (page 18) • Renaming folders and files (page 18) • Deleting folders and files (page 18) Saved Protocols Overview To open the screen, touch Saved Protocols from the home screen.
Saved Protocols Overview Creating a New Folder To create a new folder: 1. From the Saved Protocols screen, touch Folder Options > New (Figure 22). Figure 22. Touch New to create a new folder on the cycler. 2. Enter a name up to eight characters using the alphanumeric keypad, and touch OK. Copying a Folder or File To create a copy of a folder or protocol file on the cycler or an attached USB flash drive: 1. Select the folder or file to be copied from the Saved Protocols screen. 2.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 5 Tools Read this chapter for information on the tools available on the T100™ thermal cycler: • Tools Menu — lists the tools available • Settings — for configuring the system parameters for the instrument (page 20) • Self-Test — for running a diagnostic test of the operation of the instrument (page 21) • Logs — for viewing the run log for each time a protocol is run.
Tools Menu Settings Menu The Settings menu contains all the functions needed to set system defaults for the T100 thermal cycler (Figure 24). Open this list by selecting Settings under the Tools menu. Figure 24. The Settings menu.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Self-Test Function The self-test function performs a diagnostic test of the operation of the T100 thermal cycler. To initiate the self-test: 1. From the home screen, open the Tools menu. 2. Touch Self-Test. 3. Touch Start (Figure 25). Figure 25. Self-Test function in progress. Logs The Logs screen displays the previous history of the T100 thermal cycler for record keeping. 1. Touch Tools > Logs. The instrument displays a list of all the previous runs (Figure 26). 2.
Tools Menu Update Firmware To update the firmware for the T100 thermal cycler: 1. Locate the most recent firmware files. TIP: Firmware update files are posted at www.bio-rad.com/PCRupdates 2. Copy the most recent firmware update files onto a USB flash drive. NOTE: Copy the firmware file to the root of the USB flash drive, not into a folder. 3. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the front of the T100 thermal cycler. 4. Open the Tools menu. 5. Touch Update Firmware (Figure 27). 6.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual 6 Maintenance and Cleaning Read this chapter for information on maintaining and cleaning the T100™ thermal cycler. About Maintenance and Cleaning The T100 thermal cycler requires little maintenance for proper operation. However, with long and constant use, the thermal cycler requires some cleaning and other maintenance.
Cleaning the Reaction Block Clean the reaction block of the T100 thermal cycler on a regular schedule to prevent reagents from accumulating and interfering with the ability of the block to change temperature quickly. To clean the sample block, follow these instructions, paying careful attention to the warnings: • Clean the block wells. Clean spills immediately to prevent them from drying inside wells.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual • Shield the thermal cycler from heat sources such as radiators, heat producing instruments, and bright sunlight. Replacing Fuses Fuses on the T100 thermal cycler are designed to blow in case of severe power surges or other causes of electrical short. This process protects both the user and the instrument from excessive electric charge. Fuses on the T100 thermal cycler rarely need to be replaced.
Replacing the Battery The battery needs to be replaced if the time and date do not remain set after the unit is turned off. The battery is a 3V lithium coin cell (Renata CR2477N, Bio-Rad catalog #9001228-SVC) and is mounted in the battery compartment on the bottom of the unit. Contact your Bio-Rad Service Representative for assistance with battery replacement.
T100 Thermal Cycler Manual Index folder copying, 18 creating new, deleting, 18 renaming, 18 fuses, 25 A air flow, 24 air vents, 1 18 G B GOTO step, 10 gradient adding, 8 definition, 6 range, 6 removing, 9 battery, 25 Bio-Rad Laboratories contact information, iii resources, iii technical support, iii web site, iii I C incubating samples, canceling a protocol run, 16 cleaning exterior, 23 cleaning the reaction block, 24 creating a protocol, 5 custom folders, 17 L lid temperature, Logs, 21 E editin
run canceling, 16 pausing, 15 resuming a protocol, starting, 13 15 S safety compliance, v warning labels, iv safety and regulatory compliance, sample volume changing, 11 saving a protocol, 12 sealing options, 4 Self-test, 21 Settings menu, 20 skipping steps in a protocol, 16 specifications for safe use, v regulatory compliance, v iv T T100 thermal cycler air flow, 24 protocol parameters, 6 self-test, 2 setting up, 2 system overview, 1 turning on, 2 warranty, iii technical support contact information, t
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