FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Rinse Water Removal
  Follow the procedures below to remove rinse water in the rinse water suction line prior to moving or storing the instrument.

  1) Remove all of the installed microchips from the instrument.
  2) Remove both of the rinse water tubes from the glass rinse water bottle, and place them on a clean surface.
    NOTE: Do NOT touch the suction filter with bare hands.
  3) Discard the rinse water remaining in the glass rinse water bottle.
  4) Perform [Probe Rinse] three times.
  5) Discard any waste fluid remaining in the waste container.

 

2. Cleaning with Ethanol
  If this instrument will be unused for longer than 2 weeks, follow the procedures below to clean the rinse water suction line with ethanol.
  1) Perform procedures 1 to 5 in "Rinse Water Removal".

  2) Put at least 300mL of ethanol in a beaker or similar container and insert both of the rinse water tubes into the container.
  3) Perform [Probe Rinse] three times.
  4) Remove the rinse water tubes from the ethanol, and place them on a wipe or other dustfree surface.
  5) Perform [Probe Rinse] three times.
  6) Discard any waste fluid remaining in the waste container.

 

3. Storage

  1) Instrument Storage
    The following conditions must be satisfied when storing the instrument.
    • Site with minimal temperature variations
    • Dust should be minimal.
    • Vibrations should be minimal.
    • No corrosive gases should be produced at the site.
    • No significant magnetic fields or abnormal radio waves should be present.
    • The instrument should not be subject to jarring or excessive vibrations.

  2) マイクロチップの保管
    If microchips are not to be used for a long period (two weeks or more), perform [Chip Washing] and then return them to their original plastic case for storage. They may become contaminated with dust if left installed in the instrument.

    Click here for "(MCE) Chip Wash and Probe Rinse".

    NOTE:

    • If separation buffer is left in the microchip flow channels or on the surface, and it is allowed to dry, salts and polymers will precipitate, rendering the chip unusable. If rinsing with the instrument is insufficient, rinse them manually as per "Inspecting and Washing Microchip Reservoirs".

      Click here for "(MCE) Inspecting and Washing Microchip Reservoirs (manually)".

    • The plastic case they were in when purchased has been treated with a desiccant. Be sure that the microchips are dry for storage.

  3) Peristaltic Pump Storage
    If the instrument will be stored for an extended period (for 1 month or more), remove and store the peristaltic pump cartridge. However, if "Periodic Maintenance" (indicated by instruction manual) will be performed during this time (within 1 month), the pump cartridge does not need to be removed. If the pump cartridge is not removed for an extended period (3 months or more) and periodic maintenance is not performed, pump performance may decrease. If this occurs, replace the pump cartridge according to the procedure described in "Pump Cartridge Replacement".

    Click here for "(MCE) Replacement and Inspection of Pump Cartridge".