FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

« None of the microchips detect peaks for markers or samples. »

• Incorrect usage of microchips, reagent, rinse water, glass rinse water bottle, or waste container.

→Verify that the microchips, reagent, rinse water, glass rinse water bottle, and waste containers have been used properly. If the problem reappears after confirmation, contact a Shimadzu sales or service representative.

 

• The sample salt concentration is too high.

→Check that the salt concentration in the sample is within the permissible salt concentration range of the reagent kit.

 

• The microchip surface is contaminated.

→Check the microchip surfaces for contamination. If they are contaminated, rinse them.

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

 

« Upper marker or lower marker peaks are detected, but the sample/ladder peaks are not. »

• The sample concentration is lower than the concentration limit of detection.

→Check the specifications for the minimum concentration for the reagent kit used.

 

• The sample size is outside of the size range for the separation buffer.

→Check the size range specifications for the reagent kit used.

 

• (On-chip mixing mode)The volume of sample solution in the sample tubes is less than the prescribed quantity.

→For on-chip mixing, provide at least 5μL of sample. Attach the aluminum seal to the sample plate to prevent evaporation.

 

• (On-chip mixing mode)The sample solution evaporates inside the instrument, reducing the volume.

→Attach the aluminum seal to the sample plate.

 

« Only lower marker peaks are detected. Upper marker and sample/ladder peaks are not detected. »

• Dye is not added to the separation buffer. The dye added to the separation buffer has deteriorated.

→Use new separation buffer to which freshly prepared dye solution is added.

 

« Although the lower marker and sample/ladder peaks are detected, the upper marker is not detected. »

• The marker solution has degraded.

→Check whether the solution was stored at the specified temperature, whether the solution was excessively agitated in a vortex mixer, etc., or whether the solution is still within the recommended usage period.

 

• The sample concentration or salt concentration in the sample is too high.

→Dilute the sample. Desalt the sample.

 

• Enzymes in the sample were not inactivated.

→Inactivate the enzyme activity according to the manufacturer's instruction.

 

« The sample/ladder peaks are detected, but the marker peaks are not. »

• Premix mode

→The marker solution has not been mixed with the sample/ladder. Verify that the marker solution was mixed with the sample/ladder.