5.3
Prime your flow cell
Pipetting tips
The following section will load fluid and sample into the flow cell. In the images below are some simple tips on pipetting technique which are essential to avoid introducing air bubbles and damaging the sensor array.
When drawing up solution:
- make sure there is no air plug at the bottom of the tip
When ejecting the solution:
- do not fully expel the liquid from the tip
- leave a small volume in the tip end so that no air can follow the solution into the inlet port
Open the priming port by sliding the cover clockwise so that the port is visible.
Remove inlet channel air plug
- Set a P1000 pipette to 500 µl; insert the tip into the priming port
- Keeping the tip inserted in the port, twist the wheel of the pipette until you reach 520-530 µl, or until you see a small amount of the yellow buffer in the tip. This removes any air plug that has developed in the port during shipping and storage, and a tiny volume of buffer to wet the port
- Remove the pipette tip from the priming port, and throw away the tip
Prime your flow cell
- Using a P1000 pipette, slowly load 800 µl of the Priming Mix (FCF tube) into the priming port
- Do NOT eject to the last stop of the pipette, as this would introduce air bubbles
- Close the priming port
- Wait 5 minutes
