Acea RTCA SP Instrument - Important Tips for Using the RTCA SP Instrument

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RTCA SP Instrument Operator’s Manual
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3.2 Important Tips for Using the RTCA SP Instrument
 e RTCA SP Instrument and the E-Plate 96 devices are manufactured and tested
according to rigorous quality standards. Each well in E-Plates 96 is quality controlled
prior to packaging and shipment ensuring that every well in every E-Plate 96 meets these
quality standards.
In order to obtain optimal data and to avoid any problem with the RTCA SP Instrument,
it is essential that you observe the following instrument handling procedures:
Always perform background measurement of E-Plate 96 with cell-free culture media.
Without cell culture media, the background measurement of E-Plates 96 cannot be
performed since what is being measured is just open circuits. Similarly, the background
of E-Plates 96 cannot be measured properly when the culture media already contains cells
because what is being measured is not a real background.
Do not remove the E-Plate 96 from RTCA SP Station before completing the back-
ground measurement.
If the E-Plate 96 is removed from the RTCA SP Station before completion of background
measurement, then those wells whose background has not been measured would be
represented as an open circuit in the background data.  ese wells will not produce valid
experimental data.  e RTCA So ware displays a warning message in such cases.
For the same reason, please do not remove E-Plates 96 from the RTCA SP Station when
the measurement or experiment is in progress. If E-Plates 96 are removed, the impedance
for these E-Plates 96 would show open-circuit data which, in turn, will display very high
Cell Index  gures in the Plot page of the RTCA So ware.
Always let the E-Plate 96 sit outside the incubator for 30 minutes a er cell addition.
To ensure consistent data, cells need to settle down uniformly on the bottom surfaces of
the E-Plate 96 wells before they are put in the incubator. Otherwise, temperature-gradient
related convection in the E-Plate 96 wells would cause the cells to be distributed non-
uniformly over the bottom surface of the wells, leading to substantial variation in the
experiment data.
When an E-Plate 96 is taken out of the RTCA Station for compound addition or other
treatment, please minimize the handling time (preferably less than 5 minutes) as cool-
ing of the cells to room temperature will have an impact on cellular behaviour and
corresponding CI values.
Add compounds gently and in as low volume as possible to avoid disturbing the
cells. Use compound solution which has been pre-equilibrated to room temperature.
Addition of cold compound solution may impact cellular behaviour and correspond-
ing CI values.
Do not interrupt an experiment or a particular step while the measurement sweep is
in progress.
Always wait until the current measurement sweep  nishes and then stop an experiment
or a particular step. Otherwise, the experiment data  le may be corrupt and data cannot
be retrieved.
Each step must have at least one sweep.
For the RTCA So ware to run properly, at least one sweep is needed for any given step.
Otherwise, the data  le format may not be correct.  e RTCA So ware will not continue
for steps without sweep numbers.
Do not re-use the E-Plate 96.
Preparing and Starting a Run on the RTCA SP Instrument
Important Tips for Using the RTCA SP Instrument
42
RTCA SP Instrument Operator’s Manual
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
3.2 Important Tips for Using the RTCA SP Instrument
 e RTCA SP Instrument and the E-Plate 96 devices are manufactured and tested
according to rigorous quality standards. Each well in E-Plates 96 is quality controlled
prior to packaging and shipment ensuring that every well in every E-Plate 96 meets these
quality standards.
In order to obtain optimal data and to avoid any problem with the RTCA SP Instrument,
it is essential that you observe the following instrument handling procedures:
Always perform background measurement of E-Plate 96 with cell-free culture media.
Without cell culture media, the background measurement of E-Plates 96 cannot be
performed since what is being measured is just open circuits. Similarly, the background
of E-Plates 96 cannot be measured properly when the culture media already contains cells
because what is being measured is not a real background.
Do not remove the E-Plate 96 from RTCA SP Station before completing the back-
ground measurement.
If the E-Plate 96 is removed from the RTCA SP Station before completion of background
measurement, then those wells whose background has not been measured would be
represented as an open circuit in the background data.  ese wells will not produce valid
experimental data.  e RTCA So ware displays a warning message in such cases.
For the same reason, please do not remove E-Plates 96 from the RTCA SP Station when
the measurement or experiment is in progress. If E-Plates 96 are removed, the impedance
for these E-Plates 96 would show open-circuit data which, in turn, will display very high
Cell Index  gures in the
Plot
page of the RTCA So ware.
Plot page of the RTCA So ware.Plot
Always let the E-Plate 96 sit outside the incubator for
30 minutes
a er cell addition.
To ensure consistent data, cells need to settle down uniformly on the bottom surfaces of
the E-Plate 96 wells before they are put in the incubator. Otherwise, temperature-gradient
related convection in the E-Plate 96 wells would cause the cells to be distributed non-
uniformly over the bottom surface of the wells, leading to substantial variation in the
experiment data.
When an E-Plate 96 is taken out of the RTCA Station for compound addition or other
treatment, please minimize the handling time (preferably less than 5 minutes) as cool-
ing of the cells to room temperature will have an impact on cellular behaviour and
corresponding CI values.
Add compounds gently and in as low volume as possible to avoid disturbing the
cells. Use compound solution which has been pre-equilibrated to room temperature.
Addition of cold compound solution may impact cellular behaviour and correspond-
ing CI values.
Do not interrupt an experiment or a particular step while the measurement sweep is
Do not interrupt an experiment or a particular step while the measurement sweep is
in progress.
Always wait until the current measurement sweep  nishes and then stop an experiment
Always wait until the current measurement sweep  nishes and then stop an experiment
or a particular step. Otherwise, the experiment data  le may be corrupt and data cannot
or a particular step. Otherwise, the experiment data  le may be corrupt and data cannot
be retrieved.
Each step must have at least one sweep.
For the RTCA So ware to run properly, at least one sweep is needed for any given step.
Otherwise, the data  le format may not be correct.  e RTCA So ware will not continue
for steps without sweep numbers.
Do not re-use
the E-Plate 96.
Do not re-use the E-Plate 96.Do not re-use
Preparing and Starting a Run on the RTCA SP Instrument
Important Tips for Using the RTCA SP Instrument