52 | 405 TS Getting Started Guide
The low-flow tubing is used during a wash step when the Flow Rate is set to 1 or
2. It dispenses fluid to the wells slowly enough to avoid damaging the cells. Note
that the low flow line is always open, i.e. some fluid flows through the tubing
during normal dispenses. For this reason, priming the low flow tubing is
recommended for all Prime steps.
Additional Techniques
Delay Aspiration: Also critical to cell-based assays is delaying aspiration to allow
the slower dispense process to finish before beginning fluid removal from the well.
This option, offered as part of the dispense step, is called Delay Start of Vacuum.
Adjust the Aspirate Travel Rate and Aspirate Height: when defining the aspirate
step select one of the specially designed travel rates that minimize turbulence in
the wells. Increase the aspirate height to leave more residual fluid in the wells to
protect the cell layer. Also, consider using a secondary aspiration as described in
the Cell Wash Strategies described below.
Adjust the Dispense Flow Rate, Height and Position: when defining the dispense
step be sure to select one of the special Flow Rates that trigger use of the low-flow
tubing, 1 or 2 CW. Also reposition the dispense tubes to aim the fluid at the side of
the wells to further minimize turbulence. See Cell Wash Strategies on the facing page.
Define a Cell Wash Protocol
Adjust the volumes recommended in this procedure to meet your specific needs.
1.
Create a new protocol.
2.
Add a Prime step, especially when the lines are empty or when
changing fluids.
3.
Add a Wash step and define it as you normally would, except
with these special parameters:
l Set the Aspiration Travel Rate to 6 CW and the Delay to 0.
l Set the Dispense Flow Rate to 1 or 2.
l Click the Dispense Advanced Options link and enable the Delay start of
Vacuum until sufficient fluid has been dispensed. For small dispense volumes,
BioTek recommends setting the delay volume to equal your dispense volume.
l Reposition the dispense tubes to aim fluid at the side of the wells to reduce
turbulence and change the aspirate height to increase the amount of residual
fluid left in the well to protect the cell layer. See Cell Wash Strategies on the facing
page.
405™ TS Microplate Washer
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