CAVRO XP 3000 - Optimizing XP 3000 Performance

Setting Up the XP3000 for Your Application 4-3
slope (L)
Acceleration (deceleration) of the syringe plunger between start velocity, top
velocity, and cutoff velocity.
The volume aspirated or dispensed when the syringe plunger moves a specified number
of steps depends on the syringe size. To determine the number of steps required to
aspirate or dispense a given volume, use the following formula:
# of steps = (pump resolution) x volume
(syringe size)
For example, to aspirate 100
µL using an XP 3000 pump with 1 mL syringe, move the
plunger as follows:
# of steps = 3000 steps x 100
µL = 300 steps
1 mL x 1000 µL/mL
Optimizing XP 3000 Performance
CAUTION! Run the pump only in the upright position. Do not move the pump valve
or syringe plunger without first wetting or priming the pump.
For command details, see Chapter 3, “Software Communication.”
To optimize XP 3000 performance, follow these steps:
1 Check chemical compatibility.
Check the chemical compatibility chart in Appendix D, “Chemical Resistance
Chart,” to determine if the fluids in your application are compatible with the XP
3000 syringe and valve materials. If not, a system fluid is required. Complete the
optimization procedure with the fluids you will use in your final system.
Note that the system fluid is used to prime the syringe and tubing from inlet to outlet.
After the tubing is primed (and before any sample or reagent is aspirated), an air gap
must be taken into the aspirate/dispense tubing to separate the system fluid from
subsequently aspirated sample or reagent. Air gaps should be aspirated slowly to
avoid break-ups, and they should be one-tenth the volume of the aspirated fluid
or
at least 10
µLto avoid any dilution effect. Similar air gaps should separate each
aspirated fluid when performing multiple aspirates with no intervening dispenses, in
order to prevent premature mixing and/or contamination. In addition, the
aspirate/dispense tubing must be long enough to hold the total aspirate volume
without coming in contact with the valve or syringe.