Bio-Rad S1000™ Thermal Cycler - Manual (Page 34)

S1000 Thermal Cycler Manual
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• Clean the outer lid surface of the reaction module. Use a damp cloth or tissue to
clean spills off the outside case. If needed, use a mild soap solution and rinse the surface
with a damp cloth. Cleaning the cover prevents corrosion
Maintaining Sufficient Airflow
The S1000 thermal cycler requires sufficient airflow to precisely heat and cool to the correct
target temperature. If the flow of air is blocked, the thermal cycler cannot ramp to the correct
temperature in the specified time. This section includes instructions for testing the airflow and
provides suggestions for fixing low or warm airflow.
Testing for Sufficient Airflow
The airflow is sufficient when the thermal cycler heats and cools to the correct target
temperatures promptly. When the S1000 thermal cycler is first set up in a new location, use the
following steps to determine the presence of sufficient airflow:
1. Set up the instrument in the location where it is going to be used, then turn the power on.
2. Adjust the local environment for typical conditions.
Turn on any nearby equipment, such as fans. Open any window blinds to reproduce
typical conditions during a run. If more than one thermal cycler is in the area, run a
protocol on all the thermal cyclers at the same time.
3. Run a typical PCR protocol for 30 mins.
To run a protocol, samples are not required; however, an empty microplate or tubes
should be included. The lid does not heat correctly if it touches the hot block of the
reaction module.
4. Measure the air temperature at the air intake vents of all the thermal cyclers.
If the air intake temperature exceeds 31°C, see Fixing Insufficient Airflow to ensure
sufficient airflow.
Fixing Insufficient Airflow
If the air temperature near the thermal cycler is above 31°C, make one or more of the following
changes to increase the flow of cooler air around the thermal cycler:
• Adjust air conditioning to lower the ambient air temperature
• Move the thermal cycler to another location
• Provide more space around the S1000 thermal cycler and between adjacent
instruments. Arrange instruments so that warm exhaust air from one instrument does
not enter the air intake vents of another
• Shield the thermal cycler from heat sources, such as radiators, other heat-producing
instruments, and bright sunlight