Bio-Rad T100™ Thermal Cycler - Manual (Page 34)

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Cleaning the Reaction Block
Clean the reaction block of the T100 thermal cycler on a regular schedule to prevent reagents
from accumulating and interfering with the ability of the block to change temperature quickly.
To clean the sample block, follow these instructions, paying careful attention to the warnings:
• Clean the block wells. Clean spills immediately to prevent them from drying inside
wells. Use disposable plastic pipets with water (recommended), 95% ethanol, or a 1:100
dilution of bleach in water. Always rinse the wells with water several times to remove all
traces of ethanol, bleach, or soap
• If oil is used, the wells must be cleaned thoroughly and often. Use of oil in the
wells is not recommended. Clean the oil when it is discolored or contains dirt. Use a
solution of 95% ethanol to clean oil. Do not allow oil to build up in the block
WARNING! If left in the block wells, bleach, ethanol, or soap could corrode the
block and/or destroy tubes and microplates during a run. Always rinse the block
well after cleaning it with any solution other than water.
WARNING! Never clean the block with strong alkaline solutions (strong soap,
ammonia, or high-concentration bleach). Never use corrosive or abrasive cleaning
solutions. These cleaning agents can damage the block and prevent precise
thermal control.
WARNING! Never heat the block after adding a cleaning solution. Heating the
block with cleaning solution damages the block, lid, and thermal cycler base.
WARNING! Never pour water or other solutions in the sample block. Wet
components can cause electrical shock when the thermal cycler is plugged in.
Testing and Fixing Insufficient Air Flow
The T100 thermal cycler requires sufficient air flow 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. The air flow is sufficient when the thermal cycler heats and
cools to the correct target temperatures promptly. When the T100 thermal cycler is first set up
in a new location, use the following steps to determine the presence of sufficient air flow:
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. Also 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 min. 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 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 T100 thermal cycler and between adjacent
instruments. Arrange instruments so that the warm exhaust air from one instrument
does not enter the air intake vents of another