Bio-Rad Firmware & Software Updates - Manual (Page 139)

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• Clean the outer surface. Use a damp cloth or tissue to clean spills off the outside
case. If needed, use a mild soap solution, and then rinse the surface with a damp cloth.
Cleaning the cover will prevent corrosion
NOTE: Never use cleaning solutions that are corrosive to aluminum, such as bleach
or abrasive cleansers.
• Use of oil in the wells is not recommended. If oil is used, the wells must be cleaned
thoroughly and often. Remove 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
• Clean the wells in the block. Clean spills immediately to prevent them from drying. Use
disposable plastic pipets with water (recommended), 95% ethanol, or a 1:100 dilution of
bleach in water. Also use a soft, lint-free cloth or paper towel and water to clean the
block. Always rinse the wells with water several times to remove all traces of cleaning
reagents
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! Bleach, ethanol, or soap that is left in the block could corrode the
block and destroy plastics during a run. After cleaning, always rinse the wells
thoroughly with water to remove all traces of cleaning reagents.
WARNING! Never heat the block after adding a cleaning solution. Heating the
block with cleaning solution will damage the block, reaction module, and thermal
cycler base.
• Clean the inner lid. Use a soft, lint-free cloth and water to remove debris and solutions
from the inner lid surface. Never use abrasive detergents or rough material that will
scratch the surface. Cleaning the inner lid improves precise sample heating and cooling
Application Log
Before starting a new run, the instrument initiates a self-diagnostic test to verify that it is
running within specifications. The software records results of this test in the Run log and
Application log file. If you notice a problem in one or more experiments, open the run and
application logs to find out when the problem started.
CFX Manager software tracks information about the state of an instrument during a run in the
Application Log (Figure 86). Use these logs to track events that occur on instruments and in
the software and for troubleshooting.