Bio-Rad High-Throughput Dodeca™ Gel Stainers - Manual (Page 21)

Section 7
Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting
Problem Cause Solution
1. Uneven stain, a. Staining tray is too a. Select the proper tray
and/or large for the gel size. and tray attachments, if
gel breakage Gels will rotate during needed, for your gel
staining and can get size (see Table 1A)
lodged in a diagonal
position.
Position the gel correctly
on the staining tray (see
Or, the staining Table 1B)
tray is too small for the
gel size. The gel size
Don't increase the
after swelling exceeds shaking speed beyond
the staining tray the recommended
dimensions and the gel speed setting for more
will lodge in the tray than a few minutes (see
Table 3.7A)
Note: Gradient gels
show increased swelling
For overnight
from low to high %T. This incubations always
results in a trapezoidal decrease speed to #3
shaped gel that can
rotate and lodge in the
tray if not positioned
correctly
2. Uneven stain a. Gels sticking to tray a. Add a small amount of
surface deionized water onto
the tray before loading
the gel
Release the gels by
increasing the speed
(6–10) on the shaker
control unit for a few
minutes. As soon as all
the gels are loose,
return to the recommended
speed setting (see
Table 3.7A)
3. Top gel stained a. Insufficient amount of a. Fill the tank with reagent
unevenly, damaged, reagent in the tank until it reaches 0.5 cm
or dried out above the top cover tray
4. The solution tank is a. The drain ports are a. Prior to use, make sure
not draining blocked the drain ports are
unblocked to ensure
proper draining
5. The shaker motor a. The black T-knobs are a. Tighten the black T-knobs
seems loose and is loose that hold the shaker
rocking too much on motor on top of the lid
top of the lid
6. The shaking rack a. The solution tank is not a. Drain the staining
(with trays inside) drained. solutions from the tank
is difficult to remove prior to removing the
from the tank. shaking rack.
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