Quick Guide For Running The Mycycler - BIO RAD MyCycler Instruction Manual

Section 2
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Quick Guide for Running the MyCycler
The following procedure is provided for the user wishing to immediately start
using the MyCycler. Detailed information for using the instrument is provided in
subsequent sections.
1. Power up the MyCycler by either plugging in the instrument or, pressing the
Standby key on the front panel of the instrument, if in Standby mode. After a
quick diagnostic routine, the Home screen will be displayed.
2. Press F2-Create from the Home Screen. A selection menu will appear.
3. Select the "Custom" option from the selection menu (it should be selected by
default) and press Enter. You may also choose to edit a Bio-Rad template
protocol listed in this menu if the template protocol is similar to your desired
protocol.
4. Edit the fields of the protocol.
The default, custom protocol is a simple three-step amplification protocol;
30 seconds at 95°C, 30 seconds at 55°C, followed by 0 seconds at 72°C.
To add or delete a step or cycle, press F4-Add/Del and select the appropriate
option. Note that vertical lines demarcate different cycles, and that steps with
in the same cycle are not separated by vertical lines. Cycles are numbered
sequentially in the bottom left corner of their first step's display.
Use the arrow keys to move the selection box between the different fields
for each step of your protocol. Set point temperature fields are shown
immediately above the temperature plot line, whereas dwell time fields are
shown immediately below the temperature plot line. The repeats field,
which specifies the number of times a cycle is to occur, followed by an "x",
is shown in the bottom right corner of the last step of a cycle.
To add an increment or decrement option for either time or temperature
put the selection box on the desired time or temperature field, press
F3-Option, and select the desired option. After selecting the desired
option, a new field will pop up in the display. In this new field, input the
amount of time or degrees Celsius by which you want to increment or
decrement each repeat.
When you are finished editing the protocol, press F5-Done.
5. Save the protocol by choosing "Save Protocol As..." from the selection menu.
Name the protocol using the alphanumeric keys, as described in section 1.5,
and press Enter when finished.
6. The Home screen will appear. Press the F1-Protocol Library to access the
Protocol Library. Using the arrow keys, select the protocol you just created
and press Enter. A selection menu will appear. Select "Run Protocol".
7. The Run Setup screen should appear. Specify whether or not you want a hot
start (and the hot start temperature if you picked "YES"), and which temperature
measurement mode you want (and the sample volume if you picked
"Algorithmic Measurement").
8. Press F5-Begin Run to begin the run.