PROGRAMMING SIZE SELECTIONS – TIGHT, RANGE, AND TIMED MODES .... 8-1 8.1 Tight Mode – programming minimum size range collections ........8-1 8.2 Range Mode– programming broad size range collections ..........8-2 Time Mode – programming timed collections ............... 8-4 OPTICAL CALIBRATION ....................9-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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14 SAMPLE RECOVERY AND YIELD ................14-1 14.1 Overview ......................... 14-1 14.2 Intrinsic Sample Recovery on the BluePippin ............. 14-1 14.3 Improving Product Yield by Selecting a Wider Size Range ........14-2 14.4 Improving Product Recovery with the Field Reversal ..........14-3 14.5...
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Introduction Thank you for purchasing the BluePippin from Sage Science. The BluePippin is an automated preparative gel electrophoresis system. We urge you to read this manual to familiarize yourself with the system’s capabilities and precautions. 1.1 System Overview There are three components to the BluePippin system: •...
1.2 How the System Works The BluePippin systems use pre-cast and disposable agarose gel cassettes. DNA fractions are collected by electro-elution into a buffer-filled well using a branched channel configuration with switching electrodes. The timing of switching is determined by measuring the rate of DNA migration with optical detection of labelled markers.
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com 1.4 Collection Types The BluePippin can be programmed to size select either targeted fractions or “High-Pass” collections. The fragment size distributions are described below: 1. Minimum Size Distribution (“Tight” setting). The cassette lane will collect the narrowest distribution of fragments that is achievable given the resolution of the agarose gel concentration within the cassette.
Sample loading (Section 11) 2.1 Common Misconceptions Users should be aware of the following characteristics of the BluePippin System. These are part of normal operation of the system, but may seem counterintuitive at first. 2.1.1 Narrowest is not always the best.
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600 bp. The collections of large DNA fragments, especially with pulsed –field protocols, can also appear counter-intuitive with respect to timing. Figure 2.3. An illustration comparing the relative rate of electrophoresis in the separation and elution channels BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Yield can be affected by DNA becoming lightly bound to the low molecular weight cut- off membrane in the elution well. At the end of the run, the BluePippin will briefly reverse field (for 5 seconds). This improves sample yield by up to 20%.
Information. Provides additional information regarding the function of the system or applications for which is used. Safe Use Guidelines The BluePippin system is designed to operate under the following environmental conditions: • Pollution Degree 2 •...
Unpacking the BluePippin The BluePippin Instrument The BluePippin instrumentation is shipped in two boxes: one will contain the BluePippin and Accessories and the second box will contain the computer monitor in the manufacturer’s original packaging. With the boxes in the upright position, open and...
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After the power switch is activated, the software will launch – allow ~30 seconds. Figures 4.1 and 4.2 on the next page show the rear panel of the BluePippin. Figure 4.3 on the following page shows the front panel. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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● ● 978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com USB Ports (4) VGA monitor port Figure 4.1. Rear Panel Ports Power Switch Power Entry Port Mouse Key board Monitor Cable Power Cable Figure 4.2. Rear Panel Connections BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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Figure 4.3. BluePippin front panel USB Port Indicator Light: Indicator Light: Blue when instrument is Green when electrophoresis is ready for use (power is on, underway (protocol is running). and software is active). BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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40 ml of spare running buffer * Tween solution is used to improve DNA recovery of larger DNA fragments. Important! Fluorescein labels will degrade at room temperature – minimize time at RT for labeled standards and markers BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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• Electrophoresis buffer – may be stored at room temperature or 4 • Loading solution – store at 4 C. Bring to room temperature before use. • Tween Solution – store at 4 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Enter reference lane No. for the external marker Select “APPLY TO ALL LANES” Calibrate the Optics Prepare the Cassette Run the Continuity Test on the Cassette Load Samples onto the Cassette Run the BluePippin BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Sample Preparation Input Sample Characteristics When running the BluePippin, characteristics of input DNA can affect separation resolution and efficiency of product recovery. The following general guidelines should be followed: • Ionic strength: The ionic strength of the sample should be lower than the ionic strength of the buffer (80mM monovalent ions).
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Programming Guide The default screen on the BluePippin is a tabbed format. The Protocol Editor is the second tab. Overview The protocol editor tab is the screen with which users create new protocols, or edit existing protocols, for DNA size selection. A protocol is created for a cassette type (within the applicable target range) and is saved as a named protocol file with a “.ppprot”...
2. Select “NEW”, to create a new protocol. To edit an existing protocol, press the “LOAD” button to select the protocol to be edited. 3. Select a Cassette Type from “Cassette” menu, by clicking the folder icon. Protocol fields cannot be edited unless a cassette type has been selected. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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“End Run when Elution Completed” box is left unchecked. 5. Program the size selection protocol, and assign the DNA reference marker lane. There are three modes of programming on the BluePippin: • Tight – collects minimum allowable distribution range of DNA fragments using the median target base pair value.
To end a run manually, go to the Main Tab and press “STOP”. Completed elutions may be verified in the Lane Status Panel if there is a value is in the “Elution Timer” field and the “Separate” button is lit: BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
DNA marker in lane 1, with programmed “Tight” extractions in lanes 2-5. Lane to which marker has been loaded. Remaining lanes will reference off of marker lane Figure 7.1. The correct configuration for a protocol with an external marker loaded in lane 1. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Figure 7.2. The correct configuration for a protocol using internal standards. Important! When using internal standards all samples must be prepared with the BluePippin internal standard loading solution which is formulated for the cassette type and size range to be used.
Note: A collection range below the minimum will not collect the fragment range selected. Rather, the range will be reflected as the minimum allowable (as defined by the “Tight” setting) albeit with a lower sample yield that can be achieved by the “Tight” setting. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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If the pause feature has been entered for a sample lane, “Pause On” indicator will be displayed. Warnings Text Box If there are errors or exceptions within a programmed protocol, a message will appear in the Warnings text box identifying the nature of the discrepancy. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
4. Enter a value in for the “BP Target”. This value should represent the median value for the desired size range to be collected. The actual range to be collected will auto-fill the “BP Start” and “BP End” fields. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
“Save As” will allow a new name for the file to be applied. All protocol files are saved in a file directory, /home/pippin/BluePippin/Protocols, and may be accessed in the File Manager tab.
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“Save As” will allow a new name for the file to be applied. All protocol files are saved in a file directory, /home/pippin/BluePippin/Protocols, and may be accessed in the File Manager tab.
“Save” will save the file under the previously saved name, and “Save As” will allow a new name for the file to be applied. All protocol files are saved in a directory, /home/pippin/BluePippin/Protocols, and may be accessed in the File Manager tab.
● ● 978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Optical Calibration The BluePippin optical system must be calibrated before every run. The instrument is supplied with a calibration fixture that fits over the LED detectors on the optical nest. Main Tab Lane Status Panel...
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“Ready for Calibration”. Place fixture on the optical nest so that all five LED detectors are covered. The dark side of the fixture must be down (closest to the LEDs): Bottom Correct Position on Optical Nest BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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● ● 978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com 4. Close the lid. 5. Press “CALIBRATE” BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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Once calibration is successful the "Calibration Status" field will contain the message "Calibration OK" 6. Press “EXIT” to return to the Main Tab. 7. Open the lid and remove the fixture. BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Figure 10.1. Low buffer levels in cassette buffer chambers 3. Inspect the gel columns. Look for obvious breakage of the agarose column in each channel. Important! If there is obvious breakage, do not use the lane. Remaining lanes can be used 10-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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Do not use this lane for samples with internal standards or external DNA marker Figure 10.2. Bubble in optical path. Do not use the lane for the DNA reference marker. Figure 10.3. The region of optical detection 10-2 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Grab the white tabs of the tape and pull the strips firmly and slowly toward the front of the BluePippin until they are removed. 4. Remove buffer from elution modules and replace with 40μl of fresh electrophoresis buffer.
1. Press “Test”. With the cassette in the optical nest, close the lid and press “TEST” on the controller on the Main Tab. 10-4 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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“FAIL” =replace buffer and “FAIL” = do not use lane retest. If it fails again, do not use for collections. Figure 10.5. The Continuity Test screen. The elution channel in lane 1 has failed. 10-5 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Figure 11.1. Properly prepared samples will be 40 ul in total volume consisting of 30 ul of DNA mixed with 10 ul of BluePippin internal standard mix or loading solution. The loading solution contains concentrated Ficoll as a densifying agent...
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Don’t be concerned if the sample well slightly overfills. The density of the sample will allow it to sink before it can flow out of the well. 3. Repeat step 2 for remaining wells. 11-2 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Running a Protocol The default screen on the BluePippin is a tabbed format. The Main Tab is the first tab and the default screen. 12.1 Overview The Main Tab is the screen with which users load protocols, run the instrument, and monitor optical signal and electrophoresis.
12.2 Starting a Run Important! The BluePippin should be optically calibrated prior to every run. If this has not been done, refer to Chapter 9 for instructions. 1. If necessary, select the protocol to be run from the “Protocol Name” drop down menu in the Protocol Status Panel.
If there is a time value in the “Elution Timer” field, and the orange “Elute” indicator is no Note longer lit, then the elution has been completed for that lane. 12-3 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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Important! If the “End Run when Elution is Completed” is checked in the protocol editor, the run may terminate before the progress bar reaches 100% Figure 12.1 The Run Time field in the protocol editor. This time value is used to determine the progress of the run. 12-4 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
12.4 Log Files At the end of every run, the BluePippin will automatically save a log file (.txt) which can be viewed on the Log Review Tab (or the PC software version of Log Review). A screen image (.png) of the Main Tab is saved after the run has been finished. Screen images of all continuity tests and calibration tests are also automatically saved.
EDTA in eluted samples is elevated to 1-2 mM Note: Eluted samples can be used directly for ligation and amplification without buffer exchange. 13-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
DNA may become entangled in the ultra-filtration membranes in the elution modules which can reduce yield. The BluePippin automatically adds a brief field reversal at the end of each elution to “push” DNA off of the membrane (Section 14.4). However for higher molecular weight DNA collections (>2kb), we recommend several user steps to...
14.3 Improving Product Yield by Selecting a Wider Size Range The BluePippin can produce very narrow size distributions from sheared genomic DNA. However, narrower size distributions will necessarily mean that a smaller fraction of the input DNA will be recovered. Users should broaden their collection ranges if the default tight settings do not produce enough DNA for their application.
14.4 Improving Product Recovery with the Field Reversal The BluePippin provides a brief current reversal at the end of a sample elution can improve sample recovery by up to 20%. The field reversal is a default setting, located in the System Options Tab of the Pippin Software. The use of this option is recommended, but may be turned off by users.
14.5 HMW DNA: Recommendations to Improve Yield Sage Science recommends the following procedures, in order of effectiveness, to maximize the yield for high molecular weight DNA (>2kb, and “high-pass” protocols). 1. Wait at least 45 min after termination of the run before removing eluted DNA (it is OK to leave samples in instrument for hours, i.e.
DNA run on a 2% Agarose Gel Cassette Important! Data are not intended to imply guaranteed results or performance. Control standards are intended to demonstrate that the BluePippin system is functioning as expected, and that proper operational technique is being used.
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com System Options Tab The default screen on the BluePippin is a tabbed format. The System Options is the fifth tab. Overview The System Options Tab allows users to set or change global configurations for the software and BluePippin.
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1. Edit the date or time display directly in the “Time/Dislpay” field, or select the calendar icon next to the field and edit the time or select a date. 2. The “Settings Changed” indicator light will activate. Press “Accept” to accept the new setting. 16-2 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Running in Manual Mode The BluePippin may be run without using a programmed protocol and with manual control. 1. Select the Manual Mode from the top of the “Protocol Name” drop down menu in the Run File Manager.
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Note: There is a delay between the time that a fragment is detected (and visible on the graph or image) and when it is in position to be eluted. See cassette specifications at the end of this manual to determine the best timing for manual runs. 17-2 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Analyzing Runs - Log Review Tab The default screen on the BluePippin is a tabbed format. The Log Review is the third tab. Overview The Log review screen is used to review data and programming parameters from previous size selection runs.
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978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Opening a Log file in the Review Screen A stand-alone Review Log Program is available for PCs. Contact sage science Note: support. i. Click the “Log Review” tab along top of the screen. ii. To select a log file, press the folder icon in next to the “Log File” field.
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The same styles are applied to both the signal and current traces. Turn line visualization on/off Hold left-click on mouse to change line color or style 18-3 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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There are four icons in the upper right hand corner of the graph. The functions are listed below. Revert to default Grab and move view screen Move yellow Zoom base pair (hold left- indicator click for Options) 18-4 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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An image from the review screen may be captured and automatically saved by pressing the “Snapshot” button. The .png file will date and time stamped and saved in the Pippin log file directory. 18-5 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com Managing Files -- File Manager Tab The default screen on the BluePippin is a tabbed format. The File Manager Tab is the fourth tab. 19.1 Overview The File Manager Tab allows users to access, copy, and delete BluePippin files.
BluePippin during manufacture or through software upgrades. Note. The BluePippin is equipped with 25 GB of storage. The combined files sizes for the log files saved for each run is about 150 kb, or a total storage capacity for 166,000 runs.
19.3 Transferring files Files may be copied between the BluePippin and a USB flash drive. To transfer a file, place a USB drive into the USB port on the front panel of the instrument (the USB ports on the back panel may be used as well).
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● 978-922-1832 www.sagescience.com support@sagescience.com To transfer from a USB Drive to the BluePippin: 1. Highlight the file to be copied. 2. Select the directory from which the file will be copied. 3. Press the “COPY TO PIPPIN” button. 4. Press the “EJECT FLASH” button.
Copy the zip file to a USB drive. Make sure the file is transferred to the root directory and not placed within a folder. Right-click on the zip file, and select “Extract All..”: 20-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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Delete the destination folder name, so that only the root directory appears (E:\ in the example below). Correct: Not Correct: The final USB file structure should be as shown. The zip file may be deleted. 20-2 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
2. From the Main Tab, press “INFO”. This will launch the information window. 3. From the Information Window, press “SOFTWARE UPGRADE” 4. Press “OK” at the warning prompt, the Software Upgrade Window will launch. 20-3 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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8. To check that the software insturment has been update, Press “INFO” again. In the Information window, the software version number is listed on the left side. Note: The system should be ready to use; re-boot is not necessary. 20-4 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
3. Allow the electrodes to rinse for several seconds. 4. Open the lid and remove the cassette. Note: If a rinse cassette is lost or damaged contact Sage Science support for a replacement. 21-5 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Do not attempt to repair or disassemble the BluePippin instrument. This will void the remaining warranty and possibly create a dangerous condition. Sage Science support staff may ask for a log file or image file to evaluate or troubleshoot instrument issues.
100-240 VAC +/-10% VAC, 2.5 A, 50-60 Hz Weight 15 lbs / 7 kg Dimensions 7H X 11W X 21D (in.) / 18H X 28W X 53D (cm) Approvals CE, CSA Country of Origin United States 24-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
4. Recovery is measured using known amounts of plasmid marker ladder. Important! DNA input samples should be purified to eliminate DNA binding proteins such as ligases, polymerases, restriction enzymes. Bound proteins can alter mobility and reduce recovery. Specifications subject to change without notice. 25-1 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Collects fragments up to 8kb Threshold settings may be programmed between 250bp-1.5kb Performance Specifications* Accuracy, “BPStart” <10% Reproducibility, “BPStart” < 10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-6 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
Times should be used as an approximate guideline. Performance Specifications Minimum Size Distribution as CV 50 – 80% Sample Recovery Reproducibility <10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-7 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
* Run times are affected by temperature and broad range collections. Times should be used as an approximate guideline. Performance Specifications Minimum Size Distribution as CV Accuracy <10% Reproducibility <10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-8 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
* Run times are affected by temperature and broad range collections. Times should be used as an approximate guideline. Performance Specifications Minimum Size Distribution as CV Accuracy <10% Reproducibility <10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-9 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
<10% ** Accuracy and reproducibility are affected by the sample load amount. Refer to the High-Pass user guide for recommendations. Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-10 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
<10% ** Accuracy and reproducibility are affected by the sample load amount. Refer to the High-Pass user guide for recommendations. Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-11 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
* Run times are affected by temperature and broad range collections. Times should be used as an approximate guideline. Performance Specifications Minimum Size Distribution as CV Accuracy <10% Reproducibility <10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-12 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
* Run times are affected by temperature and broad range collections. Times should be used as an approximate guideline. Performance Specifications Minimum Size Distribution as CV Accuracy <10% Reproducibility <10% Specifications subject to change without notice * see page 25-1 for specification definitions 25-13 BluePippin Operations Manual 460013 Rev F...
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