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How to identify contamination
Remove a plate stuck within the instrument
QuantStudio
6 and 7 Flex Real-Time PCR Systems v1.6 Maintenance and Administration Guide
™
Signals that exceed the limit of normal background fluorescence may indicate
fluorescent contaminants on the calibration plate or array card or the sample block.
Common contaminants include ink residue from permanent pens, powder from
disposable gloves, and dust.
To identify and resolve a possible contamination problem:
1. While viewing the background calibration data in the Analysis screen, select the
QC tab to review the list of wells that failed the quality check.
2. Eject the background plate or array card from the instrument, rotate the plate
180°, then perform the background calibration again.
3. Determine the location of the contaminated wells again as in step 1.
If the position(s) of the contaminated well(s) in the steps above are:
• Identical – The sample block is contaminated. Decontaminate the sample
block as explained in "Decontaminate the sample block" on page 97.
• Reversed – The background plate or array card is contaminated. Discard it,
then perform the background calibration using a new background
consumable.
4. If the calibration fails after you replace the background plate or array card and
decontaminate the sample block, contact Technical Support.
™
If the QuantStudio
6 or 7 Flex System does not eject a plate after you touch
touchscreen, the adhesive cover of the plate may have adhered it to the heated cover
within the instrument. If so, you can remove the plate from the instrument as follows.
1. Power off the instrument. Wait 15 minutes, then power on the instrument and
eject the plate.
2. If the plate does not eject, power off and unplug the instrument, then open the
access door.
3. While wearing powder-free gloves, reach into the instrument and remove the
plate from the heated cover, then close the access door.
4. Perform a background calibration to confirm that the sample block has not been
contaminated.
Chapter 2 Calibrate the instrument
How to identify contamination
2
on the
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