MAN0009889 SimpliAmp ThermalCycler UserGuide
MAN0009889 SimpliAmp ThermalCycler UserGuide
USER GUIDE
Important Licensing Information: This product may be covered by one or more Limited Use Label Licenses. By use of this product, you accept the
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Contents
■ APPENDIX C Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Return an instrument for service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
■ APPENDIX F Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Symbols on the instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Safety alerts on this instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Location of safety labels on this instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Safety information for instruments not manufactured by Thermo Fisher Scientific . . . . . 85
Instrument safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Physical injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Cleaning and decontamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Environmental design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Chemical safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Biological hazard safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Instrument overview
The SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler (Cat. no. A24811) allows you to:
• Optimize your PCR with the help of the Veriflex™ blocks
• Program the instrument from the touchscreen interface
• Access the system remotely through a mobile application
• Simulate other PCR instruments with Thermal Simulation modes
This user guide provides information on how to maximize the capabilities of this
system.
Detailed specifications for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler are found in Appendix D,
“Instrument specification and layout“.
3. New Method: Touch New Method to create a new run method with the help of
the default templates that are pre-loaded with the instrument. Touching New
Method takes you to the Setup Run screen that allows you to create a new run
method by using the default templates or existing methods. You can also create a
run method for incubation from the Setup Run screen.
4. Open Method: Touch Open Method to select an existing run method to start a
run. Touching Open Method takes you to the Select Method screen that displays
the existing run methods. The run methods are sorted and stored in various
folders. Select a folder to display the run methods within the folder. Touch a run
method under the Method name to edit that run method in the edit mode.
5. Incubate: Touch Incubate to use the instrument as a precise incubator for non-
PCR workflows.
6. Settings: Touch Settings to configure the instrument.
Button Function
1. Current temperature
2. Time remaining
3. Status of the block (pre-heating, running,
and so on)
4. Username
Enter text When you touch a field that requires the input of text, the text editor, as seen in the
following figure, opens. Table 3 displays the buttons to touch to enter different
information types.
To... Touch
Enter an uppercase , then the letter (s). When you are done, touch again.
letter
Enter punctuation or , then the symbol(s). When you are done, touch
other symbols again.
Close the editor and save to accept the entry and close the editor.
any changes
Enter numerals When you touch a field that requires a numerical input, the numeric editor, as seen in
the following figure, opens. Table 4 displays the buttons to touch to perform different
functions while entering numbers.
To... Touch
Workflow
Start the instrument
q
Perform a run or
Perform a run on multiple instruments
q
2. In the Setup Run screen, touch Open Template, Open Method, or Incubate.
b. Touch Open Method to create a new method using an existing run method.
Select from the methods listed in the Select Method screen.
Note: The Select Method screen opens up if you touch Open Method in the
Home screen or in the Setup Run screen.
3. Irrespective of the source for creating a new run method, once you select one of
the methods, you will come to the Method Edit screen.
See “Edit a run method“ on page 16 for instructions on editing a run method.
Note: You can choose to directly start a run without editing a run method. To
start a run, touch Next.
1. In the Edit Method screen for the run method that you have selected, touch Edit
or anywhere on the graphical temperature profile to start editing the parameters.
You will see that each of the numbers are surrounded by black fields indicating
that they are editable. At this point, you can edit any of the temperatures, times,
heated cover, number of cycles, and other parameters seen on the screen.
2. Touch Manage Steps to manage the steps; for example, add or delete a stage or
step, or set more advanced parameters.
a. Touch Add Steps to add a step.
The '+' buttons appear while adding a step or stage, while the '–' buttons appear
while deleting a step or stage.
Touch Done to finish managing the steps or Advanced Options to modify the
advanced parameters.
3. Touch Advanced Options to edit the VeriFlex™ blocks, AutoDelta, Ramp Rates,
and Simulation Mode parameters.
• Touch Simulation Mode to set the simulation mode. The simulation modes
include the following:
– No Simulation
– Applied Biosystems™ 2720
– Bio-Rad™ T100™
– Bio-Rad™ MyCycler™
– MJ Research™ PTC-200
– Eppendorf™ Mastercycler® gradient
a. Touch a particular ramp rate to open the editor to edit the ramp rate.
b. Touch Done to save the selection or Cancel to exit the screen.
c. Use the button in the top right corner of the screen to return to the
Advanced Options screen.
Note: If you set a simulation mode other than No Simulation, then the ramp
rate will be locked and unavailable for editing.
• Touch VeriFlex™ to edit the VeriFlex™ blocks parameter.
a. Touch the icon to choose the steps you want to apply VeriFlex™.
Note: The Save As button turns to Save in the Edit Method screen once you have
saved the template as a new method.
Place the sample The steps for placing the sample tray on the sample block(s) are the same for:
tray or plate onto • A sample tray/retainer
the sample • A sample tray without a retainer
block(s) • A 96-well plate.
1. Lift the sample tray from the splash-free 96-well base and place it in the sample
block(s).
2. Place the MicroAmp™ Tray or Plate onto the sample block(s) so that well A1 is at
the upper left corner of the tray, as shown in the following figure:
Perform a run
Prepare your samples and load the sample block(s) as described in “Load samples
into the instrument“ on page 22.
2. Start a run from the Home screen in one of the following ways. Touch:
• New Method
• Open Method
• Incubate
• Status dial
Note: See “Create a new run method“ on page 14 to create a new run method or
see “Edit a run method“ on page 16 to edit an existing run method.
3. Touch Next.
The Run Parameters screen is displayed:
4. Touch the field under Run ID, then enter the applicable information in the Enter
the Run ID screen.
The default Run ID is YYYYMMDDHHMM, where “YYYYMMDD” is the date
and “HHMM” is the current time.
You can choose to retain the default Run ID.
6. Touch Start Run. The cover is heated to the required temperature, then the run
begins.
While the run is in progress, the Home screen is displayed. When the run is
complete, the Status Dial on the Home screen displays Done and Remove
Samples.
Perform a run on Use the Multi-Instrument Setup feature to perform runs on multiple instruments.
multiple 1. In the Multi-Instrument Setup screen, touch the Off and On toggle button to
instruments make the instrument on which you are running an experiment visible to other
instruments on the network.
2. Touch the second set of Off and On toggle buttons to find other instruments on
the network.
3. Select an existing or new method and proceed to the Start Run screen.
4. In the Start Run screen, touch Scan Devices instead of the Start Run button.
Note: The Scan Devices button appears in the Start Run screen when you enable
the multi-instrument run.
The instrument starts scanning for all available SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler
instruments on the same network which have the "Make Visible" setting enabled.
All available instruments are displayed in a table in the Multi-Instrument Run
screen.
5. Select one or more instruments from the table to enable the Start Run button.
Monitor a run
Monitor via the After a run has started, the Home screen appears again with the dials updated with
Home screen current information on the run. The dials display the following run information:
• Current block temperature
• Time remaining since the run started
• Run status
To monitor the run progress, touch the dial that is running to go the Run Monitoring
screen.
™
Figure 21 SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler Home screen
Monitor via the You can follow the status of a run using the Run Monitoring screen as shown in the
run monitor following figure:
screen
™
Figure 22 SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler Run Monitoring screen
The screen shows the run method profile and additional information that does not
appear in the Dial on the Home screen.
Element Description
~ End Time Displays the approximate time at which the run will end.
Element Description
If the power fails If a power failure occurs during a run, the instrument attempts to continue the run
when the power returns. The run begins at the first step of the stage where the power
failed.
Note: If the time between the initial power failure and the time the power returns is
more than 12 hours, the run is not continued.
3. In the Run History screen, touch the Run ID of the run you want to view.
The report is displayed.
CAUTION! Sample caps may pop off if the cover is opened when the sample
block(s) temperature is above 27 °C.
3. Touch New Folder, and in the New Folder dialog box, enter a name for the new
folder you want to create.
Touch Enter.
b. In the Copy Method screen, select the folder you would like to copy the
method to, or touch New Folder. Touch Paste Method.
As-needed maintenance
Clean the Preparation
instrument Before cleaning the instrument:
2. Allow the instrument to cool until the heated cover and sample block(s) reach
room temperature.
WARNING! Always wear protective glasses and gloves when servicing the
instrument. Also, make sure you disconnect the instrument from AC line power
before you begin any service procedure. Always wear protective glasses and
gloves when servicing the instrument. Also, make sure you disconnect the
instrument from AC line power before you begin any service procedure.
3. Remove the sample tray from the sample block(s) and set it aside.
4. Use a cotton swab soaked in isopropanol to clean the sample wells thoroughly.
Make certain that the isopropanol has evaporated completely before reloading a
sample tray.
Note: Removing residual bleach from the surfaces of the instrument using water
minimizes the long-term effects of bleach treatments.
If the sample block(s) become contaminated with radioactivity, use a commercially
available decontaminant to remove the contamination. If the block(s) cannot be
decontaminated, the instrument cannot be returned for service.
Clean the heated cover
Clean the heated cover once a month or as needed.
3. Soak a cotton swab or piece of clean cloth with isopropanol and gently wipe the
heated platen.
Procedure
1. Power off the instrument by disconnecting the power.
2. Insert a small flat-tip screwdriver into the slot in the upper portion of the power
entry module, and open the door.
3. Pull out the fuse compartment to inspect the two fuses in the fuse compartment:
4. Pull out the blown fuse(s) from the fuse compartment and replace with new Two
UL Listed fuse, rated 10A, 250VAC, size: 5 x 20 mm.
5. Place the fuse compartment back into the power entry module (there is only one
orientation) and close the door.
Upgrade the
system firmware About the upgrade
If there is a new version of the firmware for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler, you
may be required to load the new firmware on the instrument.
You will need a USB drive and, if your instrument requires login, the login details to
upgrade the firmware.
5. Select SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler in the list, then click Updates & Patches.
7. Insert a USB drive into the USB port on the computer to download the new
firmware to the USB drive.
8. Click the link in the Software column to download the file. Select the USB drive
as the location for the saved file.
9. Remove the USB drive from the computer when the download is complete.
2. In the Home screen, touch Settings, or touch the shortcut to the Upgrade
Firmware screen if you have enabled the USB pop-up.
5. Touch the name of the file with the new firmware, then touch Update.
When the upgrade process is complete, the instrument will restart automatically.
Self Verification Use the Self Verification Test feature for the instrument to check the instrument
test hardware. The check includes testing the block, heated cover, and other components.
Note: Carry out the Self Verification test periodically or whenever there is an
intermittent instrument error.
Procedure
To carry out the Self Verification test:
4. In the Self Verification Test screen, touch Start Test to begin testing or Cancel to
exit the screen
The test takes about 10 minutes. Once the test is completed the test results will be
displayed in the form of a report.
Note: Contact your service representative in case of block failure.
5. Touch Export to save the test report to a USB drive or Close to exit the screen.
This chapter includes the procedures for installing the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler.
Package contents
Ensure that the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler package you receive includes one box
containing the following:
• One SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler instrument
• Power cable
• Starter Kit
• Analysis Certificates
Materials
Required • Scissors, pocket knife, or box cutter
materials • Compressed air
• Protective hardware, as appropriate (see below)
Optional Use the following devices to protect the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler from damage
protective resulting from electrical hazards and the resultant loss of data. Before installing the
system, decide what additional hardware (if any) you want to install.
hardware
• Power line regulator (1.5-kVA)
• Surge protector/line conditioner (10-kVA)
• Uninterruptible power supply (1.5-kVA)
b. Cut the tape securing the top flaps of the instrument crate, then open the
flaps.
e. Remove the packing material from the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler, then
inspect the instrument for shipping damage.
IMPORTANT! If the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler is damaged, note the
location and appearance of the damage, then contact Technical Support or
your service representative (see “Customer and technical support“ on
page 89).
2. Move the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler to the desired installation site. Follow
these guidelines for lifting and moving:
• Make sure that you have a secure, comfortable grip.
• Keep your spine in a neutral position.
• Bend at the knees and lift with your legs.
• Do not lift and twist your torso at the same time.
3. Verify that the package containing the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler Accessories
includes the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler Starter Kit.
b. Using a can of compressed air, deliver a blast of air into each well of the
sample block(s) to remove any particles that may have collected during
transportation.
6. (Optional) Connect the instrument to the network by inserting the ethernet cable
into the ethernet port at the back of the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler. For
instructions on setting up the wired connection, see “Set up the wired
connection“ on page 41.
In the absence of the ethernet cable or the ethernet port, you can connect the
instrument to the network via the USB-enabled Wi-Fi Card (Cat. No. A26774) as
shown in the following graphic.
Note: The USB-enabled Wi-Fi Card is an optional purchase.
Insert the Wi-Fi Card into the USB port at the back of SimpliAmp™ Thermal
Cycler. For instructions on setting up the wireless connection, see “Set up the
wireless connection“ on page 43
7. Toggle the power switch, then wait for the instrument to start up. The
touchscreen displays the Main Menu, indicating that the SimpliAmp™ Thermal
Cycler startup is complete. When you power on the instrument, the instrument
may require about 45 seconds to start up.
Note: First time users will be prompted with the End User License Agreement
(EULA) screen. See List item. on page 53 for more information on the EULA.
Set up the wired See “Set up the system“ on page 39 for instructions on connecting the SimpliAmp™
connection Thermal Cycler to the network. To set up the wired connection:
In the Network Configuration screen, you can choose to connect to the network
by obtaining the IP address either automatically (using DHCP) or manually. If
your instrument is not on a network, you do not need to set the IP address.
Note: Ask your system administrator if the IP address is assigned statically or
dynamically. For static addresses, you need to know the IP address for the
instrument, the subnet mask, and the default gateway.
• Automatically:
Touch Obtain an IP address automatically (using DHCP). A check mark
appears when DHCP is selected.
or
• Manually:
Touch Use the following IP Address, then enter the appropriate IP
addresses for the instrument, the Subnet Mask, and, optionally, the Default
Gateway, the Primary DNS Server, and the Secondary DNS Server using the
numeric editor. Addresses are in the form of X.X.X.X, where each X is a 3-
digit number, from 001 to 255.
5. Touch OK to save the changes and go back to the Network Connection screen.
Touch Cancel to exit the screen without saving the changes.
Set up the See “Set up the system“ on page 39 on connecting the USB-enabled Wi-Fi Card into
wireless the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler. To set up the wireless connection:
connection 1. Refer to “Set up the wired connection“ on page 41 through step 3 to arrive at the
Network Connection screen.
The Choose Network screen will come up and the wireless symbol will appear
active. Touch Cancel to exit the screen.
Note: During initial setup, if you selected the Wired option in the Network
Connection Type screen, you will be required to enter your IP address if you
selected the Static IP wired option. If you selected the Dynamic IP wired option,
the IP address is automatically populated.
3. Once a wireless connection has been detected, a list of the available networks will
be displayed in the Choose Network screen. Touch the network name of your
choice or touch Join Other Network.
If you choose Join Other Network, the Configure and Join Network screen opens.
4. In the Configure and Join Network screen, enter the name and security type of
the network.
Note: When you touch in the Network Name field, a keypad will come up to
facilitate making the entry.
5. From the Security type drop-down menu, touch to select the security type and
enter the relevant information in the screen.
Note: Contact your IT Systems Administrator for information on security type.
You can select from the following options:
• Open
• WEP
• WPA Personal
• WPA2 Personal
• WPA Enterprise
• WPA2 Enterprise
Note: The above options are available only if you selected Join Other Network in
step 3. You cannot change the security type if you selected an existing network.
6. Touch Join to continue or Cancel to exit from the Find and Join a Network
screen.
7. Depending on the security type you have selected, enter the appropriate
passwords and touch Join.
If you entered the correct information, the Network Connection Complete screen
will appear. Touch OK to continue. If you entered incorrect information, the
Network Connection Failed screen will come up and you will require to go back
to security type screen to resolve the issue. Touch OK to continue.
Use instrument By default, you are not required to sign in on the instrument, however this can be
without signing in changed in the administrator settings. If the instrument is configured by an
Administrator to allow guest access ( Settings4Manage Users4Sign In Required
set to off), you can use the instrument without signing in.
If you do not sign in to the instrument:
• All actions are logged to Guest user profile.
• You have access only to the Public folder for selecting and storing experiments.
• You cannot transfer data to the Cloud (only to USB or network drive).
Link your instrument profile to Thermo Fisher Connect once signed in.
1. Touch My Profile.
3. If you do not already have a Thermo Fisher Scientific account, follow the
prompts to create a new one.
5. Open your email and click on the link to visit the cloud page for the first time.
6. If you have done this successfully, you will receive a confirmation email telling
you that you have connected to the Thermo Fisher Connect.
4. Enter the password for the Administrator account. By default, the password is
"password".
8. Enter your Thermo Fisher Connect user name and password and select Link
Account. Create an account on thermofisher.com if you have not done so
already.
Link instrument Linking your profile to your Thermo Fisher Connect account allows you to:
profile to your • Download methods stored in your Cloud account to the instrument.
Thermo Fisher • Transfer methods from the instrument to your Cloud account.
Connect account
Link your instrument profile to Thermo Fisher Connect
1. Sign in to your instrument profile.
2. Touch My Profile.
3. Touch Cloud.
4. Enter your Thermo Fisher Connect username and password, then touch Link
Account.
Your instrument profile will link to your Thermo Fisher Connect account.
2. For Android devices, download the application from Google™ Play by searching
for Instrument Connect by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
3. Log in to the instrument connect mobile application using your Thermo Fisher
Connect login and password.
Recommended You can configure the following instrument settings by touching Settings on the
instrument Home screen:
settings
Note: The Manage Users button is visible only when you sign in as an administrator.
· Instrument Settings: Touch Instrument Settings to set various additional
parameters:
Set the following in the Instrument Settings screen:
Note: The Backup/Restore and Restore Factory Settings are available only when
you sign in as an administrator.
· Instrument Name: Touch the Instrument Name field and, using the text editor,
enter up to 25 alphanumeric characters to identify the instrument.
Note: The instrument name cannot have spaces. Separate consecutive characters
with a hyphen or underscore; for example, MyInstrument.
· Date/ Time: Touch Date/ Time to set the date and time for a run.
a. Enter the date and time in the Date/Time field using the numerical editor
that comes up when you place the cursor in the respective fields.
You can toggle between AM and PM by touching in the field directly.
b. Touch OK to save the date and time changes or Cancel to exit.
· Sleep Mode: In the Sleep Mode screen, touch the Off and On toggle button to
disable or enable, respectively, the sleep mode.
In the 'On' mode, you can edit the time (in minutes) after which the instrument
will go from the idling state into standby mode.
· Heated Cover: Use the On and Off toggle button in the Heated Cover screen to
enable and disable, respectively, editing the heated cover idling temperature.
a. To edit the idling temperature, touch On
b. Enter a temperature between 30°C and 110°C.
c. Touch OK to save, or touch Cancel to exit without saving your changes.
· Remote Service: Use the On and Off toggle button in the Remote Service screen
to enable or disable, respectively, remote service. The feature allows the
instrument to periodically upload data to a remote server.
a. To enable remote service, touch On.
In the absence of a valid network connection, the system will fail to connect
to the Remote Server, and the Remote Server Connection screen displays the
following message:
Note: To connect to the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler with your mobile device
(using the PCR Essentials app), Remote Services must be switched on. For more
information on convenient access, visit thermofisher.com/simpliamp.
· Printer Configuration: In the Printer Configuration screen, enter the IP address
of the printer in the Remote Printer IP Address
After you have entered the IP address, touch OK to save the change or Cancel to
exit the screen.
· Restore Factory Settings (for Admin only): Touch Restore Factory Settings to
remove all the data and customized settings and revert to factory settings. Touch
Yes to confirm if you want to restore factory settings or Cancel to exit the screen.
At the end of the restoration process, the message, "Your instrument has been
restored." will be displayed and the instrument will automatically reboot after 30
seconds.
Note: All data and settings will be erased once factory settings are restored.
· About Instrument: Touching About Instrument will take you to the About
Instrument screen where you can find out more information about the instrument
as well as view the End User License Agreement (EULA).
· Touch About Instrument to find out more about the SimpliAmp™ Thermal
Cycler. In the About Instrument screen, you can view information like firmware
version and instrument statistics.
· Touch EULA to view the End User License Agreement. You can also save the
EULA document to a USB drive.
· Run History: The Run History screen displays the entire list of runs performed
using a particular SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler.
a. In the Run History screen, touch a particular Run ID to view the details of that
run.
b. Touch Export to save the run details to a USB device or Print to print the run
details.
Note: If you sign in as an Administrator, you can manage the Run History. For
example, deleting a run history.
· Maintenance & Services: You can perform the following in the Maintenance &
Services screen:
· Software Update: Touch Software Update to update the System firmware. See
“Upgrade the system firmware“ on page 34 for instructions on updating the
firmware.
· Service Reminders: Touch Service Reminders to set the time interval for the
service reminder. Use the Off and On toggle button to turn off and on,
respectively, the service reminder. If you select On, the time interval field
becomes visible. Touch the time interval field to choose from 12 Months, 9
Months, 6 Months, 3 months, and 1 Month. Touch OK to save the change or
Cancel to exit the screen.
· Self Verification Test: Touch Self Verification Test for the instrument to conduct
a check on the instrument hardware. The check includes testing the block, heated
cover, and other components. See Chapter 4, “Maintain the instrument“ for
instructions on conducting the self-verification test.
· Export Instrument Log: Touch Export Instrument Log to export the instrument
logs to a USB. Insert the USB into the USB drive before using this feature.
· Block Verification Test: Touch Block Verification Test to perform a block
verification test. Ensure that you have the Temperature Verification Kit (TVK)
(Cat. No. 4377669) before performing this test. Touch:
· Verify Block Temperature to carry out the block temperature test.
a. Choose the test type from Heated Cover, Temperature Verification, or
Temperature Non-Uniformity.
b. Touch Next. Connect the TVK, and depending on the test type perform
insert the TVK probe into a specific zone.
c. Touch Start Test.
· Verify Cycle Performance to check the cycle performance of the instrument.
· Manage Users (for Admin only): Touch Manage Users to manage the instrument
when it is being used by multiple users. Touch:
· Security Mode to choose the security mode of the instrument. You can choose
from Open Mode, Restricted Mode 1, and Restricted Mode 2.
· Open Mode: In this mode, you can use an instrument without having an
account.
· Restricted Mode 1: In this mode, you can use an instrument only if you have a
valid account. You can create a new account. See “Touchscreen menu
overview“ on page 7 for more information on creating a user account.
· Restricted Mode 2: This mode is designed for the lab that wants to provide
limited flexibility on what can be run on the instrument. In this mode, a user
cannot edit, create, or delete methods. You must log in, and once logged in,
you can only run methods that are designated by an administrator.
As an administrator, you must create an account for each of your users, and
you must designate which methods you want these users to be able to run. To
select methods that you would like to allow your users to run, log in as the
administrator and save the desired methods into a folder called 'restricted'.
After logging off as administrator, only the users you have created will be
allowed to use the machine, and they will only be able to run (not
edit/delete/move) the methods that have been added to the "restricted" folder.
See “Touchscreen menu overview“ on page 7 for more information on signing
into an account as an administrator.
· Sign Out Timer to change the duration of inactivity before a user has signed out.
You can change the time in the Edit Time field.
· Manage Accounts to edit the administrator account information.
a. Touch a row with the account name and in the Manage Account screen edit
the account information.
b. Touch Delete Account to delete an administrator account and Reset
Password to reset a password.
· USB Shortcuts: Touch USB Shortcuts to display the shortcuts available when a
USB is inserted into an instrument.
a. Touch Show Shortcuts to display the shortcuts. Select from View methods,
Export run reports, Backup / Restore (only if signed in as an administrator),
and Update software.
b. Touch Save to save the change or Cancel to exit the screen.
When a USB device is plugged into the USB port, a pop-up dialog box with
pre-selected options is displayed.
Touch Do not show again to prevent the pop-up from appearing when the
USB device is inserted in the future or Close to dismiss the pop-up screen.
Consumables
Table 6 SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler Consumables
Single Tubes
Reaction Trays
96-Well Plates
MicroAmp™ Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode and Optical 403012
Caps
MicroAmp™ Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode and Optical 4314320
Adhesive Films
8-Well Strips
Troubleshooting
Use the following table to help troubleshoot problems with your Veriti™ Thermal
Cycler.
1. Contact your local customer care center or technical support group to obtain a
copy of the Certificate of Instrument Decontamination, a service notification, a
service call number, and, if required, packaging.
6. Affix the provided postage to the box, then ship the instrument to the designated
facility.
The repair process requires 2 to 3 weeks.
This chapter lists the instrument specifications for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler
using the 96-Well Sample Block.
Site requirements
The SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler is for indoor use. Ensure that the installation site:
• Meets the spatial and weight requirements (see “System specifications“ on
page 65)
• Meets environmental requirements (see “Environmental requirements“ on
page 63)
• Is within 1 m (3 ft.) of an AC power source receptacle
• Is away from water
Environmental requirements
Temperature and Ensure that the installation site is maintained under the following conditions:
humidity
Table 8 Temperature and humidity requirements
requirements
Condition Acceptable range
Avoid placing the instrument adjacent to heaters, cooling ducts, or in direct sunlight.
Fluctuations between day and night temperatures can cause system instability. Place
away from any equipment that vibrates, such as a refrigerator or centrifuge.
Pollution The SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler has a Pollution Degree rating of 2. It may be
installed in an environment that has non-conductive pollutants only, such as dust
particles or wood chips. Typical environments with a Pollution Degree II rating are
laboratories and sales and commercial areas.
Altitude The safety of SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler use was tested for altitudes up to 6000 ft.
Technical specifications
The following table displays the system specifications for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal
Cycler.
Feature Specification
Port Description
RS232 serial communication port for connecting the probe for the
Temperature Verification Kit
System specifications
Table 11 Physical dimensions, weight, and power consumption
Instrument Recommended
Parameter Total
footprint clearance
The following run methods (distributed across ten categories) are supplied with the
SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler. A particular run method can appear in more than one
category. These run methods are based on our recommended protocols and should be
considered as starting points for the different applications. Your results may vary
between instrument models, so some optimization may be needed. Please note that
the ramp rates of these methods are set at 100%.
The following table lists the categories and the run methods they include.
These run methods cannot be edited or deleted, but if you save them with a different
name or to a different folder, you can edit them.
The following sections provide the method details:
Note: For illustration purpose, the tables display maximum ramp rate. These will
however change with different block types.
AccuPrime™ PFX 2-Step Method
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 25 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 15
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 25 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 15
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 25 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 52.0
Hold Time 15
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Hold Time 30
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 5
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 30
AmpliTaq™ Method
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 30
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 30
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 5 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 1 1 25 1 50 105.0
Temperat 50.0
ure
Hold Time 5
Temperat 60.0
ure
Hold Time 75
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 30
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 25 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 50.0
Hold Time 5
Temperature 60.0
Hold Time 75
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 25 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 50.0
Hold Time 5
Temperature 60.0
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 30 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 30 1 — 50 105.0
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 30
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 30
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 30
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 30 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 30
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 35 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 15
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 30 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 55.0
Hold Time 15
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 40 1 — 50 105.0
Temperature 68.0
Hold Time 60
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 72 – – – 50 105.0
Temperature 47.0
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 1 40 1 — 50 105.0
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Temperature 72.0
Hold Time 30
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(µL)
Cycles 20 10 50 105.0
Hold Time 15 15
Hold Time 30 30
AutoDelta
-0.5 —
Temperature
AutoDelta
Starting 1 —
Cycle
3D
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(nL)
Hold Time — 30 ∞
OpenArray™ Genotyping
Stage Reaction
Cover
Cycle/Step volume
1 2 3 4 temp. (°C)
(nL)
Hold Time — 21
Temperature — 57.0
Hold Time — 90
On On (marche)
Location of safety
labels on this
instrument
™
Figure 35 Location of the safety label on the rear panel of the SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler
Instrument safety
General CAUTION! Do not remove instrument protective covers. If you remove the
protective instrument panels or disable interlock devices, you may be exposed
to serious hazards including, but not limited to, severe electrical shock, laser
exposure, crushing, or chemical exposure.
Physical injury CAUTION! Moving Parts. Moving parts can crush, pinch and cut. Keep hands
clear of moving parts while operating the instrument. Disconnect power before
servicing.
Electrical WARNING! Ensure appropriate electrical supply. For safe operation of the
instrument:
· Plug the system into a properly grounded receptacle with adequate current
capacity.
· Ensure the electrical supply is of suitable voltage.
· Never operate the instrument with the ground disconnected. Grounding
continuity is required for safe operation of the instrument.
WARNING! Power Supply Line Cords. Use properly configured and approved
line cords for the power supply in your facility.
Cleaning and CAUTION! Cleaning and Decontamination. Use only the cleaning and
decontamination decontamination methods specified in the manufacturer's user documentation.
It is the responsibility of the operator (or other responsible person) to ensure
the following requirements are met:
· No decontamination or cleaning agents are used that could cause a
HAZARD as a result of a reaction with parts of the equipment or with
material contained in the equipment.
· The instrument is properly decontaminated a) if hazardous material is
spilled onto or into the equipment, and/or b) prior to having the instrument
serviced at your facility or sending the instrument for repair, maintenance,
trade-in, disposal, or termination of a loan (decontamination forms may be
requested from customer service).
· Before using any cleaning or decontamination methods (except those
recommended by the manufacturer), users should confirm with the
manufacturer that the proposed method will not damage the equipment.
MII Order #39 PRC “Management Methods for Controlling Pollution by Electronic
Information Products”
Chemical safety
WARNING! GENERAL CHEMICAL HANDLING. To minimize hazards,
ensure laboratory personnel read and practice the general safety guidelines for
chemical usage, storage, and waste provided below. Consult the relevant SDS
for specific precautions and instructions:
· Read and understand the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) provided by the
chemical manufacturer before you store, handle, or work with any chemicals
or hazardous materials. To obtain SDSs, see the “Documentation and
Support” section in this document.
· Minimize contact with chemicals. Wear appropriate personal protective
equipment when handling chemicals (for example, safety glasses, gloves, or
protective clothing).
· Minimize the inhalation of chemicals. Do not leave chemical containers open.
Use only with adequate ventilation (for example, fume hood).
· Check regularly for chemical leaks or spills. If a leak or spill occurs, follow
the manufacturer's cleanup procedures as recommended in the SDS.
· Handle chemical wastes in a fume hood.
· Ensure use of primary and secondary waste containers. (A primary waste
container holds the immediate waste. A secondary container contains spills
or leaks from the primary container. Both containers must be compatible
with the waste material and meet federal, state, and local requirements for
container storage.)
· After emptying a waste container, seal it with the cap provided.
· Characterize (by analysis if necessary) the waste generated by the particular
applications, reagents, and substrates used in your laboratory.
· Ensure that the waste is stored, transferred, transported, and disposed of
according to all local, state/provincial, and/or national regulations.
· IMPORTANT! Radioactive or biohazardous materials may require special
handling, and disposal limitations may apply.
Related documentation
The following related documents are shipped with the system:
Publication
Document Description
number
30 June 2016