Agilent Technologies SureCycler 8800 Safety guide

Agilent Technologies
SureCycler 8800
Setup and User’s Guide
Version A, March 2011

2 Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2011
No part of this manual may be reproduced in
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tronic storage and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without prior agree-
ment and written consent from Agilent
Technologies, Inc. as governed by United
States and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
G8800-90000
Edition
Version A, March 2011
Printed in USA
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
5301 Stevens Creek Rd
Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this
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Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage
to the product or loss of important
data. Do not proceed beyond a
CAUTION notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and
met.
WARNING
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not correctly per-
formed or adhered to, could result
in personal injury or death. Do not
proceed beyond a WARNING
notice until the indicated condi-
tions are fully understood and
met.
Technical Support
For technical support, contact Agilent at
[email protected]. Complete con-
tact information for Technical Support is
listed on page 14.

Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide 3
In this Guide...
This document describes how to program and use the
Agilent SureCycler 8800.
1Before You Begin
This chapter contains information for you to read and
understand before you start.
2Installation
This chapter contains installation instructions for setting up
the cycler instrument.
3Getting Started
This chapter contains instructions to load samples, get
started with the software, set up user accounts and access
instruments remotely via a network.
4PCR Programs
This chapter contains instructions to work with PCR
programs, incubations and reports. Troubleshooting
suggestions are also provided.
5Maintenance and Updates
This chapter contains instructions for maintaining the
instrument and uploading software updates.

4 Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide

Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide 5
Contents
1 Before You Begin 9
Materials Provided 10
Safety Precautions 10
Indicator LED Light 13
Overview 13
SureCycler 8800 Technical Support 14
2 Installation 15
Installation 16
Step 1. Select a location for the instrument 16
Step 2. Unpack the cycler 16
Step 3. Install the thermal block on the instrument base 16
Step 4. Connect the instrument to a power supply 17
Step 5. Connect optional devices 17
Step 6. Turn on the instrument 17
Step 7. Connect the cycler to a network (optional) 17
Thermal Block Exchange 18
To remove the thermal block 18
To install the thermal block 18
3 Getting Started 19
Sample Preparation and Loading 20
To prepare samples 20
To load samples 20
Agilent Plasticware and Consumables 21
Starting Up the Software 22
Touchscreen Operation of the Software 22

6 Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide
Contents
Home Screen 22
User Accounts 24
Access Levels 24
Logging In to User Accounts 24
Managing User Accounts 26
Network Settings and Remote Access 29
To view or edit the cycler’s IP address and name 29
To access the cycler from another cycler 30
To access the cycler from a PC 31
Cycler Settings 32
Hot Top Setting 32
Cycler name 33
Time and date 33
4 PCR Programs 35
Creating New PCR Programs 36
To manually create programs 36
To create a PCR program using the PCR Wizard 39
Tips for Creating PCR Programs for the 384-well SureCycler 8800 42
Program Steps in the Commands List 43
Hot Start 43
Cycle Wizard 44
Start Cycle 45
Temperature Step 46
End Cycle 47
Gradient Step 47
Touchdown 49
Storage/Pause Step 50
Using a Preloaded PCR Program 51
To access the preloaded programs 52
To edit a preloaded program 52

Contents
Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide 7
Editing PCR Programs 53
To edit program step parameters 53
To copy a PCR step 54
To add or delete a PCR step 54
To delete a PCR program 54
Running a PCR Program 55
To run a PCR program 55
To stop or pause a program 55
Running an Incubation 56
To set up and run an incubation 56
Viewing Reports 57
To view reports 57
To delete a report 57
Troubleshooting 58
If PCR yield is low when running small reaction volumes with the Standard
ramp rate 58
If no actual temperature is displayed during the run 58
If the program does not start 58
If condensation is found in tubes during a run 59
If the sealed microplate loses sample volume 59
If USB devices including memory stick and keyboard not recognized 59
If cycler does not turn on 59
If screen is blank and unlit 60
If screen is lit but shows no information or has missing characters 60
60
5 Maintenance and Updates 61
Maintenance 62
Cleaning 62
Replacing a fuse 62
Software Updates 63

8 Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide
Contents

9
SureCycler 8800
Setup and User’s Guide
Agilent Technologies
1
Before You Begin
Materials Provided 10
Safety Precautions 10
Indicator LED Light 13
Overview 13
SureCycler 8800 Technical Support 14
This chapter contains information for you to read and understand before
you start.
For installation instructions, see “Installation” on page 16.

1 Before You Begin
Materials Provided
10 Agilent SureCycler 8800 Setup and User’s Guide
Materials Provided
*The thermal block units are sold separately as part numbers G8810A (96-well block)
and G8820A (384-well block).
Safety Precautions
Electrical
Standard electrical safety precautions should be applied, including the
following:
•Always put the instrument in a location where, if needed, the power
supply can be immediately disconnected.
•Proper voltage must be supplied before you turn on the instrument for
the first time.
•The device must be connected to a grounded socket.
•Do not touch any switches or outlets with wet hands.
•Turn off the instrument before you disconnect the power cord.
•Unplug the instrument before you clean any major liquid spills and
before you service any of the electrical or internal components or swap
out the thermal block.
•Do not operate the instrument from a power outlet that has no ground
connection.
Tab le 1 Materials Provided
Part Quantity
SureCycler 8800 instrument base 1
Thermal block unit (96-well or 384-well)* 1
Power cord 1
Functional test certificate 1
Quick Start installation poster 1
CD with Setup and User’s Guide PDF 1