Apostle MagTouch 1000 User manual

Apostle MagTouch
1000
Nucleic Acids Extraction Automation System
USER MANUAL
Fast and
efficient

Apostle Inc is a biotechnology company located in San Jose, CA, providing cutting-
edge technologies and services for public health and life sciences. Apostle develops
innovative technologies in the space of liquid biopsy - the sampling and analysis of
non-solid biological tissue, primarily blood, often utilizing circulating free DNA
(cfDNA) as a biomarker. Apostle’s innovations include Apostle MiniMax, a new
scalable and automatable method to efficiently capture cfDNA from a standard
blood draw; Apostle MagTouch, a nucleic acids isolation automation system, and
Apostle MiniEnrich, a high-resolution DNA size enrichment technology using a
magnetic nano-platform. Apostle responds to the COVID-19 pandemic to help our
community fight together with a high quality, low cost, fast, automated, Apostle
COVID-19 Viral RNA Isolation System that has been clinically validated and has
processed over 1 million clinical samples. Apostle is a Stanford University StartX
Company, and a 2018 BioSpace Top 20 Life Sciences Startup Company.
Contents
Who We Are
03 Installation
04 Operation
1 1 Reagent Prep
13 Maintenance
15 Safety Guidelines
Contact Us
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.apostlebio.com
16 Troubleshooting

4. Use a 2.5 hex screwdriver to remove the
transportation fixing screw. Keep the
transportation fixing screw. (Figure 3)
03
3. The chamber of the MagTouch can be accessed
by sliding up the right-side window. Turn the knob
on the bottom right of the window to stabilize the
window in place. (Figure 2)
Who We Are
Installation
1. Select an area for your MagTouch that is clean,
stable and has an electrical outlet nearby. Remove
your MagTouch and power cord from the shipping
box and place on the designated area.
2. Remove and keep all the tapes and foam
cushions used for transportation. (Figure 1)
Do NOT connect power before removing the
transportation fixing screw.
5. After removing the transportation fixing screw,
connect the power cord to the electricity and
turn on the machine.
6. Once powered on, the Apostle MagTouch
system will automatically go through the
initialization process and examine the hardware
and software. Wait for the machine to pass the
initialization self-test. If any part of the self-test
fails, fix it according to the information shown
on the screen. (Figure 4)
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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Who We Are
1. Before each run, fill in the Log book with
information including sample plate ID, time of
sample plate received, time of machine run and
machine number.
2. Get the prepared plates in hand and be ready
to start the program. (Sample Plate, two 80%
EtOH Plates, Elution Plate, Empty Plate with
Comb)
10. Make sure all the wells of Sample Plate (also
referred to as Lysis/Binding plate) are wide open
and no aluminum foil pieces are stuck out. If not
wide open, use pipette tip to open the wells.
(Figure 4) [refer to operation checkpoint 1]
3. Press [Initialization] button on the top left
corner to initialize the machine.
5. Wait for the machine to pass the initialization
self-test. If any part fails, contact the lab director.
Operation
4. Press [YES] button to perform the initialization.
6. Press the [Start] button for [viral RNA 2.0]
program on the screen. (Figure 1)
7. Press the next step button on the top right
corner.
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8. Open the plate-loading window gently. (Figure
2)
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
9. Press the [Plate position 1] button on the
screen. (Figure 3)
Figure 1
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Who We Are
13. Take out two Apostle EtOH plates.
11. Place the Sample Plate on the plate holder 1 in
the instrument through the plate-loading window.
Make sure that the plate is placed steadily in the
correct orientation. Ensure that the A1 well is in
the upper right corner of the plate holder on
turntable. (Figure 5)
12. Press the [Plate position 2] button on the
screen.
15. Place one Apostle EtOH Plate on plate holder
2 in the instrument through the plate-loading
window. Ensure A1 well is in the upper right corner.
14. Peel off the protection film on one Apostle
EtOH Plate. (Figure 6)
16. Press the [Plate position 3] button on the
screen.
17. Peel off the protection film on the other
Apostle EtOH Plate.
Figure 5
18. Place the Apostle EtOH Plate on plate holder
3 in the instrument through the plate-loading
window. Ensure A1 well is in the upper right corner.
Figure 7
19. Press the [Plate position 4] button on the
screen.
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Figure 6
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20. Take out the Apostle Elution Plate.
21. Stick the sample barcode onto the Elution
Plate. (Figure 7)
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29. Press the next step button on the top right
corner.
Figure 8
Figure 11
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Figure 9
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22. Peel off the protection film on the Apostle
Elution Plate.
23. Place the Apostle Elution Plate on plate
holder 4 in the instrument through the plate-
loading window. Ensure A1 well is in the upper
right corner.
24. Press the [Plate position 5] button on the
screen.
25. Take out one Apostle Comb and an empty
plate. Don't touch the bottom columns of the
comb, grab the edge of the comb. (Figure 8)
26. Place the comb into the empty plate carefully.
Ensure the comb is fully incorporated into the
plate. (Figure 9)
27. Place the comb and empty plate on the plate
holder 5 in the instrument through the plate-
loading window. Ensure A1 well is in the upper
right corner.
28. Close the plate-loading window gently.
30. Press the [YES] button to start the program.
31. After starting the program, check if the comb
gripper successfully grips the comb during [Grip
Comb] process on position 5 . If gripping fails,
press the pause button on the screen and
immediately contact the lab director for hardware
adjustment. (Figure 10) [refer to operation
checkpoint 2]
32. Once the turntable moves to position 1 ,
observe if the comb smoothly inserts into the
plates and mixes the solution without moving
together with the plate. (Figure 11) [refer to
operation checkpoint 2]
Figure 10

35. Press the next step button on the top right
corner.
47. Press the next button on the top right
corner. The instrument will go back to the initial
interface and is ready for the next run.
Figure 12
Figure 15
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Figure 13
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Figure 14
33. If the program begins successfully, let the
instrument run the remaining steps. It will take
approximately 40 minutes to finish the whole
program. If any issues, refer to the "Operation
Checkpoints" section of this manual.
34. After approximately 40 minutes, the program
will end and display [Running status: Finish] on
the screen and play a prompt tone.
36. Press the [Plate position 4] button on the
screen. ( Figure 12)
37. Open the plate-loading window gently.
38. Take out the Elution Plate from the plate-
loading window.
39. Seal the Elution Plate with protection film.
(Figure 13)
40. If you forget to stick the sample barcode on
the Elution Plate before running the program, stick
the sample barcode on now.
41. Check the Elution Plate with its sample
information sheet.
42. Place the Elution Plate together with its
sample information sheet into the 4 C refrigerator.
(Figure 14)
43. Go back to the instrument and press the
[Plate position 1] button on the screen.
44. Take out the Sample Plate from the plate-
loading window. (Figure 15)
45. Repeat step 43-44 to take out all other plates
and comb from the instrument.
46. Dump all the used plates and comb into the
biohazard trash bin.
o

Checkpoint
Operation Checkpoints
When loading sample
plate, examine if all the
wells are wide open and
no aluminum foil pieces
are stuck out. If it is not
wide open as shown
(Figure 1) , use pipette tip
to make sure the wells are
wide open.
08
1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Checkpoint 2
After the start of the
program, check if the comb
gripper successfully grips
comb during [Grip Comb]
process on position 6.
(Figure 3) If the gripping
fails, please pause the
program and immediately
contact lab director for
hardware adjustment.
Figure 3

Checkpoint 3 Once the plate is in the lifted position,
open the window and move the plate
forward, backward, left and right, so that
the comb can make the wells open. Then,
carefully separate the plate from the comb
and place the plate back to position 1
(Figure 6) . Close the window, and resume
the program. If the plate is still gripped by
the comb and lifted from the turntable,
repeat this adjustment process. Note, if
the comb and plate are stuck together and
not lifted, manual movement of the plate
will be limited and does not open up the
wells. Only adjust the plate when it is
lifted up from the turntable. Otherwise
the turntable may be damaged.
Operation Checkpoints
Once the turntable moves to
position 1, observe if the comb
smoothly inserts into the plates
and mixes the solution without
moving together with the plates
as shown in (Figure 4) . If the
comb and the plate move together
(plate lifted up by the comb),
during [Binding] process when the
plate is gripped by the comb and
lifted from the turntable (usually
within 2 minutes into the program)
as shown in (Figure 5) , pause the
program.
09
Figure 4 Figure 5
Figure 6

Operation Checkpoints
10
If Checkpoints 1-3 are missed, it may lead to a situation where the
comb grips the plate during [Binding] process and moves together to
position 2. If this happens, immediately turn off the MagTouch 1000
and contact the lab director.
Open the window and take out plates on position 3-6.
Lift the comb gripper and lysis/binding plate manually to give
space for wash plate, then take out wash plate on position 2.
Hold the lysis/binding plate and manually open the gripper to
release the comb and plate from the gripper.
Take out the lysis/binding plate and comb, then move the plate
forward, backward, to the left and right, so that the comb can
make the wells wide open.
Move the comb up and down several times and gently mix with the
solution in the sample plate to resuspend the beads back into the
solution. Then, carefully discard the comb without cross-
contaminating the wells.
Close the window and turn on the MagTouch, and check if the
initialization has passed successfully. If not, contact the lab
director immediately.
After initialization has completed, restart the program using the
retrieved plates and a new comb.
Make a note on the worksheet to notify other parties in case re-run
is needed.
To rescue the samples in this situation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

For Apostle MiniGenomics
Viral Total NA Isolation
Automation protocol
Reagent Preparation
Apostle MiniGenomics Viral Total NA
Isolation Fast Kit Content (64 x 96 preps)
Reagent
Lysis/Binding Solution*
Elution Solution
4 x 367 mL
1 x 800 mL
Volume
*Add EtOH according to the bottle instruction before use.
Store both reagents at room temperature, in the dark.
Required Materials
Apostle MagTouch 1000
Apostle 96-well plates and 96-tip comb
micropipettes (1 mL, 200 µ L, 20 µ L) & tips
Adjustable single and multi channel
Liquid reservoirs
Vortex or shaker
Ethanol, 200 proof
DNase/RNase free water
Procedure
A. Prepare Reagents Before Use
1. Prepare Lysis/Binding Solution: Add 500 mL pure ethanol to 367 mL Lysis/Binding
Solution according to the bottle instruction.
2. Prepare 80% Ethanol.
B. Set up Processing Plates
1. Mix well the prepared Lysis/Binding Solution and 80% Ethanol before use.
2. Set up the 96 well plates according to the table below, outside of the
instrument.*
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Plate
Position
Plate
Type
Plate
ID Content Reagent volume for each well
1
2
3
4
5
96 well
plate
96 well
plate
96 well
plate
96 well
plate
96 well
plate with
comb
Bind
EtOH
EtOH
Elution
Comb -
Elution Solution
80% Ethanol
80% Ethanol
Sample
Lysis/Binding Solution
(EtOH added)**
-
85 µ L
500 µ L
500 µ L
200 µ L
520 µ L
*Check 96 well plate integrity before loading reagents, to avoid leakage of certain wells.
**Always mix the bottle of Lysis/Binding Solution well right before pouring into reagent reservoir, which is
used to load plates, as the magnetic beads can precipitate and compromise results. Also vortex the
reagent reservoir for Lysis/Binding Solution before adding more Lysis/Binding Solution.
C. Automated viral Total NA isolation on Apostle MagTouch 1000
Automation Platform
1. Initialize the instrument, then press the [Quick Start] button.
2. Select the built-in [viral RNA 2.0] program and place the plates into the Apostle
MagTouch 1000 as indicated on the instrument display. Make sure that the plate is
placed steadily in the correct orientation. Ensure that the A1 well is in the upper
right corner of the plate holder on turntable.
3. After placing all the plates, press the icon on the interface to start the
program.
4. When the program is complete, collect the purified viral RNA from the elution
plate.
5. For long term storage, store the samples at -80 C.
o
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Maintenance
| Cleaning
When reagents have been
spilled onto the magnet
head, shield plate,
turntable or inside the
machine, immediately
clean the area with a
dustless cloth dampened
into 80% ethanol.
(Frequency - when needed)
| Fasten Screws
Check whether the magnet head screw, turntable screws
and screws of the fixation springs on plate holder 1 are
tightly fastened, if not, fasten the screws.
(Frequency - every month)
13

Press the [Initialization] button on the top left corner
of the touchscreen to initialize the machine.
| Initialization
| Turn off the machine
| Sterilization
(Frequency - before every run)
Turn off the machine for at least 15 minutes between
each shift.
(Frequency - between each shift)
Close the monitor window and the plate-loading
window, then turn on the UV light for longer than 5
minutes.
(Frequency - when needed)
Maintenance
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Safety Guidelines
15
Safety Precautions for UV Lamp:
The instrument has a UV disinfection device inside.
Please follow the following safety precautions when
using the UV lamp:
When the UV lamp is lit, do not look directly with the
naked eye. Do not let the ultraviolet radiation get
directly on the skin.
The glass door of the instrument can block UV leakage.
Please keep the door closed when using the UV lamp.
If the door or glass of the door is damaged, please
contact the manufacturer for repair. Do not continue to
use.
It is recommended to turn off the UV lamp at least five
minutes after turning it on, otherwise the life of the UV
lamp will decay faster.
Do not touch the UV lamp by hand, which will damage or
reduce the life of the UV lamp.

Solution
| Temporary solution - Disable
[Initialize Self-Test] (old UI version) or
[p-comb test] (new UI version) in the
Maintenance-Hardware Adjustment to
turn off the plastic comb detecting
function.
| Final solution - After disassembling
the machine, adjust the height of the
sensors of plastic comb hook, so that
it can detect the grabbing of plastic
comb normally, then fasten the
sensors.
TroubleShooting
Problem
The instrument cannot detect the
grabbing of plastic comb normally.
(Magnetic head will grab comb, but
show error message. Or will not grab
comb, but run normally.)
The plastic comb is not grasped firmly
and hits the shield plate, knocking off
the comb grabbing hook
Reagent spill in the machine should be cleaned up
immediately, otherwise the surface of the machine
will corrode. Clean the spill area with a dustless
cloth dampened in 80% ethanol.
Install the comb grabbing hook back again.
1. Power on the machine, press Maintenance, then
Replace Magnet Head.
2. The position of the magnet head will rise, and the
comb grabbing hook will open. Turn off the machine
at this time.
3. Unscrew the magnet head, and install the comb
grabbing hook and the corresponding screw back to
the hole.
4. For easier operation, to install the hook on the
left, may need to open the back cover of the
instrument.
5. After installing the hook, reinstall the magnet
head. Turn on the machine and check whether the
initialization self-tests are passed. Verify whether the
plastic comb grabbing is normal.
16

The screen displays other pictures
while the program is running, and the
machine is still running. It should return
to normal after a few minutes.
Problem Solution
The height of the instrument shield
plate is too low, it will hit the plastic
comb on the turntable when the
turntable rotates.
First, check whether it is caused by the
deformation of the shield plate,
manually press or straighten the shield
plate. If it still cannot be solved, you
need to disassemble the machine to
adjust the height of the shield plate
and the position of the coupling.
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| Temporary solution: For the old
software version, this situation may
occur randomly after the instrument runs
for a long time. Shut down the machine
for a period of time and then restart.
| Final solution: Upgrade the instrument
software to the latest version. No need
to disassemble the machine. Connect
the machine to a computer through the
port on the back of the instrument and
import the latest version of the
software.
Some magnet rods of the magnet head
have broken. |
Temporary solution: Do not add
samples and reagents to the
corresponding well positions of the
broken magnet rods, and continue to use
other well positions to run the program.
| Final solution: Buy a new 96 magnet
head and replace it.

The plate-loading window has broken.
Problem Solution
Check whether the two thumb screws
on the turntable are loose. If so, fasten
the screws.
18
| Temporary solution: The glass window
will usually be broken into several
complete pieces, which can be simply
stuck together with tape first, and then
continue to use.
| Final solution: Replace the plate-
loading window, which will require
disassembling the machine.
There are holes in some wells of the
plate, causing liquid leakage. |
Temporary solution: Users should pay
attention before use. Before adding liquid,
observe whether there are obvious holes at
the bottom of the plate, and observe
whether there is liquid leakage at the bottom
after adding liquid. Discard the leaking
plate, replace the plate and add liquid
again.
| Final solution: Replace with new
consumables.
The rotating sound of the turntable is
noisy and harsh. The machine turntable is supported by
some nylon balls. If the nylon balls are
not lubricated, it will make a certain
noise. Apply some grease on the
supporting nylon balls to reduce the
noise.

There is no sound from the speaker of
the instrument, and no sound when
turning on and pressing keys.
Problem Solution
19
Turn off the instrument, open the back cover of the
instrument. Confirm whether the two power cords
(one red wire and one black wire) of the
instrument speaker are connected. Reinstall the
two power cords, and then turn on the instrument
to confirm whether the speaker is normal.
After shutting down the machine,
disassemble and confirm whether the
screw rod above the magnet head
motor is normal. If the screw rod is
crooked, the up and down movement
of the magnet head will be blocked.
Straighten the screw rod and then turn
on the machine to confirm whether the
problem is solved.
There is abnormal noise when the
instrument is turned on or initialized,
and there is no such noise during
protocol running. The possible cause is
that the heating block vibrates during
initialization and its position is too low.
Contact the supplier to confirm
whether it is caused by the heating
block. If so, turn off the machine and
manually turn the turntable to expose
the screw rod next to the heating
block. Turn the screw rod clockwise a
little, and then restart the machine to
initialize and confirm whether the
noise disappears.
The magnet head gets stuck and
cannot lift up again after it moves
down into the plastic comb. The
magnet head vibrates at the bottom.

Problem Solution
During the running of the instrument
protocol, the magnet head and the
plastic comb gripper are stuck when
moving down (not moving down
smoothly, but step by step) and there is
an abnormal noise.
Contact the supplier to determine the
problem and replace the coupling if
necessary.
The angles of the turntable plate
positions are misaligned. After plate
position 1 is aligned, the positions of
the other plates are deviated.
Contact the supplier.
After the machine has been running for
long periods of time, the position of
the parts is misaligned. The technician
hits or touches the parts during
operation, causing the misalignment.
The technicians should be careful when
operating and initialize the instrument
before each run.
Breakage of the instrument motor
coupling. |
Temporary solution: Buy new rigid
coupling and replace it after
disassembling the machine.
| Final solution: The new instruments
uniformly use the new rigid coupling to
increase the service life.
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