Applied Biosystems SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler User manual

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler
USER GUIDE
Installation, Use, and Maintenance
for use with:
Invitrogen™and Applied Biosystems™PCR reagents
Catalog Number A24811
Publication Number MAN0009889
Revision C.0

The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
DISCLAIMER
TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES AND/OR ITS AFFILIATE(S) WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT,
PUNITIVE, MULTIPLE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING FROM THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF IT.
Revision history: Pub. No. MAN0009889
Revision Date Description
C.0 30 June 2016 Rebrand, add Thermo Fisher Connect use
B.0 September 2014 A few feature updates: Remote Service, Simulation Mode, Run Details
A.0 May 2014 New document
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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Inc. Bioer is a trademark of Bioer Technology Co., Ltd.
©2016 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.

Contents
■CHAPTER 1 Product information ....................................... 6
Instrument overview ............................................................. 6
■CHAPTER 2 Start, sign on, and configure the instrument ............ 7
Touchscreen menu overview ...................................................... 7
Use the Touchscreen ........................................................... 10
Enter text ................................................................. 11
Enter numerals ............................................................ 12
■CHAPTER 3 Create and run experiments on the instrument ....... 13
Workflow ..................................................................... 13
Create a new run method ....................................................... 14
Edit a run method .............................................................. 16
Load samples into the instrument ................................................ 22
Place the sample tray or plate onto the sample block(s) ........................ 22
Perform a run ................................................................. 22
Perform a run on multiple instruments ....................................... 23
Monitor a run .................................................................. 25
Monitor via the Home screen ................................................ 25
Monitor via the run monitor screen .......................................... 26
If the power fails ........................................................... 28
View and export the run report ................................................... 28
Remove the samples from the instrument ......................................... 28
Manage methods and folders .................................................... 29
■CHAPTER 4 Maintain the instrument ................................. 32
As-needed maintenance ........................................................ 32
Clean the instrument ....................................................... 32
Replace the fuses .......................................................... 34
Upgrade the system firmware ............................................... 34
Self Verification test ....................................................... 36
Order kits and replacement parts ................................................ 37
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide
3

■APPENDIX A Install and connect to a network ....................... 38
Package contents .............................................................. 38
Materials ..................................................................... 38
Required materials ........................................................ 38
Optional protective hardware ................................................ 38
Unpack the product ............................................................ 38
Set up the system .............................................................. 39
Set up the wired connection ................................................. 41
Set up the wireless connection .............................................. 43
Use instrument without signing in ........................................... 44
Create a new user profile on the instrument .................................. 44
Sign in .................................................................... 44
Sign out .................................................................. 45
Set up mobile and cloud connectivity to SimpliAmp™Instrument and your
mobile device ............................................................. 45
Link instrument profile to your Thermo Fisher Connect account ................. 46
Recommended instrument settings .......................................... 48
■APPENDIX B Parts and materials ..................................... 58
Instrument part numbers ....................................................... 58
Consumables .................................................................. 58
■APPENDIX C Troubleshooting ......................................... 61
Troubleshooting ............................................................... 61
Return an instrument for service ................................................. 62
■APPENDIX D Instrument specification and layout ................... 63
Site requirements .............................................................. 63
Environmental requirements .................................................... 63
Temperature and humidity requirements ..................................... 63
Pollution ................................................................. 64
Altitude ................................................................... 64
Technical specifications ......................................................... 64
System specifications ........................................................... 65
Location of power point and ports on the instrument ............................... 66
Contents
4 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide

■APPENDIX E Predefined run methods ................................ 67
■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
■Documentation and support ............................................. 89
Related documentation ......................................................... 89
Customer and technical support ................................................. 89
Limited product warranty ....................................................... 90
Contents
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide 5

Product information
The SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler is an end-point thermal cycler, specically designed
for the amplication of nucleic acids using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
process. The user interface includes a touchscreen with a graphical display that shows
the time, status, and temperature for each run. A touchscreen keypad allows you to
enter information into elds on the display screen.
Instrument overview
The SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler (Cat. no. A24811) allows you to:
• Optimize your PCR with the help of the Veriex™ blocks
• Program the instrument from the touchscreen interface
• Access the system remotely through a mobile application
• Simulate other PCR instruments with Thermal Simulation modes
Figure 1 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler
This user guide provides information on how to maximize the capabilities of this
system.
Detailed specications for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler are found in Appendix D,
“Instrument specication and layout“.
1
6 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide

Start, sign on, and configure the
instrument
Touchscreen menu overview
On powering on the instrument, you will rst see the following Splash screen.
Figure 2 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler Splash screen
After the Splash screen, the Home screen appears.
Figure 3 Home screen
2
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide 7

The Home screen includes the following features:
1. Status dial: The Status dial appearing on the Home screen displays the current
temperature of the block, the time elapsed for a run, and the run status while the
instrument is in use.
When the instrument is not in use, the status dial will show the 'Set Up Run'
display. You can start a run by touching the status dial where it says Set Up Run.
For instructions on starting a run by this method, see “Perform a run“ on
page 22.
2. Sign In: Touch Sign In to create an account or to enter information to sign in to
your account.
• To create a new account:
a. In the Sign In screen, touch Sign Up.
b. In the Create An Account screen, enter your personal information,
create a user name and password, and enter a name for the default
folder that will contain the account information.
c. Touch Create Account
Chapter 2 Start, sign on, and configure the instrument
Touchscreen menu overview
2
8 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide

• To sign-in to an existing account:
a. Enter your user name and password.
Note: To sign-in to an existing account as an administrator, enter your
user name as "Administrator" and password as "password".
b. Touch Sign In.
Note: Once you have signed into your account, the Sign In buon on the Home
screen turns to My Account. The user name (custom or administrator) appears in
the boom-left of the Home screen.
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 workows.
6. Seings: Touch Seings to congure the instrument.
Chapter 2 Start, sign on, and configure the instrument
Touchscreen menu overview
2
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide 9

Use the Touchscreen
You interact with the instrument using a touchscreen. Table 2 describes the several
buons common to many of the screens in the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler.
Table 2 Buttons in the touchscreen
Button Function
Returns to the previous screen
1. Current temperature
2. Time remaining
3. Status of the block (pre-heating, running,
and so on)
4. Username
Scrolls up and down through a list of items.
and buttons. View other stages
Closes the current modal window.
Indicates whether the Wi-Fi is on or off.
Indicates whether a USB is inserted into the
instrument.
Indicates whether the instrument is connected
to the network.
Chapter 2 Start, sign on, and configure the instrument
Use the Touchscreen
2
10 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler User Guide