GeneReach Taco 24 User manual

2014/03
Research Use Only
Nucleic AcidAutomatic Extraction System
User Manual
Manufacturer:
GeneReach Biotechnology Corporation
TEL: [phone] Email: [email protected]
No. 19, Keyuan 2nd Road, Central Taiwan Science Park, Taichung City 407, Taiwan
Website: www.tacomag.com
Cat. atcd-02
24

i
Content
Symbols...............................................................................................................................................1
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Intended Use ..........................................................................................................................2
1.2 taco™24 Extraction Principle ..............................................................................................2
2. taco™ 24 Layout............................................................................................................................3
2.1 Product Components..............................................................................................................3
2.2 taco™ 24 Specifications........................................................................................................3
2.3 Equipments to Be Supplied by User......................................................................................3
2.4 Front View of taco™24........................................................................................................4
2.5 Rear View of taco™24.........................................................................................................6
2.6 Loading taco™ Plate & Comb ..............................................................................................7
3. Important Notes.............................................................................................................................9
3.1 Safety Information.................................................................................................................9
3.2 Emergency Stop.....................................................................................................................9
4. Operation Procedure of taco™ 24..............................................................................................10
4.1 How to Start taco™ 24 ........................................................................................................10
4.2 How to Paue taco™ 24........................................................................................................10
4.3 How to Reset taco™ 24.......................................................................................................11
4.4 When and How to Turn on UV Lamp..................................................................................11
4.5 How to Shut Down taco™ 24..............................................................................................11
5. Cleaning and Maintenance…………………………….……………………………………….12
5.1 General Care……………………………………………………………………….………12
5.2 Dealing with Spills...............................................................................................................12
6. Troubleshooting............................................................................................................................13

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
1
Symbols
Date of manufacturing
Manufacturer
Catalog number
Serial number
Alternative current
Consult instruction for use
Caution, consult accompanying documents
WEEE symbol
This product is required to comply with the European
Union’s Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Directive 2002/96/EC. Please follow your institutional
requirements for disposal of the accessories.

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
2
1. Introduction
The taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System (taco™ 24) is a magnetic
bead-based DNA extraction and purification device. Nucleic acids bind to silica-coated magnetic
beads, which can be separated easily from biochemical contaminants in the solution through
automatic transfer and processing of magnetic beads. Purified nucleic acids could be eluted from
the beads after several washing steps.
1.1 Intended Use
taco™ 24 is developed to work with nucleic acid extraction kits developed by GeneReach
Biotechnology Corporation (GeneReach) to extract nucleic acids from samples for research
use purpose.
This product is intended for professional use by properly-trained laboratory technicians
familiar with molecular biology techniques.
1.2 taco™ 24 Extraction Principle
taco™ 24 is based on the magnetic separation technology to work with the specially designed
disposable taco™ Plate & Comb which are provided with all reagent kits.
Samples and reagents, including the magnetic particles, are dispensed into wells of the
extraction plate manually according to instructions of the kit before extraction starts. The
automated steps performed by taco™ 24 include:
Transfer of magnetic beads and mixing magnetic beads with samples.
Sample lysis.
Binding of nucleic acids to magnetic beads.
Washing steps to remove biochemical other than nucleic acids.
Elution of nucleic acids from magnetic beads.

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2. taco™ 24 Layout
2.1 Product Components
2.2 taco™ 24 Specifications
2.3 Equipments to Be Supplied by User
taco™Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit
taco™Plate & Comb
Uninterrupted power system (UPS) (optional)
Laminar air-flow (optional)
Disposable gloves
Protective goggles
Lab coat
Note: To avoid power failure, connecting taco™ 24 to an UPS is recommended.
Component
Quantity
taco™ 24
1
Power Cord
1
User Manual
1
Warranty Card
1
Specification
Dimensions (W ×D ×H)
42 cm ×30 cm ×38 cm
Net Weight
23.4 kg
Power Requirement
100-120V/ 200-240VAC, 50/60 Hz, 2A
Fuse
F2A/250V
Operating Temperature
16–30°C
Throughput
24 samples
Extraction time
Within 1 hour

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2.4 Front View of taco™ 24
2.4.1 LED Light Signals
No.
Indicator
*LED light Color
Signal
Description
1
Run/Stand-by signal
*Green
Lights on
Self-test passed. Ready to run.
Lights flashing
Extraction in progress.
2
Pause/End signal
*Yellow
Lights on
Extraction finished.
Lights flashing
Extraction paused.
3
UV On signal
*Green
Lights on
UV lamp on.
4
Error signal
*Red
Lights on
Any error occurred.
④
②
①
③

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2.4.2 Operation Buttons
No.
Button
Description
Function disabled under the
following status
1
Door
Press to open/close the door.
1. During the extraction.
2. UV lamp is on.
2
Pause/Reset
Short press to pause the
machine.
1. During magnetic bead transfer.
2. During magnetic bead drying.
3. UV lamp is on.
While paused or extraction
finished, long press to reset the
machine.
Reset is functional only when
extraction is paused or finished.
3
Start
Press to start/resume the
machine.
1. Door is open.
2. UV lamp is on.
②
③
①
Door
Pause/Reset
Start

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2.5 Rear View of taco™ 24
No.
Item
Description
1
Cooling vents
Ventilation
2
UV lamp switch
To turn on/off the UV light
3
Main switch
To turn on/off the main power
4
Socket
To connect to the power cord
④
②
①
③

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2.6 Loading taco™ Plate & Comb
2.6.1 Loading the 48-Well Extraction Plate
No.
Item
Description
1
Magnetic rod module
Shipping anchor of the magnetic rod.
2
Lower rack
Housing for the Mixing Comb.
3
Mixing Comb
Protection of magnetic rods and mixing of sample with
magnetic bead.
4
48-Well Extraction Plate
Deep-well plate for extraction. Use one Mixing Comb
for each 48-Well Extraction Plate when processing
extraction.
5
Notched corner of the
48-Well Extraction Plate
The 48-Well Extraction Plate should be fully inserted into
the plate holder with the notched corner pointing to far
right.
6
Plate holder
Housing for the 48-Well Extraction Plate.
Note:1The Mixing Comb and the 48-Well Extraction Plate should be placed in the same slot
when processing extraction (See illustrations above).
2Inadequate installation of taco™ Plate & Comb may damage the machine.
①
②
③
④
⑤
⑥

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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2.6.2 Loading the Mixing Comb
2.6.3 Releasing the Mixing Comb
Note: Use of non-recommended consumables may affect performance of the device.
No.
Item
Description
1
Tenon of Mixing Comb
Slide the Mixing Comb into position. Make
sure the tenon on the Mixing Comb is inserted
fully into the mortise on the lower rack.
No.
Item
Description
1
Grip of Mixing Comb
Press the grip of Mixing Comb to release.
①Tenon
Mortise
①Grip

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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3. Important notes
After receiving taco™ 24, please check the instrument and accessories for any damages.
Should any questions arise, please contact your local distributor or GeneReach
immediately. Any damaged components may lead to poor performance of the
instrument.
3.1 Safety Information
Not following the instructions may cause personal injury or device
failure.
Place taco™ 24 in a room with good ventilation.
Make sure the working area is clean, dry, flat, and vibration-proof; leave enough
room for cables, lids, and other accessories.
Do not touch any plugs and electric switches with wet hands. Make sure to keep
taco™ 24 away from water.
Do not unplug by pulling on power cord. Hold the plug, not the cord, to unplug.
Keep power cord away from any hot surface.
Turn off and unplug the machine before moving it.
Package taco™ 24 carefully before moving and/or delivery. Vibrations or crashes
may lead to damage.
Users should revalidate taco™ 24 if the device has been moved.
Waste disposal must be in compliance with local laws.
When handling infectious materials, always wear a lab coat, disposable gloves and
protective goggles.
Do not look straight at the UV light while lights are on.
Do not repair the machine yourself, including fixing the door and changing the UV
lamp. Contact your local distributor or GeneReach directly to deal with the
problems.
3.2 Emergency Stop
3.2.1 Should any emergency occur, press the “PAUSE”button or turn off the
“MAIN SWITCH”to stop taco™ 24.
3.2.2 After all emergency is cleared, please follow the instruction to resume/
restart taco™ 24 (See 4.1 and 4.2).

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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4. Operation Procedure of taco™ 24
4.1 How to Start taco™ 24
4.1.1 Load reagents to 48-Well Extraction Plate in advance (See taco™ nucleic acid
extraction kit manuals for instruction).
Note: Please make sure the total volume of each well does not exceed 900 μl
before extraction.
4.1.2 Plug in taco™ 24 and switch on the main power. The device will complete
self-check within 3 minutes and be ready when the “Run/Stand By”signal lights
are on.
4.1.3 Press the door button to open the door of taco™ 24, load 48-Well Extraction Plate
and Mixing Comb according to the instructions (See chapter 2.6 “Loading taco™
Plate & Comb”).
4.1.4 Push the 48-Well Extraction Plate and Mixing Comb into the plate holder and
lower rack, respectively. Ensure they are in the correct position.
4.1.5 Press the door button of taco™ 24 to close the door.
4.1.6 Press “START”to begin the extraction.
Note: Operate taco™ 24 only under room temperature (16~30°C).
Note: Under the circumstances listed below, the “START”button is nonfunctional:
The UV lamp is on.
While the door of taco™ 24 is open.
4.2 How to Pause taco™ 24
4.2.1 During extraction, press the “PAUSE”button to stop taco™ 24 if necessary. The
yellow LED light will flash while the device is paused.
4.2.2 The magnetic rod module and Mixing Combs will move up to the top together.
4.2.3 Close the door of taco™ 24, and press “Start/Resume”to resume extraction.
Note: Under the circumstances listed below, “Pause”button is nonfunctional:
During the drying and transferring process of magnetic bead.
The UV lamp is on.

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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4.3 How to Reset taco™ 24
4.3.1 After extraction is finished, the yellow LED light will be on together with a long
beep sound.
4.3.2 Long press the “DOOR”button to stop the alarm and open the door.
4.3.3 Take out the 48-Well Extraction Plate and Mixing Comb; the extracted nucleic acids
are ready for subsequent applications.
4.3.4 To reset taco™ 24, long press the “PAUSE/RESET”button.
4.3.5 After a short beep sound, taco™ 24 is reset and ready when the green LED lights
are on.
Note: Please transfer the extracted nucleic acids to a new tube immediately after extraction.
Quality of nucleic acids may decline otherwise.
Note: The “Reset”button is only functional when:
Under PAUSE status.
Extraction is finished.
4.4 When and How to Turn on UV Lamp
4.4.1 After the extraction is finished, remove the 48-Well Extraction Plate and Mixing
Comb and press the “RESET”button.
4.4.2 Press the UV light switch at the rear of taco™ 24 to turn on UV lamp for
sterilization of the space.
4.4.3 Sterilization will continue for 30 minutes. To manually turn off the UV lamp,
press the UV light switch again.
Note: Under the circumstances listed below, the “UV light”switch is nonfunctional:
Reset is not done after extraction.
The door of taco™ 24 is open.
During the extraction process.
4.5 How to Shut Down taco™ 24
4.5.1 Before switching off taco™ 24, please make sure 48-Well Extraction Plate and
Mixing Comb is removed from the device.
4.5.2 Press the door button to close the door.
4.5.3 Turn the main switch off.

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
12
5. Cleaning and Maintenance
5.1 General Care
Do not disassemble taco™ 24 for cleaning. This will void the warranty.
Never allow liquids to sit on any surfaces of the device for extended periods of time.
Do not use solvents, detergents or bleaches to clean the magnetic rods. Use only
clean and wet paper towel to wipe off stains on magnetic rods.
Note: Wear gloves or other protective gears. Always turn off and unplug taco™ 24 before
cleaning.
5.2 Dealing with Spills
Wipe off any visible stains on the cleaning area (see illustration below) with
disposable paper towel immediately.
In case of serious liquid spills, please contact your local distributor or GeneReach for
assistance. Do not dismantle the instrument for cleaning.
Please make sure the total volume of each well does not exceed 900 μl before
extraction.
Using UV light for sterilization after each extraction is recommended.
Cleaning area

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
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Troubleshooting
Comments and Suggestions
taco™ 24 does not perform normally
(a) No LED light signals
Check to see if the plus has been connected to the
power system.
Check to see if the main power has been switched on.
Check voltage of electricity outlet (see 2.2 taco™24
Specifications).
Contact your local distributors or GeneReach for
assistance.
(b)Self-test too long
Contact your local distributors or GeneReach for
assistance.
(c) The magnetic rod module and
lower racks are not in the correct
positions
Contact your local distributors or GeneReach for
assistance.
(d)Unusual noises from the machine.
Check the Mixing Comb to see if they have been
pushed into the lower rack.
Check the 48-Well Extraction Plate to see if it has
been pushed into the plate holder.
Check that there is nothing preventing the track from
moving.
Contact your local distributor or GeneReach.
(e)Liquids spill and adhered to
device
The total volume of each well should not exceed 900
μl.
Use UV light for sterilization and then clean taco™
24 with water or a laboratory detergent. Repeat the
extraction procedures with new samples and reagents.
Magnetic rod function failures
(a)Stains on the magnetic rod.
Ensure the Mixing Combs are installed before each
extraction.
Use clean and wet paper towel to wipe stains off
carefully. Do not use any solvents or detergents to
clean the magnetic rods.
Contact your local distributor or GeneReach.
(b)The magnetic rods come off from
the heat-shrink sleeve
Contact your local distributor or GeneReach.

taco™ 24 Nucleic Acid Automatic Extraction System
14
Comments and Suggestions
UV lamp function failures
UV light signals not on
Check that the door is closed. The UV lights are
designed not to operate while the door is open.
Check to see if taco™ 24 is in extraction mode.
UV lights cannot operate during extraction.
Contact your local distributor or GeneReach for
assistance.
Door function failures
The door of taco™ 24 cannot be
opened/closed normally
Contact your local distributor or GeneReach for
assistance.
© 2014 GeneReach Biotechnology Corporation. All rights reserved. For research use only. Not
intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.