Primerdesign genesig q16 User manual

The genesig®q16
Instruction
Manual
Products for Real-Time PCR

The genesig®q16
instruction manual
Congratulations on purchasing the
genesig q16. The q16 is a revolutionary
instrument that brings the 21st century
technology of DNA testing to everyone.
As well as being beautiful and highly
portable, the q16 is powerful. In
combination with the genesig Easy kit
range the genesig q16 can be used to
detect and quantify over 450 different
DNA/RNA targets.
2

1|Connecting the machine and installing the software 04
2|
General operation
of the instrument 08
3|
Opening the software and
selecting a test type 10
4|
The main screen
layout 12
5|
Results
24
6|
Exporting
results 30
7|
What do my
results mean? 32
8|
Troubleshooting
40
3

Section 1
Unpack your genesig q16 and remove all packaging.
Insert the power cable in to the power jack in the base of
the instrument and plug into a power source.
The q16 can be operated in three ways.
If you are planning to run the instrument via a direct
connection to Mac/PC, plug in the Ethernet cable to the
base of the instrument and connect to a spare Ethernet
port on your Mac/PC. Ideally your Mac/PC should run
the most recent version of the operating system. The
genesig q16 will run on OS X version 10.7.3 and newer
releases for Mac and Windows Vista or 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
for PC.
If you have multiple genesig q16 instruments you can
connect them all to the same Mac/PC via a network
switch.
Direct connection to Mac/PC
If you are planning to run the instrument via a local area
network, plug in the Ethernet cable to the base of the
instrument and connect to a spare Ethernet port on your
network.
Direct connection to a local area network
Connecting the machine
4

Section 1
If you are planning to run the instrument in standalone
mode no Ethernet cable connection is required. Instead
a USB drive is loaded with the experiment setup data
and then inserted in to the base of the q16 via an
extension cable, which is supplied, to initiate a run.
Please ensure that you use the USB drive provided with
your instrument.
If using a USB drive from an alternative supplier the
strict minimum speed limit for compatibility with the
q16 software is 0.2MiB/s average over 10MiB of data (a
10MiB le should be written in 50 seconds or less).
Standalone operation via a USB drive
5

Section 1
Installation of software
The software requires a JavaScript runtime environment
to operate successfully. If your PC/Mac does not
currently support a current Java run-time environment
you will be prompted to download and install an update.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install
the update and then re-start your computer.
The q16 software is provided on the USB drive
shipped with your instrument. The latest software is
always available from http://www.genesig.com/q16-
software. Open the installer le and follow the onscreen
instructions.
6

Section 1
7

General operation
of the instrument
Section 2
To open the q16 twist the lid a quarter turn anti-
clockwise and lift. The lid is replaced by repeating this
operation in reverse.
The genesig q16 uses low prole 0.2ml reaction tubes
that are supplied as part of each genesig EASY kit.
Do not use alternative reaction tubes as this may
damage your instrument.
NEVER open a genesig q16 reaction tube after an
analysis run has completed. Dispose of them carefully
and ensure that they do not open by accident, as this
risks contaminating your working area and may affect
future test results.
8

Section 2
9

Section
Open the software
Section 3
Once installed double click on the q16 software icon to
open the software.
Click the ‘New’ button to begin a new test.
10

Section
Selecting a test type
Section 3
Select the type of test you wish to perform:
Species test
Select this if you wish to use a genesig EASY speciation
kit. This test will calculate the percentage of your sample
that is a particular species e.g. you can calculate what
percentage of your beefburger is horse meat.
Target detection test
Select this if you are using a genesig EASY kit for the
detection of a particular target e.g. you can test for the
presence of Salmonella, HIV or FMDV. This test will also
approximate the quantity of the target DNA present.
11

Section
The main screen layout
Section 4
There are 2 tabs in the view. One for setting up your test
and a second where your results will be displayed after
the analysis is complete:
In the setup screen there are 5 simple panels to consider;
1. Notes:
12

SectionSection 4
Your test will be given a default name but this can be
changed by clicking in the name eld and entering new
text. The Notes eld allows you to make notes on your
test if required.
2. Samples:
13

Section
The main screen layout
Section 4
In this panel you can dene how many samples you
wish to test. Use the + button to add more, and the –
button to remove them. You can alter the order of the
samples using the up and down arrows. The software
automatically limits the number of samples you can have
dependent on the capacity of the instrument.
You can alter the name of your samples by clicking in the
“Name” eld and adding new text. You can also attach
more detailed notes to a sample by clicking in the notes
eld and adding text.
Samples are coloured to make visual identication
easier. You can alter the colour associated with each
sample by double-clicking on the coloured square next
to it.
3. Tests:
2. Samples cont...
14

SectionSection 4
You can perform multiple tests on the genesig q16.
In this panel you can dene how many tests you wish
to perform. Use the + button to add more and the –
button to remove them. You can alter the order of the
tests using the up and down arrows. The software
automatically limits the number of tests you can perform
dependent on the capacity of the instrument.
You can alter the name of your tests by clicking in the
“Name” eld and adding new text. You can also attach
more detailed notes to a test by clicking in the notes eld
and adding text.
Tests are coloured to make visual identication easier.
You can alter the colour associated with each test by
double-clicking on the coloured square next to it.
15

Section
The main screen layout
Section 4
Taking in to consideration the number of tests and the
number of samples you have specied, the software
automatically allocates the well position within the
genesig q16 in which each sample is to be placed.
Similarly the well-position of the Positive and Negative
Controls are also dened automatically. Be sure to
follow this carefully when loading your samples in to the
instrument.
Once all of your samples have been loaded in to the
instrument and the lid closed, click the “Start Run”
button.
4. Well contents
5. Starting the analysis
16

SectionSection 4
From the list select the q16 instrument that you are using
and analysis will begin automatically.
The run can be stopped at any time by clicking the
“Abort Run” button. N.B. if you abort the run, discard
your samples as they may be affected by the run
beginning.
The status of the run and the remaining time is displayed
in this panel during the analysis.
If your instrument is not displayed you will need to
manually register the q16. Please follow the instructions
overleaf:
17

Section
The main screen layout
Section 4
A selection of connected q16 instruments should
appear, choose the instrument you wish to connect.
If the software does not detect any unregistered
instruments, you will be prompted to manually input
the 9 digit/letter serial id no. of your q16 (this can be
found on the underside of the machine).
•
•
Click “Conguration” at top right hand corner of
software screen.
Select the “genesig q16” tab at the left hand side of
the pop-up.
Click on the “Add” button now displayed at the
bottom of the pop-up window.
•
•
•
18

SectionSection 4
Wait for a few minutes. If your q16 becomes
designated as “Available”, then close the
conguration pop-up. You will now be able to start a
run.
If your instrument does not become “available”, and
is designated as “Not Connected” instead, please
check the wires and ports, then repeat all of the steps
above.
If your instrument continues to be displayed as
“Not Connected”, please see the Troubleshooting
section of this handbook and contact your network
administrator as it likely that your network security is
preventing a proper connection.
Primerdesign can provide your I.T. department with
the recommended protocols for manually conguring
the instrument connection.
•
•
•
•
In order to conduct a successful USB run, please follow
the steps below:
6. Standalone operation from a USB drive
19

Section
The main screen layout
Section 4
Setup your experiment as normal
Connect the USB stick to the PC
Click ‘Start Run’
Select ‘Start run from USB’
In the navigation window that appears, select the
drive associated with the USB
Wait until the ‘Testing USB drive speed’ pop-up
disappears
Safely remove USB drive from PC (use proper USB
eject protocol to ensure that the le ‘USBRUN’ has
been transferred to your USB)
Connect the USB to the q16 and the run should start
automatically . The q16 will say ‘analysis starting’ and
the LED light indicators will change to green.
During the run the LEDs will hold red for a several
minutes then begin cycling between red and blue until
the analysis is complete
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
In order to conduct a successful USB run, please follow
the steps below:
6. Standalone operation from a USB drive
20