ProteinSimple Jess User manual

page 1
User Guide for Jess
Copyright © 2018 ProteinSimple. All rights reserved.
ProteinSimple
3001 Orchard Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134
Toll-free in the US and Canada: [phone]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
email: [email protected]
web: www.proteinsimple.com

User Guide for Jess
P/N PL2-0004
Revision B, November 2018
For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures
Patents and Trademarks
ProteinSimple's Simple Western technology is covered by issued and pending patents in the U.S. and other
countries. For more information please see http://www.proteinsimple.com/Intellectual_Property.html.
ProteinSimple, the ProteinSimple logo and Jess are trademarks or registered trademarks of ProteinSimple.
Other marks appearing in these materials are marks of their respective owners.

page i
User Guide for Jess
Chapter 1:
Let’s Get Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Simple Western Assays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Imaging a Blot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2:
Getting Your Lab Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Space Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Physical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Electrical Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Environmental Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Software and Computer Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 3:
Jess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 4:
Operating Jess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Running Immunoassays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Imaging a Blot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Self Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Viewing and Changing System Properties . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Viewing Error and Test Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chapter 5:
Maintenance and Troubleshooting . . . . . . 26
Instrument Software (Embedded) Updates . . . . . . . . . . 27
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Chapter 6:
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Safety Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Table of Contents

page ii
User Guide for Jess

page 1
User Guide for Jess
Chapter 1:
Let’s Get Started
Chapter Overview
•Welcome
• Simple Western Assays
• Imaging a Blot

Welcome page 2
User Guide for Jess
Welcome
Congratulations on bringing Jess into your lab! We welcome you as a new user and are excited to be a part
of your work. This user guide will provide you with information on how Simple Western assays work as well
as other useful operating and installation information.
To help you get the most from Jess, we've added some attention phrases to assist you through the user
guide:
NOTE Points out useful information.
IMPORTANT Indicates information necessary for proper operation of Jess.
CAUTION Cautions you about potentially hazardous situations that could result in injury to you or
damage to Jess.
!WARNING! Warns you that serious physical injury can result if the listed precautions aren’t followed.
Simple Western Assays
A Simple Western size assay is an automated Western - no gels, no transfer devices, no blots, no film and no
manual analysis.
Simple Westerns take place in a capillary. Jess automates all steps of the process for you including sample
loading, protein separation, immunoprobing or labeling, washing, detection and data analysis. Up to 25
samples can be processed in a single run.
Jess performs Simple Western size-based assays: chemiluminescence or fluorescence immunoassays, and
intra-assay protein normalization. All you have to do is pipette your samples and immunoreagents into Jess's
pre-filled plate, load the capillary cartridge and press Start.
Imaging a Blot
Jess also images PVDF or nitrocellulose blotting membranes with proteins transferred from SDS-PAGE gels
using traditional Western blotting procedures. All you have to do is expose your membrane to an enhanced
chemiluminescent (ECL) substrate, load it into the blot cartridge and press Start.

page 3
User Guide for Jess
Chapter 2:
Getting Your Lab Ready
Chapter Overview
•Introduction
• Space Requirements
• Physical Specifications
• Electrical Requirements
• Environmental Requirements
• Software and Computer Requirements
• General Guidelines and Information

Introduction page 4
User Guide for Jess
Introduction
This chapter will help you prepare the lab for Jess. Please have the space, electrical and environmental
requirements ready prior to installation.
NOTE: Find a buddy to help you unpack Jess. Don’t try to lift the instrument alone, you could cause injury
to yourself or damage to Jess.
Space Requirements
You need a lab bench or table that can support 60 lbs (27 kg) and has enough space for both Jess and her
computer. There should be sufficient clearance for both heat ventilation and to provide access if the instru-
ment needs service.
IMPORTANT
Jess needs a stable surface and must remain level to work properly. The lab bench or table can’t
shift or wobble under heavy weight.
Table 2-1: Recommended space requirements for Jess.
Dimension Meters Feet
Width 2.2 7.0
Depth 0.9 3.0
Height 1.0 3.3

Physical Specifications page 5
User Guide for Jess
Physical Specifications
For indoor use only. Use up to altitudes of 1524 meters (5000 feet).
Table 2-2: Physical Specifications
Electrical Requirements
Jess requires a dedicated, grounded circuit capable of delivering the appropriate current and voltage for
your country. The power requirements for select regions are listed below:
Table 2-3: Power requirements.
In addition to the requirements listed above, we recommend the grounded circuits terminate at the recep-
tacles, and receptacles must be located within 10 ft (3 m) of the instrument.
Description Specification
Jess’s Dimensions (Door Closed) 0.36 m H x 0.36 m W x 0.57 m D
(1.08' H x 1.08' W x 1.71' D)
Jess’s Dimensions (Door Open) 0.36 m H x 0.53 m W x 0.57 m D
(1.08' H x 1.58' W x 1.71' D)
Jess’s Weight 23 kg (50 lbs)
Computer Workstation Dimensions 0.41 m H x 0.66 m W x 0.76 m D
(1.35' H x 2.17' W x 2.49' D)
Region Volts (AC) Frequency (Hz) Amps
US and Canada 120 60 4.2
Europe 240 50 2.1
Japan 100 50/60 5.0

Environmental Requirements page 6
User Guide for Jess
Environmental Requirements
Jess likes a consistent temperature in the lab. She works best when conditions stay within these ranges:
Table 2-4: Environmental requirements.
Software and Computer Requirements
Jess brings her own computer to the lab with Compass for Simple Western software pre-installed. Compass
software is used to run assays and analyze resulting data. Just in case you need it, a CD containing Compass
for Simple Western also comes in the box. If you don't want to analyze your data at Jess's workstation in the
lab, Compass software can also be installed on a separate workstation, such as your desktop computer. Your
computer must meet the minimum requirements listed in the table below to run the software and process
data.
Table 2-5: Computer requirements.
Requirement Specification
Operating temperature range 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
Operating humidity range 20–60% relative, non-condensing
Component Minimum Recommended
Operating system Windows 7
Processor Core 2 Duo
Memory 2 GB
Free disk space 10 GB

General Guidelines and Information page 7
User Guide for Jess
General Guidelines and Information
Intended Use
NOTE: Jess is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Lifting and Moving the System: Lift Jess Correctly
IMPORTANT
Take all the standard precautions when lifting or moving Jess. Since Jess weighs 23 kg (50 lbs), you
should not lift the instrument by yourself. Two people should lift the instrument onto the lab bench.
Do not lift the instrument by holding the door or door hinge.

page 8
User Guide for Jess
Chapter 3:
Jess
Chapter Overview
• Instrument Overview

Instrument Overview page 9
User Guide for Jess
Instrument Overview
Jess’s individual hardware components are described in this section.
External Components
System Door
Jess's door gives you access to the inside of the instrument to load the blot cartridge or capillary cartridge
and pre-filled plate. To open the door, make sure that you see a steady blue LED on the front, then touch the
small silver touch pad on the top of Jess’s door. To close, push the door until you feel Jess pull it closed.
NOTE: Jess’s door must be closed before starting a run.
Touch Pad to
System Door
Status Light
Open Door

Instrument Overview page 10
User Guide for Jess
Status Lights
The LED on Jess’s front panel provides you with status updates:
•Start-up (magenta): You've turned on the power and the instrument is warming up.
•Ready (steady blue): Jess is powered on and ready for use.
•Opening Door (long blue flash followed by blue pulses): Jess’s door is opening.
•Running (pulsing blue): Jess is running an assay.
•Trying to Open Door While Running (red flash): Jess can’t open the door when she’s running.
•Error (steady red): Jess has detected an error. To get more information, check the Status window of
the Run Summary Screen in Compass for Simple Western.

Instrument Overview page 11
User Guide for Jess
Internal Components
Cartridge Holder
The cartridge holder will hold:
• The 25-Capillary Cartridge (PS-CC01)
• The 13-Capillary Cartridge (PS-CC02)
• The Blot Cartridge (PN 004-651) containing a loaded membrane
Cartridge Holder
(Capillary)
Cartridge Holder
(Blot)

Instrument Overview page 12
User Guide for Jess
Plate Holder
The plate holder holds the pre-filled plate which contains samples and assay reagents.
Sample plates should be inserted into the plate holder so that the A1 well position is aligned with the upper
left corner of the tray.
Plate
Holder
A1 Position
Sample Plate

Instrument Overview page 13
User Guide for Jess
NOTES:
Remove the lid and seal from the plate immediately before inserting into the instrument.
When inserting the sample plate, make sure the plate is firmly seated and level in the tray. Plates that
aren’t level can interfere with the movement of the plate holder.
Rear Panel
Located on Jess’s rear panel is the power entry, power switch and the network connection port.
•System Power - The main system power components consist of the power switch and power input.
!WARNING!
Only use the power supply cord provided with Jess. If the cord is damaged, please contact
ProteinSimple Technical Support toll-free in the US and Canada at 1-888-607-9692 (option 3).
!WARNING!
You can't replace any parts except the power entry fuse.
!WARNING! SHOCK HAZARD
Disconnect the power cord from the power input to disconnect power to the instrument.
•Connect to PC - A 10/100/BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector) is used to connect Jess to a computer.

Instrument Overview page 14
User Guide for Jess
NOTE: Serial numbers are used to identify individual instruments on the network.
System Label
A system label is also located on Jess’s rear panel. It includes the ProteinSimple location, system model,
power requirements, serial number and certification markings.
50/60HZ 510W
415-0004 REV A
250VAC 6.3A
San Jose, CA USA
Model: Jess
Made in USA
Pat: proteinsimple.com/Intellectual_Property

page 15
User Guide for Jess
Chapter 4:
Operating Jess
Chapter Overview
• Before You Throw the Switch
•PowerUp
• Running Immunoassays
• Imaging a Blot
•SelfTest
• Viewing and Changing System Properties
•ViewingErrorandTestLogs
•StatusModes
•Shutdown

Before You Throw the Switch page 16
User Guide for Jess
Before You Throw the Switch
Ensure that everyone using Jess has:
• Received instruction in general safety practices for laboratories.
• Received instruction in specific safety practices for Jess.
• Received instruction on handling of biohazards (if biohazardous materials are to be used on Jess).
• Read and understood all related SDS documentation.
Power Up
1. Turn on the computer connected to Jess.
2. Turn on the main power switch located on the rear panel.
3. Wait for Jess to initialize.
4. Double-click the Compass for Simple Western software icon to open the application.
5. Connect to the Jess instrument.
6. Run the Self Test.
Running Immunoassays
Step 1 - Get Ready
1. Create or open your assay file in Compass for Simple Western.
2. Prepare the assay plate following the procedure in the product insert.
NOTE: The first capillary in the cartridge has been optimized for running the ready-to-use biotinylated
ladder. Using it for a sample may increase your assay variability.
3. Open a capillary cartridge package and insert the cartridge into the cartridge holder. The light in the
cartridge holder will change from orange to blue when inserted correctly.
4. Remove the plate lid and seal and place the assay plate into the plate holder.
5. Click Start.