Thermo Scientific mDrop User manual

Cat. No. N12691 Rev 4.0 2020
Thermo Scientific
μDrop and μDrop Duo
Plates
User Manual

Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the accompanying user
documentation in whole or in part is prohibited
Manufacturer
Life Technologies Holdings Pte. Ltd.
(a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.)
33, Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3, #7-06,
Singapore 739256
Trademarks
“μDrop” is a trademark of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Multiskan”, “SkanIt” and “Varioskan” are registered
trademarks of Thermo Fisher Scientific.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Disclaimer
Thermo Fisher Scientific reserves the right to change its products and services at any time to incorporate
technological developments. This manual is subject to change without prior notice as part of continuous
product development. Although this manual has been prepared with every precaution to ensure accuracy,
Thermo Fisher Scientific assumes no liability for any errors or omissions, nor for any damages resulting from
the application or use of this information. This manual supersedes all previous editions.
No liability for consequential damages
Thermo Fisher Scientific shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use or inability to use
this product.

Thermo Scientific Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual i
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Preface
About This Guide
This manual gives instructions on performing absorbance measurements using the Thermo Scientific™
μDrop™ and μDrop™ Duo Plates with the following instruments:
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ SkyHigh
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ Sky
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ GO
• Thermo Scientific™ Varioskan™ LUX
Safety and Special Notices
Make sure you follow the precautionary statements presented in this guide. The safety and other
special notices appear in boxes.
The following symbols and markings appear in this user manual:.
WARNING Biohazard risk.
WARNING Risk of injury to the user or users.
CAUTION Risk of damage to the instrument, other equipment or loss of performance or function
in a specific application.
Note Highlights important information, a tip, or an item of interest that is useful in the optimum
operation of the system

About This Guide
ii Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual Thermo Scientific
Contacting Us
For the latest information on products and services, visit our website at:
www.thermofisher.com/platereaders

Thermo Scientific Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual iii
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Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Safety and Special Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Contacting Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Chapter 1 Introduction to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Intended use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
General description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2 Low-volume measurements with SkanIt Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Creating a new measurement session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ready-made sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
User-made sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Placing the samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cleaning verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Chapter 3 Cuvette measurements with SkanIt Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Placing the cuvette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Creating a new measurement session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
User-made sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 4 Setting up a measurement from the instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Chapter 5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Regular and preventive maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Cleaning the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Disposal of materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Decontamination procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Disposal of the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Chapter 6 Technical specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
General specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Contents

Contents
iv Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual Thermo Scientific

Thermo Scientific Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual 1
1
Introduction to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates
Introduction
Thermo Scientific™ μDrop™ and μDrop™ Duo Plates are tools designed for quick and easy absorbance
measurement of low sample volumes (2–10 μl) and cuvettes with the following instruments:
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ SkyHigh
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ Sky
• Thermo Scientific™ Multiskan™ GO
• Thermo Scientific™ Varioskan™ LUX
The μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates are typically used for photometric DNA, RNA and protein
quantitation and purity analysis.
The μDrop Plate consists of two separate measurement locations, one for measuring low-sample
volumes and the other for cuvettes. The μDrop Duo Plate consist of three separate measurement
locations, two for measuring low-sample volumes and one for cuvettes.
The low-volume area of the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates is compatible with an 8-channel pipette to
enable easy pipetting of the samples to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates. It can be used for endpoint
and spectral measurements.
The cuvette slot is compatible with standard rectangular cuvettes with a stopper. It can be used for
endpoint, spectral and kinetic measurements.
Intended use
The μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates enable quick and easy absorbance measurements with low sample
volumes and standard rectangular cuvettes with a stopper. The main applications are photometric
nucleic acid and protein analysis.
The μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates are intended to be used in research laboratories by professional
personnel.
The μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates are designed to be a part of an analyzing system for the end user,
who is responsible for validating the system to ensure reliable and safe results. We recommend using
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) during the analysis process.

1Introduction to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates
General description
2Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual Thermo Scientific
General description
The μDrop Plate low-volume measurement area on the left-hand side consists of two quartz slides, the
top clear quartz and the bottom Teflon-coated quartz slide (see Figure 2). The bottom slide contains 16
sample positions, arranged in a 2 x 8 matrix, where samples are to be pipetted. The nominal pathlength
for the sample is fixed to 0.5 mm. The verified pathlength for each μDrop Plate is indicated on the
quality control measurement report delivered with the μDrop Plate.
The μDrop Duo Plate has two low-volume measurement areas on the left-hand side (see Figure 4). The
verified pathlengths for each μDrop Duo Plate are indicated on the quality control measurement report
delivered with the μDrop Duo Plate.
On the right-hand side, the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates have a slot for cuvette measurement (see
Figure 1 and Figure 3).
Figure 1. A closed μDrop Plate showing the low-volume measurement area (1), adjustment screw (2), and
the cuvette measurement point (3).

1 Introduction to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates
General description
Thermo Scientific Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual 3
Figure 2. An open μDrop Plate showing the top slide (1), bottom slide (2), sample positions A2 - H3 (2 x 8
matrix) (3), low-volume area (4), and cuvette slot (5).
Figure 3. A closed μDrop Duo Plate showing the low-volume measurement area (1), adjustment screw (2),
and cuvette measurement point (3).

1Introduction to the μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates
General description
4Thermo Scientific μDrop and μDrop Duo Plates User Manual Thermo Scientific
Figure 4. An open μDrop Duo Plate showing the top slides (1), bottom slides (2), sample positions (two 2 x
8 matrixes) (3), low-volume area (4), and cuvette slot (5).
The measurement sessions for Multiskan SkyHigh, Multiskan Sky, Multiskan GO and Varioskan LUX
can be created using Thermo Scientific™ SkanIt™ Software. It is also possible to measure the μDrop and
μDrop Duo Plates with Multiskan SkyHigh and Multiskan Sky internal software ready-made
protocols.