Thermo Scientific NanoDrop Lite Plus User manual

NanoDrop Micro-UV Spectrophotometer
NanoDrop Lite Plus
User Guide
S120 NanoDrop Lite Plus UG Revision Date March 2022

© 2022 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase to
use in the product operation. This document is copyright protected and any reproduction of the
whole or any part of this document is strictly prohibited, except with the written authorization of
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
For U.S. Technical Support, please contact:
Thermo Fisher Scientific
3411 Silverside Road
Tatnall Building, Suite 100
Wilmington, DE 19810 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
Toll Free: 1 877 724 7690 (U.S. & Canada only)
E-mail: [e-mail]
For International Support, please contact:
http://www.thermofisher.com/
NanoDropSupport
Contact your local distributor. For contact
information go to:
http://www.thermofisher.com/
NanoDropDistributors
The contents of this document are subject to change without notice. All technical information in this
document is for reference purposes only. System configurations and specifications in this document
supersede all previous information received by the purchaser.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. makes no representations that this document is complete, accurate or
error-free and assumes no responsibility and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, damage or
loss that might result from any use of this document, even if the information in the document is
followed properly.
This document is not part of any sales contract between Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and a
purchaser. This document shall in no way govern or modify any Terms and Conditions of Sale,
which Terms and Conditions of Sale shall govern all conflicting information between the two
documents.
For Research Use Only. This instrument or accessory is not a medical device and is not intended to
be used for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or cure of disease.
WARNING Avoid an explosion or fire hazard. This instrument or accessory is not
designed for use in an explosive atmosphere.

Thermo Scientific NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide iii
C
Chapter 1 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
General Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
NanoDrop Lite Plus Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Menu Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Measurement Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Nucleic Acid Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Making a Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Nucleic Acid Measurement Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Nucleic Acid Calculations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Protein Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Making a Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Protein Measurement Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Protein Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Transferring Data From Instrument to Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Helpful Information for Measuring Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Sample Volume Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Sample Measurement Accuracy and Reproducibility . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Sample Homogeneity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sample Carryover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
A260/A280 Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Run a Blanking Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Effect of Evaporation and Solvent Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Using NanoDrop Lite Plus With Optional Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Troubleshooting Paper Feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Printing Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Printer Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Performance Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Reconditioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Solvent Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Decontamination of Upper and Lower Pedestals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Contents

Contents
iv NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide Thermo Scientific
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Thermo Scientific NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide 5
1
NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
The Thermo Scientific™ NanoDrop™ Lite Plus is a small, stand-alone UV
spectrophotometer developed specifically for microvolume measurements of nucleic
acids and purified proteins. The NanoDrop Lite Plus comes with preloaded software
and is designed to be used without a computer. The NanoDrop Lite Plus can also be
connected to an accessory printer for printing measurement information on labels.
The sample retention system of the NanoDrop Lite Plus is identical to that used in all
NanoDrop instruments: surface tension is used to hold 1-2 μL of sample between
two stainless steel pedestals that contain optical fibers. The patented sample
retention system enables the measurement of highly concentrated samples without
the need for dilutions.
The NanoDrop Lite Plus measures the sample absorption at 230, 260, and 280 nm
and corrects for scattering and background effects in the sample with light from a
reference wavelength at 340 nm.

1NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
General Safety
6 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide Thermo Scientific
General Safety
The power supply can remain plugged into the NanoDrop Lite Plus while the
instrument is not in use. When the instrument is plugged in but not in use, the power
consumption is ~3 W at idle, 18 W at working conditions.
NanoDrop Lite Plus Basic Operation
Installation
CAUTION Operating the instrument with the cover off exposes the operator to
the instrument’s sharp metal edges and delicate fiber optics. Removal of the
cover may also void the warranty.
Note The NanoDrop Lite Plus is supplied with a 12 V power supply. Use only
the power supply provided with the instrument. The unit also comes with a
grounded power cord. Plug this cord into a properly grounded outlet. Use of the
instrument in a manner not specified by the manufacturer may impair the
protection provided by the supplied power cord and power supply.

1 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
NanoDrop Lite Plus Basic Operation
Thermo Scientific NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide 7
USB for
data transfer
USB*
DC power
On/Off switch
Printer dock connector
* For factory calibration only

1NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
NanoDrop Lite Plus Basic Operation
8 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide Thermo Scientific
Menu Selection
Table 1.Navigation menu
Menu option Function
Back Return to the previous screen
Home Return to the Home screen
History View and export sample history
Settings View and configure instrument parameters such as display
settings, printers, and instrument info.
Maintenance Perform performance verification, instrument diagnostics
and software updates.
Table 2.Sample category reference settings
Nucleic Acids
dsDNA factor = 50
ssDNA factor = 33
RNA factor = 40
Protein
Protein (1 Abs= 1 mg/mL) Default general reference setting
Protein (IgG) E1%=13.7
Protein (BSA) E1%=6.7
Lysozyme E1%=26.4
Other protein (+ MW) User entered molar extinction coefficient
and molecular weight
Other protein (1%) User entered mass extinction coefficient
Settings
History
Home
Back
Maintenance
Connected hardware Applications
NanoDrop Lite Plus Home screen

1 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
NanoDrop Lite Plus Basic Operation
Thermo Scientific NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide 9
Settings screen
Maintenance screen
Measurement Basics
The NanoDrop Lite Plus spectrophotometer uses surface tension to hold a small
volume of sample between two pedestals. The patented sample retention system
enables the measurement of highly concentrated samples without the need for
dilutions. A fiber optic cable embedded in the upper pedestal leads to a xenon light
source. A second cable embedded in the lower pedestal leads to a detector. When
the instrument arm is down, the sample forms a liquid column, essentially bridging
the gap between the two fiber optic cables.
Raise the arm and pipette the sample onto the lower pedestal.
1. Lower the arm and initiate a measurement.
The sample column is automatically drawn between the upper and lower
pedestals and the measurement is made.
2. When the measurement is complete, raise the arm and wipe the sample from
both the upper and lower pedestals using a dry, lint-free laboratory wipe.
Tip Simple wiping with a dry laboratory wipe is sufficient to prevent sample
carryover in subsequent measurements.

1NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide
Nucleic Acid Measurements
10 NanoDrop Lite Plus User Guide Thermo Scientific
Nucleic Acid Measurements
Nucleic acid samples can be easily checked for concentration and purity using the
NanoDrop Lite Plus spectrophotometer. To measure nucleic acid samples (dsDNA,
ssDNA and RNA) from the Home screen, select Nucleic Acids and select the
appropriate Nucleic Acid application.
Making a Measurement
1. From the Home screen, select Nucleic Acids and select the appropriate
sample type.
For DNA measurements, select either the dsDNA or ssDNA assay.
2. Following the on-screen instructions, establish a blank by pipetting 1-2 μL of the
blanking buffer onto the bottom pedestal, lower arm and select Blank.
3. When measurement is complete, raise the arm and wipe the buffer from both the
upper and lower pedestals using a dry laboratory wipe.
4. Measure sample by pipetting 1-2 μL of sample onto the bottom pedestal, lower
arm and select Measure.
5. Wipe the upper and lower pedestals using a dry laboratory wipe and the
instrument is ready to measure the next sample.
Note Use a fresh aliquot of sample for each measurement.