Thermo Scientific SimpliAmp Quick start guide

SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler PCR System Installation and
Operation
Catalog Number A24811
Pub. No. A24827 Rev. D
Note: For safety and biohazard guidelines, see the “Safety”
appendix in the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler User Guide (Pub. No.
MAN0009889). Read the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and follow the
handling instructions. Wear appropriate protective eyewear,
clothing, and gloves.
Product description
This document summarizes procedures for installing and using
the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler, with "beer than gradient™"
VeriFlex™ technology. For detailed instructions, see the SimpliAmp™
Thermal Cycler User Guide (Pub. No. MAN0009889).
Figure 1 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler
Required materials not provided
• Can of compressed air (For use in cleaning wells of sample
block).
•(Optional) Electrical protective devices.
Note: The use of one or more of the following electrical
protective devices is recommended.
·Power line regulator (100–240 V)
·Surge protector/line conditioner (10-kVA)
·Uninterruptible power supply (1.5-kVA)
Set up the SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler
IMPORTANT! Save the packing materials and box in case you
need to ship the instrument in for service.
1. Open the shipping crate to unpack the instrument. You
should receive one box containing the thermal cycler and the
accessories.
2. Remove the packing material, then inspect the instrument for
shipping damage.
3. Use compressed air to clear out each well of the sample block
to remove particles that may have collected inside during
shipping.
4. Place the instrument at an installation site that meets the
spatial and weight requirements for the thermal cycler (see
“Technical specications“ on page 6).
5. Connect the instrument to a power outlet.
a. Connect the power cord to the instrument.
1Power cord port
b. Install any desired electrical protective devices.
c. Connect the power cord to a wall plug.
6. Press the power buon, then wait for the instrument to start
up. Proceed with the installation after the touchscreen
displays the Home screen, indicating that the instrument is
active.
When you power on the instrument, the instrument will take
under a minute to start up.
QUICK REFERENCE
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

1Power switch
The Home screen is displayed upon successful installation.
Figure 2 SimpliAmp™Home screen
Connect the PCR instrument to the Internet
Connect your thermal cycler to the Internet. See the instrument
user guide for detailed instructions.
• Connect through the instrument Ethernet port using a cable.
• Connect via wireless connection with the High-Power USB Wi-
Fi Module (Cat. No. A26774).
Set up mobile and cloud connectivity to the
SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler and your mobile
device
Create a user profile on the PCR instrument
1. Press (Sign In) > Get started > Create prole.
2. Fill in the required text elds and follow the prompts to
create your user prole.
Create a Thermo Fisher Connect account
1. Go to thermosher.com/connect from your web browser.
2. Click Sign up now and follow the prompts to create an
account.
Link the PCR instrument to Thermo Fisher Connect
(administrator only)
The procedure to link the Administrator prole to Thermo Fisher
Connect only needs to be performed the rst time the PCR
instrument is added to Thermo Fisher Connect.
1. Press (Sign In) > Sign In, then select the Administrator
prole.
2. Log in. (The default password for the Administrator prole is
"password").
You will then be redirected back to the home screen.
3. Press (Seings) > Instrument Seings > Remote Service.
4. Set Remote Service to "On", then press OK.
5. Press (My Prole) on the home screen.
6. Select Cloud, then enter the Thermo Fisher Connect login
and password associated with the Administrator prole.
7. Press Link Account.
Upon successful authentication, the Administrator prole is
linked to Thermo Fisher Connect.
Note: If an instrument is already linked to Thermo Fisher
Connect, you will have the option to unlink the instrument if
desired.
2 SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference

Add a PCR instrument to your Thermo Fisher Connect
account
Note: Multiple instruments can be added to your Thermo Fisher
Connect account, but only one user prole from each instrument
can be linked to your account.
1. Press (Sign In) > Sign In, then select your user prole.
2. Log in to your user prole.
You will then be redirected back to the home screen.
3. Press (Seings) > Instrument Seings > Remote Service.
4. Set Remote Service to "On", then press OK.
5. Press (My Prole) on the home screen.
6. Select Cloud, then enter your Thermo Fisher Connect
account login and password.
7. Press Link Account.
Upon successful authentication, the the user prole is linked
to Thermo Fisher Connect.
Set up mobile connectivity on a mobile device
Download the "Instrument Connect Mobile Application" on your
mobile device.
1. For iPad™ or iPhone™ devices, download the application from
the iTunes™ music store by searching for Instrument Connect
by Thermo Fisher Scientic.
2. For Android devices, download the application from
Google™ Play by searching for Instrument Connect by
Thermo Fisher Scientic.
3. Log in to the instrument connect mobile application using
your Thermo Fisher Connect login and password .
How to use the SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler
Operate the instrument using the touchscreen. For detailed
instructions on using the thermal cycler, see the SimpliAmp™
Thermal Cycler User Guide (Pub. No. MAN0009889).
In the Home screen for the touchscreen, you can set up a run by
creating a new method for a run. To set up a run using a new
method:
1. Press New Method or Set Up Run.
2. Select a template.
3. In the edit mode, edit the parameters of the method template
such as temperature, time, number of steps/stages.
4. To access advanced editing options, press Manage Steps >
Advanced Options. Advanced editing options include
VeriFlex™ blocks for optimization, simulation modes, ramp
rates, and AutoDelta.
5. Save the new method in a folder.
6. (Optional) Press Start Run to start the Method.
SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference 3

Maintenance guidelines
CAUTION! During instrument operation, the temperature
of the heated cover can be as high as 110°C, and the
temperature of the sample block(s) can be as high as 100°C.
Before performing the procedure, keep hands away until
the heated cover and sample block(s) reach room
temperature.
To ensure proper operation:
• Regularly:
– Wipe the instrument surfaces with a lint-free cloth.
– Clean the vents, touchscreen, and sample block of the
instrument.
– Clean the sample wells with 100% isopropanol.
• Use only consumables recommended by Thermo Fisher
Scientic for the instrument.
Use of consumables that are larger or smaller than the
specied volume can damage the instrument, contaminate
the sample block, and/or decrease the PCR yield (due to
inecient thermal transfer).
•Do not use sharp objects on the touchscreen.
Use only your ngers or blunt objects to enter commands on
the instrument touchscreen. Sharp and/or pointed objects
such as writing utensils can damage the surface of the
touchscreen.
•Back up frequently.
Routinely back up the congurations and les on your
instrument to a USB drive. Regular backups protect against
data loss caused by user error, power failure, or instrument
error. For more information, see the SimpliAmp™ Thermal
Cycler User Guide (Pub. No. MAN0009889).
How to use the MicroAmp™96-well Tray and
Retainer
IMPORTANT! Use the MicroAmp™ 96-well Tray and Retainer to
prevent crushing of tubes in the thermal cycler.
When small number of tubes (1–2 tube strips or ≤8–16 tubes are
placed in the sample block without support, they can be crushed
or deformed when the lid of the thermal cycler is closed over the
block. Using the tray and retainer set allows the pressure to be
distributed evenly over the tubes and prevents uneven pressure
across the block.
Using the tray and retainer set is optional when using ≥3 tube
strips or ≥16 tubes that are distributed evenly across the block.
• The blue tray and retainer set is compatible for use with
MicroAmp™ single tubes or tube strips with separate cap
strips.
• The blue tray by itself is compatible for use with MicroAmp™
tube strips with aached caps.
• The black retainer is compatible for use with single
MicroAmp™ reaction tubes with aached caps.
Prepare samples using MicroAmp™tubes/tube strips
with separate cap strips
1. Separate the blue tray and retainer by squeezing the release
catch as indicated in the graphic.
1
2
3
1
1Release catch
2MicroAmp™96-Well Retainer
3MicroAmp™96-Well Tray
2. Place the blue tray on the 96-well base.
3. Load the tube strips on the tray.
4. Pipee the reaction mixture into the tubes.
5. Place the blue retainer over the tubes and snap the retainer
into the tray.
6. Seal the tube strip using a MicroAmp™ cap strip. See “Seal
tubes strips with cap strips“ on page 5 for instructions.
7. Remove the blue tray/retainer assembly containing the
sealed tube strips from the 96-well base and place the
assembly into the instrument.
1
2
4
3
5
1MicroAmp™8-Cap strip
2MicroAmp™96-Well Retainer
3MicroAmp™8-Tube Strip (0.2-mL) or MicroAmp™Reaction
Tube without Cap (0.2-mL)
4MicroAmp™96-Well Tray
5MicroAmp™Splash Free 96-Well Base
4 SimpliAmp
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Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference

Prepare samples using MicroAmp™tube strips with
attached caps
1. Separate the blue tray and retainer by squeezing the release
catch as indicated in the graphic.
1
2
3
1
1Release catch
2MicroAmp™96-Well Retainer
3MicroAmp™96-Well Tray
2. Place the blue tray on the 96-well base.
3. Load the tube strips on the tray.
4. Pipee the reaction mixture into the tubes.
5. Seal the tube strip using a MicroAmp™ cap strip. See “Seal
tubes strips with cap strips“ on page 5 for instructions.
6. Remove the blue tray containing the sealed tube strips from
the 96-well base and place the tray and sealed tube strips into
the instrument.
1MicroAmp™8-Tube Strip with Attached Caps (0.2-mL)
2MicroAmp™96-Well Tray
3MicroAmp™Splash Free 96-Well Base
Seal tubes strips with cap strips
IMPORTANT! Apply signicant downward pressure on the
sealing tool in all steps to form a complete seal on top of the tubes.
1. Align and place the cap strips on the tubes.
2. Seal the cap strips using the rocking capping tool:
a. Slip your ngers through the handle with the holes in
the tool facing down.
b. Place the holes in the tool over the rst eight caps in a
row.
c. Rock the tool back and forth a few times to seal the
caps.
d. Repeat for remaining caps in the row, then for all
remaining rows.
Prepare samples using MicroAmp™Reaction Tubes
1. Set the black tray on a 96-well base.
2. Place the reaction tubes in the black tray.
1
2
3
1MicroAmp™Reaction Tube with Cap (0.2-mL)
2MicroAmp™96-Well Tray for VeriFlex™Blocks
3MicroAmp™Splash Free 96-Well Base
3. Pipee the reaction mixture into the reaction tubes.
4. Cap the tubes.
5. Remove the black tray with sealed reaction tubes from the
96-well base and place the tray and sealed tubes into the
instrument.
SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference 5

Technical specifications
The following table displays the system specications for the SimpliAmp™ Thermal Cycler.
Table 1 SimpliAmp™Thermal Cycler technical specifications:
Feature Specification
Maximum block ramp rate[1] 4°C/sec
Maximum sample ramp rate[1] 3°C/sec
Temperature accuracy ±0.25°C (35 to 99.9°C)
Temperature range for
protocol run
0°C to 100.0°C
Temperature non-uniformity[2] <0.5°C
Dimensions • Height: 21 cm (8.27 in)
• Width: 24.0 cm (9.45 in)
• Depth: 46 cm (18.11 in)
Weight 8.5 kg (18.3 lb)
PCR volume range • Supported: 10 - 100 µL
• Settable: 1 - 100 µL
Instrument memory USB, on-board
Display interface 8" color TFT LCD
Power 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz Max: 600 W
VeriFlex™blocks • 3 VeriFlex™zones
• Supported 10°C (5°C zone-to-zone)
• Settable[3] 20°C (10°C zone-to-zone)
Ambient humidity 15% - 80% Relative Humidity, non-condensing
(acceptable range)
Ambient operating
temperature
15°C to 30°C (acceptable range)
[1] Reaction volume @ 1 µL
[2] 30 seconds after clock start
[3] Temperature accuracy ±0.5°C and Temperature non-uniformity < 0.75°C
Table 2 Power and communication ports
Port Description
AC power cable port
10/100 Fast Ethernet port for connecting to a network
USB v2.0 port for connecting to an external network drive, jump drive, or other USB storage device
RS232 serial communication port for connecting the probe for the Temperature Verification Kit
USB v2.0 port for connecting to USB-enabled Wi-Fi Card
6 SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference

Accessory products
Product Cat. No.
96-well 0.2-mL reaction plates
MicroAmp™Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate N8010560, 4316813
MicroAmp™Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode 4306737, 4326659
MicroAmp™Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode & Optical Caps 403012
MicroAmp™Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode & Optical Adhesive Films 4314320
MicroAmp™EnduraPlate™Optical 96-Well Clear Reaction Plates with Barcode 4483354, 4483352
MicroAmp™TriFlex 3 x 32-Well PCR Reaction Plate A32810, A32811
96-well 0.1-mL reaction plates
MicroAmp™Fast Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate, 0.1 mL 4346907
MicroAmp™Fast Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode, 0.1 mL 4346906, 4366932
MicroAmp™EnduraPlate™Optical 96-Well Fast Clear Reaction Plates with Barcode 4483485, 4483494
384-well reaction plates
MicroAmp™Optical 384-Well Reaction Plate 4343370
MicroAmp™Optical 384-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode 4309849, 4326270, 4343814
MicroAmp™EnduraPlate™Optical 384-Well Clear Reaction Plates with Barcode 4483285, 4483273
Strip tubes and caps
MicroAmp™Fast 8-Tube Strip, 0.1 mL 4358293
MicroAmp™Optical 8-Tube Strip with Attached Optical Caps, 0.2 mL A30588
MicroAmp™Optical 8-Tube Strip with Attached Domed Caps, 0.2 mL A30589
MicroAmp™8-Tube Strip, 0.2 mL N8010580
MicroAmp™Optical 8-Tube Strip, 0.2 mL 4316567
MicroAmp™8-Cap Strip, clear N8010535, N8011535
MicroAmp™Optical 8-Cap Strips 4323032
MicroAmp™12-Cap Strip N8010534, N8011534
Single Tubes
MicroAmp™Fast Reaction Tube with Cap, 0.1 mL 4358297, 4358293
MicroAmp™Reaction Tube with Cap, 0.2 mL N8010540, N8011540, N8010612
MicroAmp™Reaction Tube without Cap, 0.2 mL N8010533, N8011533
MicroAmp™Optical Tube without Cap, 0.2 mL N8010933
Seals and covers
MicroAmp™Clear Adhesive Film 4306311
MicroAmp™Optical Adhesive Film 4360954, 4311971
MicroAmp™32-Well Clear Adhesive Film A32812
Accessories
MicroAmp™Splash-Free 96-Well Base 4312063
MicroAmp™96-Well Support Base 4379590
MicroAmp™96-Well Base N8010531
MicroAmp™96-Well Reaction Tube/Tray/Retainer Set, 0.2 mL 403083, 403086
SimpliAmp
™
Thermal Cycler Installation and Operation Quick Reference 7

Limited product warranty
Life Technologies Corporation and/or its aliate(s) warrant their products as set forth in the Life Technologies' General Terms and
Conditions of Sale found on Life Technologies' website at www.thermosher.com/us/en/home/global/terms-and-conditions.html. If you
have any questions, please contact Life Technologies at www.thermosher.com/support.
Manufacturer: Life Technologies Holdings Pte Ltd | Block 33 | Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3 | #07-06, Singapore 739256
The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
DISCLAIMER: TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC. AND/OR ITS AFFILIATE(S) WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT,
PUNITIVE, MULTIPLE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING FROM THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF IT.
Important Licensing Information: These products may be covered by one or more Limited Use Label Licenses. By use of these products, you accept the terms and conditions of all
applicable Limited Use Label Licenses.
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25 September 2018