Thermo Luminoskan Ascent User manual

Luminoskan Ascent
User Manual
User Manual Rev. 2.1; Dec. 2003, Cat. no. 1507520
Luminoskan Ascent

2 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 3
Table of Contents
Symbols and Markings ................................................................ 7
1. Introduction ....................................................................... 9
2. Instrument Layout............................................................ 11
3. Installation ....................................................................... 19
4. Operation ......................................................................... 31
5. Maintenance..................................................................... 55
6. Troubleshooting Guide..................................................... 65
7. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Luminoskan
Ascent.............................................................................. 69
8. Instrument Service........................................................... 71
9. Disposal of the Instrument and Materials........................ 77
10. Ordering Information ....................................................... 79
11. Glossary and Abbreviations ............................................. 83
12. Literature.......................................................................... 85
13. Warranty Certificate......................................................... 87
14. Specifications................................................................... 89
15. Index................................................................................. 95
Appendix A. Brief User’s Guide ................................................. 99
Appendix B. Addresses............................................................ 101

4 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520
Contents
Symbols and Markings................................................................ 7
1. Introduction .......................................................................... 9
1.1 Intended use .................................................................................. 10
1.2 Method descriptions ..................................................................... 10
1.2.1 Luminometric measurement principle.................................. 10
2. Instrument Layout............................................................... 13
2.1 Front view ...................................................................................... 13
2.2 Rear view ....................................................................................... 14
2.3 Internal view .................................................................................. 15
2.4 Optical system............................................................................... 16
2.5 Control switches............................................................................ 16
2.6 Incubator........................................................................................ 17
2.7 Dispensers ..................................................................................... 17
2.8 Plate carrier.................................................................................... 18
3. Installation .......................................................................... 19
3.1 Upon delivery ................................................................................ 19
3.1.1 Unpacking............................................................................... 19
3.1.2 Checking delivery for completeness..................................... 20
3.1.3 Checking for damage during transport................................. 20
3.1.4 Environmental requirements and noise................................ 21
3.1.5 Things to avoid....................................................................... 21
3.1.6 Technical prerequisites.......................................................... 22
3.2 Releasing the transportation lock................................................. 22
3.3 Power and computer connections ............................................... 23
3.4 Installation of dispensers .............................................................. 25
3.5 Installation of the drop plate......................................................... 26
3.6 Plate adapters ................................................................................ 27
3.7 Adjusting the plate carrier............................................................. 29
3.8 Operational check.......................................................................... 30
4. Operation ............................................................................ 31
4.1 Switching on.................................................................................. 31
4.2 Loading the microplate ................................................................. 32
4.3 Luminometric measurement ........................................................ 33
4.3.1 Luminometric scaling............................................................. 34

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 5
4.4 Other functions...............................................................................35
4.4.1 Orbital shaking ........................................................................35
4.4.2 Incubator .................................................................................38
4.4.3 Dispensers...............................................................................38
4.4.4 Dispenser head height adjustment ........................................41
4.4.5 Chemical resistance of the dispenser ...................................43
4.5 Changing the measurement direction ..........................................46
4.6 Installing or removing the light shield ..........................................49
4.7 Installing the filters .........................................................................50
4.8 Shutdown .......................................................................................53
5. Maintenance........................................................................ 55
5.1 Routine cleaning of the instrument...............................................55
5.2 Cleaning the optical system ..........................................................56
5.2.1 Visual filter check ....................................................................56
5.3 Cleaning the plate carrier...............................................................57
5.4 Replacing the fuses........................................................................58
5.5 Routine maintenance of optional dispensers and main lens ......59
5.5.1 Basic maintenance..................................................................59
5.5.2 Extended maintenance...........................................................59
5.5.2.1 Weak detergent or 10% bleach ....................................................59
5.5.2.2 Weak acid and base in sequence..................................................60
5.5.2.3 Cleaning the main lens..................................................................60
5.6 Periodic maintenance ....................................................................61
5.6.1 Replacing the dispenser tubings............................................61
5.6.2 Replacing the dispensing tip ..................................................63
5.6.3 Replacing the dispenser syringe............................................64
6. Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................ 65
6.1 Troubleshooting.............................................................................65
6.2 Error messages ..............................................................................68
7. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Luminoskan
Ascent ................................................................................. 69
8. Instrument Service .............................................................. 71
8.1 Service request protocol ...............................................................71
8.2 Decontamination procedure..........................................................71
8.3 Certificate of decontamination ......................................................73
8.4 Shipping the instrument (or items) ...............................................75
8.5 Service contracts............................................................................75

6 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520
9. Disposal of the Instrument and Materials........................... 77
9.1 Disposal of the instrument............................................................ 77
9.2 Disposal of materials..................................................................... 77
10. Ordering Information ....................................................... 79
10.1 Product code numbers ................................................................. 79
10.2 List of recommended spare parts ................................................ 82
10.3 Ordering filters............................................................................... 82
11. Glossary and Abbreviations ............................................. 83
12. Literature ......................................................................... 85
13. Warranty Certificate ........................................................ 87
13.1 Warranty limitations ...................................................................... 88
14. Specifications .................................................................. 89
14.1 General specifications................................................................... 89
14.2 Safety specifications ..................................................................... 91
14.3 In conformity with the requirements............................................ 92
14.4 Performance specifications........................................................... 93
15. Index ................................................................................ 95
Appendix A. Brief User’s Guide ................................................ 99
Appendix B. Addresses ........................................................... 101

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 7
Symbols and Markings
SYMBOLS USED IN THE LUMINOSKAN ASCENT
Power ON
Power OFF
Connection to the protective grounding system
WARNING MARKINGS USED ON THE INSTRUMENT
Caution: risk of electric shock.
Caution: risk of personal injury to the operator or a
safety hazard to the surrounding area. See the
accompanying documentation.
CE compliance mark
WARNING MARKINGS USED IN THE DOCUMENTATION
Caution: risk of electric shock.
Caution: risk of personal injury to the operator or a
safety hazard to the surrounding area.
Caution: risk of serious damage to the instrument, other
equipment or loss of performance or function in a
specific application.
Caution: biohazard risk.

8 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520
Luminoskan Ascent, Cat. no. 5300160 and 5300170 (with dispenser)
User Manual Rev. 2.1; Dec. 2003, Cat. no. 1507520
Copyright
1995 – 2003 Thermo Electron Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in
Finland. Reproduction of the accompanying user documentation in whole
or in part is prohibited.
Patents
Luminoskan Ascent has national and international patents and patents
pending.
Trademarks (
 and  )
Ascent Software, Luminoskan, Luminoskan Ascent and Microtiter are
registered trademarks of Thermo Electron. BioBind and Microlite are
trademarks of Thermo Electron. Virkon is a registered trademark of Antec
International Ltd. All other trademarks, registered trademarks and
copyrights are property of their respective holders.
Disclaimer
Thermo Electron 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. Although this manual has been
prepared with every precaution to ensure accuracy, Thermo Electron
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 Electron shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising
out of the use or inability to use this product.
Contact information
P.O. Box 100, FIN-01621 Vantaa, Finland
Tel. [phone], Fax [phone]
www.thermo.com

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 9
1. Introduction
The Luminoskan Ascent (Fig. 1) designed and made by Thermo Electron is
a microplate luminometer which offers versatility and flexibility for even
the most demanding luminometric applications. The instrument covers the
full range of glow and flash luminometric applications.
Fig. 1. Luminoskan Ascent
Ascent Software controls all the reader functions and provides easy assay
optimization, flexible data handling and convenient report formatting. The
software for the Luminoskan Ascent is a dedicated software for
luminometric applications.
High sensitivity is one of the main benefits of the instrument. The
Luminoskan Ascent can also be equipped with filters for luminometric
applications.
Up to three reagent dispensers can be fitted on-board, making the reagent
addition simple and highly accurate. The ability of the instrument to
dispense and measure simultaneously enables the detection of flash
luminescence reactions and rapid kinetic applications. For assays requiring
temperature control, the instrument has an on-board incubator. Built-in
orbital shaking speeds up reaction times and ensures effective mixing.

10 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520
The robotic integration is simple and effective with the Luminoskan
Ascent. The plate carrier allows convenient access for the robotic arm and
Ascent Software is easy to integrate with robotic and HIS/LIMS systems.
The Luminoskan Ascent is also fully compatible with Thermo Electron
robotic plate handling devices, expanding the measurement capacity. For
further information, contact your local Thermo representative.
1.1 Intended use
1. The Luminoskan Ascent is a high-quality microplate luminometer
intended for laboratory research use by professional personnel. The
Luminoskan Ascent is used to measure luminescence from suitable 1-
to 384-well plates mentioned in this manual. It also has incubation,
shaking and reagent dispensing capabilities.
2. For verification of the entire system, it is recommended that Good
Laboratory Practices (GLP) be followed to guarantee reliable analyses.
3. Use for self-testing is excluded.
1.2 Method descriptions
1.2.1 Luminometric measurement principle
The filter slots 7 and 8 are reserved only for luminometric measurements.
Filter slot 7 is empty for measurement and filter slot 8 is blocked to enable
measurement of the PMT (photomultiplier tube) dark current. This feature
is important to obtain optimal sensitivity. The light path from the
measurement well to the first lens is protected by a light shield (Fig. 4.6a
and Fig. 4.6b). The light shield is required with 96- and 384-well plates to
avoid crosstalk in luminometric measurements. When plates are higher
than 15 mm, the light shield must be removed. If the 384-well plate has a
height of less than 15 mm, then an adapter must be used below the plate
to raise the plate to the proper height. This adapter for low 384-well plates
(Fig. 3.6:4) is included in the Luminoskan Ascent instrument and can also
be ordered separately.

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 11
Caution: A luminometric measurement without a light
shield may cause extra crosstalk.
Caution: The light shield must be removed with higher
plates.
Note: The emission filter slots 7 and 8 are reserved only for
luminometric measurements. Filter slot 7 is empty for
measurement and filter slot 8 is blocked to enable
measurement of the PMT (photomultiplier tube) dark
current.
DO NOT install any filters into slots 7 and 8.

12 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 13
2. Instrument Layout
2.1 Front view
1 Instrument housing
2 Dispenser and optics cover
3 Instrument chassis
4 Measurement chamber door
5 Power, busy and error indicator
Fig. 2.1 Luminoskan Ascent front view
2
3
4
5
1

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2.2 Rear view
1 Mains power supply socket
2 Power switch (ON/OFF)
3 Power fuses
4 Serial communication connector for the computer
5 Identification plate
6 Housing retaining screws
7 Cooling-air outlet
Fig. 2.2 Luminoskan Ascent rear view
6
7 5 4 312

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 15
2.3 Internal view
1 Light cover for the optical unit
2 Dispensers (opt.)
3 Dispensing head (opt.)
4 Leakage tray (opt.)
5 Dispensing head holder (opt.)
6 Dummy plug
7 Control switches
8 Cover sensor
Fig. 2.3 Luminoskan Ascent internal view
8
6
5
7
1
4
3
2

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2.4 Optical system
1 In the Luminoskan Ascent the light beam is strictly limited by a light shield to
avoid crosstalk.
2 Mirror
3 An optional filter in the filter wheel
4 The photomultiplier tube (PMT) detects the light.
5 Light shield
Fig. 2.4 Principle of the optical system
2.5 Control switches
The control switch box (Fig. 2.3:7) contains three rocker switches for
priming and emptying dispenser tubings, one rocker switch for driving the
plate carrier in or out, and a sensor (Fig. 2.3:8) to monitor that the
dispenser cover is in the closed position in luminometric measurements.
The priming control switches are only functional when the plate carrier is
located outside the instrument.
5
2
3
4 1

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 17
2.6 Incubator
The incubator contains two heating element plates in the measurement
chamber, one heating element plate under the microplate and another
above it. The incubator only heats, but does not cool.
2.7 Dispensers
The optional dispensers, 1 to 3 dispensers from left to right, are located
inside the instrument housing under the dispenser cover, as seen in
Fig. 2.3. The dispensers consist of modular digital pumps with valves,
syringes, tubing and dispensing heads. The dispensing heads have three
alternative dispensing positions, one of these dispenses into the well in the
measurement position.

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2.8 Plate carrier
1 Positioning lever
2 Adjustable stoppers
3 Waste strip holder (opt., 4 wells) for the tip priming during the measurement
session
4 Plate carrier door
Fig. 2.8 Plate carrier
1
2
3
A1 corner of the
micro
p
late
4

Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520 19
3. Installation
3.1 Upon delivery
3.1.1 Unpacking
The Luminoskan Ascent is packed in a specially designed shipping carton.
Move the unpacked instrument to its site of operation. To prevent
condensation, the instrument should be left in its protective plastic
wrapping until the ambient temperature has been reached. Unpack the
Luminoskan Ascent instrument and accessories carefully with the arrows
on the transport package pointing upwards. Open the top of the package
and lift the Luminoskan Ascent out of the shipping carton
(Fig. 3.1). The following notes and instructions are sent with the instrument
and are immediately available when you open the package:
• the packing instructions
• the packing list
• the Thermo Electron Warranty Certificate card
• the performance test reports
• the User Manual.
Caution: DO NOT touch or loosen any screws or parts other
than those specifically designated in the instructions. Doing so
might cause misalignment and will void the instrument
warranty.
Caution: The Luminoskan Ascent weighs approximately 21 kg
(46 lbs.) without dispensers and should be lifted with care. It is
recommended that two persons lift the instrument together,
taking the proper precautions to avoid injury.
Retain the original packing materials and shipping carton for future
transportation. Also retain all the documentation provided with the
instrument.
If you relocate your instrument or ship it for service, remember to:
1. Empty the dispenser(s) and remove the tube assembly.

20 Luminoskan AscentUser Manual Rev. 2.1, Cat. no. 1507520
2. Remove any loose items from the plate carrier, for example, adapters,
plates and priming vessels.
3. Remove the power cable as well as the serial cable.
4. Replace the transportation lock.
For further information, see Section 8.4 Shipping the instrument (or items).
Fig. 3.1 Luminoskan Ascent
3.1.2 Checking delivery for completeness
Check the enclosed packing list against order. If any parts are missing,
contact your local Thermo representative or Thermo Electron Oy.
3.1.3 Checking for damage during transport
Visually inspect the transport package, the instrument and the accessories
for any possible transport damage.
If the carton has been damaged in transit, it is particularly important that
you retain it for inspection by the carrier in case there has also been
damage to the instrument.
Intended lifting
area