VWR PerfectBlue Twin S User manual

VWR® PerfectBlue™Vertical Dual Gel
Systems Twin S, M, L & ExW S
Instruction Manual
European Catalogue Numbers:
Twin S
700-0931
Twin S w/o gel caster
700-0937
Twin M
700-0955
Twin M w/o gel caster
700-0961
Twin L
700-1080
Twin L w/o gel caster
700-1205
Twin ExW
700-0980
Twin ExW w/o gel caster
700-0986
Version: 1
Issued: 10,04,2018

1 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
Table of Contents
Legal Address of Manufacturer 2
Country of Origin 2
Warranty 2
Safety Precautions 2
Intended Use 2
Packaging List 3
System Overview 4
Technical Properties 4
Short Instruction 5
Systems Overview 5
Leak Proof Sealing of Glass Plates 5
Assembling the System and Electrophoresis 6
General Instructions 7
Leak Proof Sealing of Glass Plates 7
Assembling the System and Electrophoresis 8
Cleaning 9
Required Materials and Recipes 10
Required Gel Volumes 10
Required Buffer Volumes 10
Tris-Glycine SDS-PAGE 10
Tris-Tricine SDS-PAGE 11
Troubleshooting 12
Technical Support and Ordering Information 14
PerfectBlue™ Dual Gel System Twin S 14
PerfectBlue™ Dual Gel System Twin M 15
PerfectBlue™ Dual Gel System Twin L 15
PerfectBlue™ Dual Gel System Twin ExW S 16
Power Supplies 17

2 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
Legal Address of Manufacturer
VWR International bvba
Researchpark Haasrode 2020
Geldenaaksebaan 464
B-3001 Leuven
[phone]
http://be.vwr.com
Country of Origin
United States
Warranty
VWR warrants that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of three
(3) years from date of delivery. If a defect is present, VWR will, at its option and cost, repair, replace, or
refund the purchase price of this product to the customer, provided it is returned during the warranty period.
This warranty does not apply if the product has been damaged by accident, abuse, misuse, or
misapplication, or from ordinary wear and tear. If the required maintenance and inspection services are not
performed according to the manuals and any local regulations, such warranty turns invalid, except to the
extent, the defect of the product is not due to such non-performance.
Items being returned must be insured by the customer against possible damage or loss. This warranty shall
be limited to the aforementioned remedies. IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT THIS WARRANTY WILL BE
IN LIEU OF ALL WARRANTIES OF FITNESS AND IN LIEU OF THE WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY.
Safety Precautions
To avoid electrical shock:
Please, read this Instruction Manual carefully before using the gel system.
Only use a CE marked DC power supply.
Always disconnect the system from the power supply before removing the safety lid.
Always disconnect the gel system from the power supply when it is not in use or before moving it.
Running conditions for this unit should not exceed the maximum operating voltage or current.
The flow rate for cooling should not exceed 2 liter per minute if the chamber is connected to a water tab. If
using a water circulator the flow should not exceed 12 liter per minute.
Intended Use
Use this product only for its intended purpose as described in this manual. Do not use this product if the
power leads are damaged or if any of its surfaces are cracked.
For research use only, Not intended for use in diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

3 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
Packaging List
The following items are included in shipment for the models Twin S, Twin M, Twin L and Twin ExW S:
Twin S (700-0937)
Twin M (700-0961)
Upper buffer chamber with electrodes
Lower buffer chamber
Safety Lid with power cords
4 blank glass plates
2 notched glass plates
2 notched alumina ceramic plates
4 clamp assemblies
2 combs, 0.8 mm thick, 10 teeth
4 side spacers, 0.8 mm thick
2 bottom spacers, 0.8 mm thick
2 replacement gaskets
4 replacement spring pegs
1 blocking plate for single gel operation
1 SpacerPlacer for easy spacer alignment
Upper buffer chamber with electrodes
Lower buffer chamber
Safety Lid with power cords
4 blank glass plates
4 notched glass plates
4 clamp assemblies
2 combs, 1.5 mm thick, 10 teeth
2 combs, 1.5 mm thick, 15 teeth
8 side spacers, 1.5 mm thick
4 bottom spacers, 1.5 mm thick
2 replacement gaskets
4 replacement spring pegs
1 blocking plate for single gel operation
1 SpacerPlacer for easy spacer alignment
Twin S (700-0931)
Twin M (700-0955)
as the 700-0937 but including casting base
as the 700-0961 but including casting base
Twin ExW S (700-0986)
Twin L (700-1205)
Upper buffer chamber with electrodes
Lower buffer chamber
Safety Lid with power cords
4 blank glass plates
4 notched glass plates
4 clamp assemblies
2 combs, 0.8 mm thick, 15 teeth
2 combs, 0.8 mm thick, 20 teeth
8 side spacers, 0.8 mm thick
4 bottom spacers, 0.8 mm thick
2 replacement gaskets
4 replacement spring pegs
1 blocking plate for single gel operation
1 SpacerPlacer for easy spacer alignment
Upper buffer chamber with electrodes
Lower buffer chamber
Safety Lid with power cords
4 blank glass plates
4 notched glass plates
4 clamp assemblies
2 combs, 1.5 mm thick, 15 teeth
2 combs, 1.5 mm thick, 20 teeth
8 side spacers, 1.5 mm thick
4 bottom spacers, 1.5 mm thick
2 replacement gaskets
4 replacement spring pegs
1 blocking plate for single gel operation
1 SpacerPlacer for easy spacer alignment
Twin ExW S (700-0980)
Twin L (700-1080)
as the 700-0986 but including casting base
as the 700-1205 but including casting base

4 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
System Overview
PerfectBlue™ vertical dual gel systems Twin S, M, L and ExW S are characterized by sophisticated design
and durable construction. With their unique arrangement of 3 cathodes and an extended anode surrounding
the complete base of the electrophoresis chamber, electrophoretic separations of exceptional high quality
can be achieved. All of the systems are equipped with an alumina ceramic cooling system for water
circulation matching effective cooling and high migration rates without negatively affecting separation
results. Using the casting system developed for the PerfectBlue™ vertical dual gel systems up to 2 gels can
get poured at once, conveniently and without leakage. Designed for convenience, the glass plates do not
have to be re-assembled after polymerization and electrophoresis can performed straight away. This time
saving step further eliminates potential sources of error. PerfectBlue™ vertical dual gel systems are
available in 4 different formats, each one including a wide range of accessories for increased versatility. The
systems are constructed using solid parts, precisely machined from 0.6 mm thick acrylic by CNC milling. The
use of specialized adhesives neutralizes mechanical forces and thermal expansions making the system
durable and reliable. We are therefore confident of our guarantee, a full 3 year warranty on the whole range
of PerfectBlue™ electrophoresis and blotting equipment.
Technical Properties
PerfectBlue™
Cat. No.
Gel size
(W x L)
required
buffer volume
Maximal
Voltage
max. current
per gel
Typical
running time
Twin S
700-0931/
700-0937 10 x 10 cm 250 ml up to 500 V 15 - 35 mA 30 - 90 min
Twin M
700-0955/
700-0961 16 x 14 cm 650 ml up to 500 V 15 - 50 mA 60 - 120 min
Twin L
700-1080/
700-1205 20 x 20 cm 1250 ml up to 500 V 15 - 75 mA 60 - 180 min
Twin ExW S
700-0980/
700-0986 20 x 10 cm 650 ml up to 500 V 30 - 45 mA 30 - 90 min
Safety lid with power cords
Upper buffer chamber (UBC)
with side clamps and electrodes
Lower buffer chamber (LBC)
Casting base

5 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
Short Instruction
Systems Overview
1. Upper buffer chamber (UBC)
with side clamps and electrodes
2. Safety lid with power cords
3. Lower buffer chamber (LBC)
4. Casting base
Leak Proof Sealing of Glass Plates
Invert casting base, so the black silicone mats face
downward and the acrylic square upward.
Place UBC on inverted casting base. Arrange gel
assemblies and place on each side of the UBC. It is
important that the bottom of the glass plates and the
spacers sit flat on the acrylic square of the inverted
casting base.
Tighten side clamps. Tighten the blocking plate in a
similar way at the other side of the UBC in case of
casting only one gel.
Invert casting base and turn out the cams.
Wet the silicone mats with e.g. water or buff
er to
prolong their life span.
Place UBC on the gaskets and turn the handles at
the same time, half a turn.
1
2
3
4

6 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
Assembling the System and Electrophoresis
The gel can now be poured. Pour slowly to avoid
bubbles.
After polymerization, lift UBC from casting base and
place into the LBC. Add buffer to the UBC. Load the
samples. Add buffer to the LBC.
Place safety lid onto the unit and start the run. After the
run is completed turn off the power supply and remove
lid. Lift UBC from LBC, loosen side clamps to remove
gel assembly for further analysis.

7 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
General Instructions
Leak Proof Sealing of Glass Plates
When casting acrylamide gels, we recommend using the upper buffer chamber (UBC) for the fixation of
glass plates and the casting base for plate sealing. The casting base is included in delivery or can be
purchased separately. In addition the Gel Caster is available for sealing glass plates and pouring gels while
the upper buffer chamber is used for electrophoresis. (see 'Technical Support and Ordering Information').
1. The upper buffer chamber (UBC) is attached to the lower buffer chamber (LBC) with a safety
interlocking pin and slot arrangement. The UBC may be removed for cleaning by sliding the pin out of
the slot in the center fixture of the LBC and lifting it out. For casting the gel remove the UBC and loosen
the black knobs and slide the side clamps sideways to the outermost position. The clamps will remain in
place once positioned due to the spring design.
2. Invert the casting base so that the black silicone mats face downward. Inverting the casting base is
essential for proper alignment of glass plates and spacers
before clamping them inside the UBC assuring perfect sealing
later on.
3. Place the UBC flat on the inverted casting base. Arrange a gel
assembly including a notched glass plate, side spaces and blank
glass plate onto the gasket of one side of the UBC, making sure
to place the notched plate next to the gasket (this will allow buffer
access to the gel during operation). Make sure that the bottom of
the glass plates and the spacers sit flat on the acrylic squares of
the inverted casting base. The usage of the Spacer Placer
facilitates the arrangement of the spacers. Slide the side clamps
over the assembly until the gasket of the UBC is slightly flattened
by the glass plates (do not over tighten).
Place a second gel assembly or the blocking plate on the other
side to create the upper buffer reservoir.
4. After aligning and clamping the glass plate assembly the UBC will be removed and the casting base has
to be turned around so that the black silicone mats are facing upward. Wet the silicone mats with e.g.
water or buffer to prolong their life span.

8 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
5. Place the UBC onto the casting base. Insert
the casting cams (with handles pointing up)
into the holes in the UBC. Simultaneously
turn cams one half turn to tighten the
assembly onto the silicone gaskets of the
casting base. The eccentric effect of the
cams presses the UBC and therefore the
lower angles of the glass plates downward
onto the silicone mats of the casting base.
6. Once the glass plates are secured into the casting base, the
gel may be poured. Take care to avoid air bubbles while
pouring the gel. Immediately after the gel is poured insert an
appropriate comb for the creation of wells.
There is no need to apply the casting base when using pre-
cast gels. Since glass or plastic plates of pre-cast gels are
often very thin take care not to over tighten the side camps
when fixing the gel assembly into the UBC.
Assembling the System and Electrophoresis
1. To reassemble, place the upper buffer chamber (UBC) into the lower buffer chamber (LBC) on the open
side of the slot in the center fixture of the LBC. Slide the UBC towards the center of the LBC until the
pins lock into the slot. This interlocking pin and slot arrangement guarantees a tighter fit of the UBC in
the LBC and allows a reproducibility of the electric conditions.
2. For cooling through a cold water tap or recirculator chiller, flexible lab tubing can get attached to each
hose barb on the UBC marked as 'in' and 'out'. The inner diameter of the adapters of the integrated
cooling system is 6 mm, the outer diameter is 9 mm. Note the marks indicating 'in' and 'out' at the
adapters to assure the right flow direction. Water flow should not exceed 2 L per minute for the water tap
and 12 L per minute for the recirculator.

9 VWR PerfectBlue Twin ver 1 10,5,2018
3. Add electrophoresis buffer to the UBC to approximately
5 mm from the top of the gel assemblies, making sure the
level is above the gap formed by the 'ears' of the notched
plate. Be sure that no buffer is leaking from the UBC to
the LBC.
4. Remove comb and rinse wells with buffer. Load samples
onto the gel.
5. Add buffer to the LBC to approximately 2-3 mm above
the base of the gel. The open bottom end of the gel
assembly should be in contact with buffer in order for
electrophoresis to take place.
6. Set the safety lid onto the unit. Because of its asymmetrical
design this will only work in the proper orientation, connecting
the electrode of the lower buffer reservoir (typically the
anode) with the red power cord and the electrodes of the
upper buffer reservoir (typically the cathodes) with the black
power cord.
7. For cooling, turn on the water and allow it to circulate through
the system. Water flow should not exceed 2 L per minute for
the water tap and 12 L per minute for the recirculator.
8. When water has started to circulate through the system,
connect the power cords to a power supply (red to red and
black to black) and start the run by defining an appropriate
voltage or current (see 'Technical properties').
9. Turn off power supply and water after the electrophoresis is
complete.
10. Remove the lid by pushing on the acrylic thumb pegs protruding through the lid on the top of the unit.
Slide and lift UBC from LBC and drain buffer chambers separately.
11. Loosen side clamps and remove gel assemblies to further proceed with analysis.
Cleaning
Lower buffer chamber, upper buffer chamber, silicone gaskets of the casting base, glass plates, spacers and
combs should get cleaned thoroughly under running water after use. Use a mild detergent to get rid of any
debris then rinse with distilled water to avoid formation of salt spots. It is recommended to allow the chamber
to air dry rather than drying with a towel to avoid damage to the electrode wires. Each part should get
completely dry before storage.
Do not use ethanol or other organic solvents to clean acrylic products, because organic solvents cause
acrylic to 'craze' or crack!