WATSON PCR User manual

Introduction
This manual describes the operating instructions for WATSON and includes installation,
operation, and maintenance
Description
The WATSON is a cost-effective solution for PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a DNA
amplification technique in which few copies of DNA can be replicated to create trillion of
copies in less than 90 minutes In PCR, the starting DNA is repeatedly heated and
cooled about 40 times in the presence of an enzyme and buffers to synthesize new DNA
The instrument consists of a 4 well heating block and a heated lid The temperature is
programmable between 30 and 105 °C with ± 0 1°C precision The resistive heating and
air forced cooling systems are controlled by a PID algorithm for cyclical heating/cooling
of the heating block The WATSON’s heating ramp rate is rated at 4 ± 0 5 degrees/sec
The heating block is cooled by a 5 CFM (cubic feet per minute) capacity cooling fan
producing 2 ± 0 5 degrees/sec cooling ramp time The heated lid prevents water
condensation during sample heating step
Power is delivered to WATSON by a USB type C port Either USB AC wall adapter or
USB power bank can power the device The 10Ah power bank that comes with the
device will enable the user to run 4 full PCR assays without charging
WATSON is operated by a 4-positioned DIP switch It does not require a computer or a
mobile phone for operation It can store up to 16 different PCR programs in its flash
memory Users will need to alter DIP switch patterns to select the recommended PCR
program for each individual assay specified in the manual The machine comes with 16
default programs preloaded that can cover almost all assays that can be run on
WATSON Nevertheless, users can alter all programs using a desktop based software
WATSON can operate in a harsh environment Its plastic housing and mechanical
components are manufactured with material that can resist high temperature, chemicals
and high impact
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Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Safety Warning Labels
Warning labels on the instrument and in this manual warn you about sources of harm
The warning labels are:
Icon Meaning
CAUTION: Risk of danger!
CAUTION: Risk of electrical shock!
CAUTION: Hot surface! This symbol identifies components that pose
a risk of personal injury due to excessive heat if improperly handled
Safety Compliance
This instrument complies with applicable clauses of the requirement for the following
safety standards:
Applicable clauses of IEC 61010-1:2001 Safety Requirements for Electrical
Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use, Part 1: General
Requirements
Applicable clauses of IEC 61010-2-020: 2003 Safety Requirements for
Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory
Use, Part 2: Particular Requirements for Laboratory Equipment for
the Heating of Materials
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Instrument setup
• The WATSON package includes one WATSON (Figure 1), one 5V 3A ACE
power adaptor, one USB power bank, One Micro USB to USB Cable for data
• Remove all packaging materials and place WATSON on a dry, flat surface
with sufficient air flow for cooling
Figure 1: WATSON external and internal parts
Operaon
• Plug the USB power bank or the USB-C AC power adaptor into the USB
type C port on WATSON Both green and the blue lights should turn ON which
place the machine into the STANDBY mode for accepting samples The blue
LED is for power and the green LED is for the STANDBY mode
• Setup the reagent system for amplifying a particular nucleic acid target by
following the manual that came with the kit for target detection
• Open the lid of WATSON Place small PCR test tubes vertically into the
wells
• Close the lid
• Alter the position of dip switches to choose the program to use 16
different programs that are stored in the instrument has a unique combination of
switch position Please consult the manual that comes with WATSON Reagent
Kit to choose the correct dip switch pattern
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• Press the RUN button next to the LEDs on WATSON to start the program
The red LED will start flashing to indicate that the machine is running
◦When WATSON is running DO NOT OPEN the lid as it will be hot and
would interfere with the run It is also a burn hazard
• After the program is completed, the LEDs will switch back to solid blue
and green Solid blue and green indicates that the program is completed and is in
the STANDBY mode
Editing Programs.
Note that WATSON comes preloaded with almost all the programs necessary for
running any tests Nevertheless, in case that you need to change stored programs,
follow these steps
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• Download the WATSON software into your computer from the WATSON
website (www WATSONPCR com)
• Connect WATSON to power supply via USB-C
• Connect WATSON to a computer via a Micro USB-B cable using the micro
USB port The LEDs should be solid blue and green
• Open the WATSON software and verify on the bottom left of the Main
interface window that the device is connected
• Choose which program to alter by changing the Program N mber or by
altering the dip switch patterns on WATSON or on the dip switch icon on the main
program interface
• Alter temperature and duration of each step by selecting the desired box
and changing the numbers Programmable temperature for the plate range from
30°C to 100°C
• The planned program will be shown on the graph on the main interface
and the plot will update when alterations are made to time and temperature
parameters The
•Prep Stage: Step 1 and 2: Mostly needed for denat ring DNA
templates or converting RNA into DNA For converting RNA to DNA, this
stage will require two steps, one for the enzyme reaction and the other for
destroying the enzyme by heat Otherwise, only one step is required during the
prep stage
•R n Stage: Step 3, 4, and 5: This stage is the main cycling program to
amplify samples The run stage can be either two steps or three steps PCR “x”
symbol delete steps and “+” symbol adds steps Most PCR can be completed
by a two stage reaction
•Hold Stage: Step 6 and 7: This stage is to ensure that the device cools
off to room temperature or remains at a set desired temperature
•N mber of Cycles sets the amount of cycles WATSON will undergo of
during the Run Stage Typical cycle numbers are 35-40
•Lid Temperat re sets the temperature that will be maintained by heated
lid plate throughout the duration of the program Temperature range is between
30°C and 105°C A heated lid will prevent water condensation into the lid of the
test tube which is undesirable
• After all steps have their temperature and time parameters set, select
STORE b tton to upload the program to WATSON This process will also will
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overwrite any previously stored programs in the selected dip switch pattern
• Choose a new program number and repeat these steps
◦Marely switching program numbers will not update the program to what is
currently stored on the new number It will maintain the most recently
stored program until changes are made and STORE button is pressed
• Selecting READ (for c rrent settings) will display what program is
currently stored for a particular dip switch patten in WATSON
◦All programs that are stored in WATSON can be accessed by selecting the
program number of a dip switch pattern and pressing the READ button.
◦If no program is stored for the dip switch combination the program will
say that the current program is empty
• Close the application and disconnect WATSON from the computer once
the programming is completed
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Real Time Temperature Tracking
• Connect WATSON to the computer by using the micro USB cable
• Plug a power supply to WATSON
• Flip the dip switches in WATSON to the desired patten
• Load the WATSON with assay tubes and press RUN
• The top right corner of the interface shows the lid and plate temperature
• The top left corner shows the estimated run time for the PCR program
• The red and blue circles on the graph tracks lid and heating block
parameters during the PCR run
• The PRINT button prints or saves PDF of all stored PCR programs
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LED Message
Color Meaning
Solid Blue and Green Device is powered and ready to run- STANDBY
mode
Solid Blue and Blinking Red Device is currently running; surface of the device
may be hot!
Solid Blue and Red Device has encountered a problem, please contact
technical support
Solid Blue and Blinking Green
and Red
A run was attempted to start on a dip switch
position with no stored program
Solid Blue and Green and
Blinking Red
Device is cooling down after PCR has completed
Blinking Green and Red Device has encountered a temperature problem,
please contact technical support
Dip Switc Settings
Figure 4: Dip Switch with all switches down indicating it is in Program .
The WATSON has the ability to store 16 different PCR programs The different
programs are represented by dip switch positioning Each unique position of the
switches represents a different program that has been uploaded on WATSON
Following dipswitch patterns are factory defa lts. Users can change these
pattens to desired program n mber.
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Program N mber Dip Switch Description
(Numbers refer to switches
in dip switch, Figure ?)
Dip Switch
0Up: None
Down: All
1Up: 1
Down: 2,3,4
2Up: 2
Down: 1,3,4
3Up: 1,2
Down: 3,4
4Up: 3
Down: 1,2,4
5Up: 1,3
Down: 2,4
6Up: 2,3
Down: 1,4
7Up: 1,2,3
Down: 4
8Up: 4
Down: 1,2,3
9Up: 1,4
Down: 2,3
10 Up: 2,4
Down: 1,3
11 Up: 1,2,4
Down: 3
12 Up: 3,4
Down: 1,2
13 Up: 1,3,4
Down: 2
14 Up: 2,3,4
Down: 1
15 Up: All
Down:
None
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Troubleshoong
Iss e How to fix/Reason
Error pop-up appears when trying to READ
current settings
Ensure all Dip switches are fully up or down
and try again Most likely the program is
actually empty so store a new program onto
the setting and read again to verify upload
Error LEDs when trying to start a run Check to make sure the selected program
is not empty, and if so upload desired
program and run once ready
Device does not show up as connected on
WATSON software
Totally disconnect WATSON from power
and connection to the computer Quit the
software and reconnect WATSON to power
and to the computer and reopen the
software
Maintenance
Prior to doing any maintenance, please unplug power supply from WATSON
Cleaning is recommended before every run Wear gloves and apply 1% Bleach to a
microfiber cloth and gently wipe the surface to destroy any DNA left on the machine
Safe maintenance and inspection is permitted such as cleaning dust on the hardware
Do not attempt to change any software, firmware, or any mechanical piece of the
device If any hardware or function is broken or malfunctions, please contact
customer support for replacement information
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Product Specification
Model WATSON 4-well
Dimensions (W x D x H) 39mm x 68 mm x 88 mm
Weight 80 g
Supply Voltage 5V
Supply Current 3A
Rated Load 15W
Insulation Class I (Earth)
Pollution Degree II
Degree of Protection IP30
Reaction Volumes 10-50 µl
Runtime 45-60 min for 3-step s 30-40 cycles PCR
Sample Format 4 wells plate; PCR tubes 200 ul capacity
Thermocycling System Resistive Heating, Forced-Air Cooling
Programmable Plate Temperature range 30-105 °C
Programmable Lid Temperature range 30-105 °C
Temperature Accuracy ± 0 1 °C of programmed target temperature
Maximum Ramp Rate Heating 4°C/s
Maximum Ramp Rate Cooling 2 °C/s
Ports USB type-C, Micro-USB
Housing Material Polycarbonate
Operational Interface 4-positioned DIP switch
Store up to 16 different programs
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Contact Information
For technical support, please contact: Microbiologique
Telephone: [phone] and [phone]
Technical support: Watson@Nanocycler com
Disclaimer
MICROBIOLOGIQUE, INC (MICROBIO) MAKES NO CLAIMS, REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF
THIS PRODUCT BUYER'S SOLE REMEDY FOR DEFECTIVE MATERIALS IS REPLACEMENT IN NO
EVENT
SHALL MICROBIO BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOVER OR EXPENSES ARISING OUT OF OR
CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS PRODUCT
Manufactured by Microbiologique, Inc
8315 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
USA
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