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If you are looking to prolong the life of your PCR machine, decrease downtime and avoid unwanted costs then this is the right blog for you, we have over 20 years of experience in PCR machine servicing, repairs and calibration and are a trusted name in the laboratory service industry, in this blog we will run through general maintenance and care to ensure you prolong the life of your PCR machine and prevent any unwanted down time.
Introduction
A PCR machine (polymerase chain reaction) also known as a thermal cycler is a piece of laboratory equipment used mainly for amplification of DNA samples, a PCR machine is an essential piece of equipment for any research laboratory.
PCR machines come in different block formations and may include multiple blocks for increased workload, most common being the 96 x 0.2ml single block machines.
Cleaning
As with most laboratory equipment you should ensure they are cleaned on a regular basis, using compressed air or a battery powered air gun you should clear any built up dust from the block wells, fan(s) and block heat sinks, not only will this ensure the PCR machine is running efficiently it may also prevent the machine from over heating and worst case causing unwanted damage to the main board or block from excessive heat/power demand.
Apply Isopropyl alcohol or 70% ethanol to a piece of tissue, clean the body of the PCR machine, around the block, the heated lid seal and heated lid (ensure heated lid is at ambient temperature), for touch screens cleaning avoid applying solution directly to the screen and ensure it is only applied to a tissue prior to cleaning.
Software
For software checks you should regularly check the error log and see if any errors have been picked up during runs and check/clear run logs periodically to prevent unnecessary memory being taken up, also ensure the time and date have been set correctly so you can easily identify run reports for your internal checks or faulty runs.
For models equip with internal cycle performance/self-test (Applied Biosystems, BIO-RAD, MJ-Research, Agilent Technologies etc.) these should be run periodically with a blank test plate, the machine will usually test the heating and cooling performance of the block and heating of the heated lid, the results will be reported at the end (pass or fail), this will ensure confidence that the machine is running as expected, if the machine fails then it is still better for it to have failed with a blank plate than a sample plate that could cost you time and money. If you are an accredited lab it is also good practice to set up a schedule for performing these tests, this will show good practise that you are monitoring the status of your research equipment.
For failed tests/error codes please contact Labcare Service or the manufacturer for additional help and support.
Inspection
General inspection of the casing, lid mechanism, air vents and power lead to ensure there are no damages or blockages, ensure their is adequate ventilation around the PCR machine.
Most lid mechanism issues occur from over tightening of the heated lid or forcing a lid closed when there is a blockage or a plate is not seated correctly, we see this mostly with the Applied Biosystems Veriti's (older blue version) and the PCRmax's.
Usage
On a number of occasions we have had to strip down and repair water logged blocks where a user has left a 4 °C program on for a long period of time with the lid open, a block at 4 °C will attract moisture from the atmosphere and this can sometimes make its way inside the block shorting out sensors and peltier’s, we recommend having a final hold step of 10 °C instead or ensuring you run a 15 minute incubate at 90 °C after a long 4 °C run to help dry the block out.
Calibration
It is important to have your PCR machine calibrated to verify the set temperatures are within the manufacturers specification and that your samples are not being compromised by poor performance, we understand this is a high importance so we include a static block temperature calibration in all of our preventative maintenance/services instead of keeping a service and calibration separate meaning a higher cost for customers.
We are UKAS accredited to ISO 17025 for static block temperature calibrations giving you confidence in our work. A block temperature calibration will verify your PCR machine’s performance, adhere to any laboratory audits/accreditations and highlight any issues before they become an unexpected cost giving you time to resolve the issue and plan ahead.
Summary
We have summed up the key points mentioned as well as a downloadable bullet point maintenance and care information sheet (below) which we advise placing on the wall near your PCR machine(s), if you are receiving a PM/Service by us please feel free to ask for a copy and we will ensure one of our engineers has a laminated copy with them to leave after their visit.
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