310 and 31xx Running Buffer, 10X - FAQs

Polymer in the syringe should be changed every three days. Do not return unused polymer to the bottle.

Buffer and water should be changed every 48 hours or, if the run lasts for more than 48 hours, after the run is complete.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

Base spacing is roughly defined as the number of scans per base. This value is directly related to the speed at which your samples are traveling through your polymer. The base spacing number will vary depending on the sample quality, capillary length, run module settings, polymer type, how long the polymer was on the system, electrophoresis buffer age, and environment. When you first start running samples, check the spacing to see what the average values are.

If the software is unable to determine the base spacing, it will give a best guess that will appear in red in the base spacing column. Usually this is either due to the data quality or a problem with the sample migration. If you notice the numbers fluctuating, check the following:

-Polymer expiration—if the polymer has expired, wash the block, syringe, and water/waste containers and replace.

-Polymer time on the system—the polymer should be in the syringe on the system for no more than a week. Polymer kept on the system longer than that may compromise the length of read and overall data quality.

-Electrophoresis buffer—the buffer is sold as a 10X concentrate and should be diluted to 1X prior to use. The 1X buffer is good for 1 month.

-Environment conditions—the instrument should be run at ambient temperature. Air flow can also affect migration. Make sure there are no fans, wind from an open window, or air vents blowing directly on the system.

-Sample quality—quantitate the template DNA prior to sequencing. After the sequencing reaction is done, clean the samples using one of the recommended procedures in the BigDye Terminator User Guide. If you are still getting poor results, run the Sequencing Standard as a sample to narrow the focus of your troubleshooting efforts. If the standard looks good, focus on the template and clean up procedures. If the standard looks bad, focus on the system.

If all of the above fail, please contact Thermo Fisher Scientific Technical Support for further assistance.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

“Leak detected” error messages can also occur when the piston on the pump moves further than expected during the movement of the pump. The usual cause for this is a leak on the system, usually due to either an improperly tightened or improperly threaded fitting or a broken capillary. However, if this is not observed, some of the other reasons are:

1. Valve stuck in open position
2. Large air bubble under the piston
3. Polymer:
- Wrong polymer type (e.g., instrument thinks it has POP-7 on it but it really has POP-4)
- Old/degraded polymer
4. Improper/no maintenance on the system

Inspect the system for leaks. If you do not see any leaks on the system, perform a water wash using the water wash wizard and place fresh, non-expired polymer and freshly made 1X Running Buffer on the system. If the problem persists, a service call may be required.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

Some of the other causes of an Unstable Electrophoresis current detected error message are:

1. Leak on the system
2. Polymer that:
-Has expired
-Has been left on the instrument for more than the recommended time
-Is a mixture of expired polymer and non-expired polymer
3. Using Running Buffer that was:
- Diluted to 1X incorrectly
- Swapped with the water position on the Autosampler deck
- On the instrument longer than 48 hours
- Not filled to the fill line or evaporated below the fill line
4. An arcing event that was not cleaned afterwards using the water wash wizard
5. Not performing regular maintenance on the instrument
6. Hardware issues

Inspect the system for leaks. If you do not see any leaks on the system, perform a water wash using the water wash wizard and place fresh, non-expired polymer and freshly made 1X Running Buffer on the system. If the problem persists, a service call may be required.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

If we do not specify the expiry date or number of uses, the warranty will last for 12 months from the date of shipment.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

Thermo Fisher Scientific can only provide warranty on performance on non-expired reagents. Using reagents past their expiration date is a risk and may compromise your data integrity.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

If the instrument is not in use, it is not necessary to replace the buffer every 2 - 3 days. However, the buffer level needs to remain at the fill line to prevent the capillary or array from drying out. Top off the buffer volume with water if necessary. Replace the anode and cathode buffer with freshly made 1X Running Buffer prior to starting a new run.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

For the Applied Biosystems 3130/3130xl Genetic Analyzer, the buffer can keep for 48 hours.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

If we do not specify the expiry date or number of uses, the warranty will last for 12 months from the date of shipment.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

Thermo Fisher Scientific can only provide warranty on performance on non-expired reagents. Using reagents past their expiration date is a risk and may compromise your data integrity.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

If the instrument is not in use, it is not necessary to replace the buffer every 2 - 3 days. However, the buffer level needs to remain at the fill line to prevent the capillary or array from drying out. Top off the buffer volume with water if necessary. Replace the anode and cathode buffer with freshly made 1X Running Buffer prior to starting a new run.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.

For the Applied Biosystems 310 Genetic Analyzer, the buffer can keep for 48 hours or 48 runs.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center.