SeqStudio™ Flex Genetic Analyzer 8-Capillary Array, 36 cm, 1 array - FAQs

The SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzer capillary arrays have a new array frame which provides better support for the capillaries and a tab near the array tip which makes it easier to insert into the array knob.

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

The SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzer capillary arrays are warrantied for a specific number of runs or until the expiration date printed on the array package, whichever comes first. If you notice that you are starting to get reduced data quality (e.g., shorter reads, trailing peaks in all 4 colors) even with the Sequencing Standard, these may be signs that the capillary array requires changing.

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

No, the capillary arrays for the 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers and the arrays for the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers are not interchangeable.

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

You can request assistance from Technical Support or Instrument Service on the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers via the Smart Help function. In order to use this function, access to Thermo Fisher Connect must be enabled. You can also contact Technical Support at techsupport@thermofisher.com or Service Support at instrumentsupport@thermofisher.com.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer instrument will not run unless the required amount of space is available to save the results on the instrument. To free up space on the hard drive, you will need to delete the run histories. We recommend that you first export the results before deleting them as the process is irreversible. At the home screen, tap Actions > Run history. Select the plates that you want to delete. Tap Delete > OK to confirm.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

You can move the CBC by using the Manual commands. Tap on Dashboard > Instrument Status > Manual commands. Select Move buffer container > Send command. Once the CBC is no longer beneath the array with the tips inserted, close the Manual commands screen. You will now have access to the array and CBC.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

If the SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer touchscreen becomes unresponsive, press the power on/off button on the front of the instrument to restart the instrument. If the touchscreen is still unresponsive after the reboot, contact Technical Support at techsupport@thermofisher.com.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

If the SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer instrument panel is blinking amber, you should restart the instrument.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The desktop secondary analysis software versions that are compatible with the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers are:

- Sequencing Analysis Software v7.1 or later
- SeqScape Software v4.1 or later
- Variant Reporter Software v3.1 or later
- Minor Variant Finder Software v1.2 or later
- MicrobeBridge Software v1.2 or later
- GeneMapper Software v6.1 or later

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The SeqStudio Flex plate holder can hold up to 4 plates, corresponding to positions A, B, C, and D on the home screen of the software. When a plate is running, the console will display the status “Running” as well as the Time remaining on the run in the plate position. If a run has completed, the status “Completed” would be displayed with a glowing border around the plate position.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

By default, the SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzersare configured to allow the use of consumables beyond the expiration date and on-instrument shelf life. However, there are a couple of exceptions. The conditioning reagent is a single-use consumable. In the case of polymer, insufficient volume in the polymer pouch will prevent the run from starting. An administrator can change the configuration to prevent running if a consumable has expired or exceeded its on-instrument life. Please note that we do not recommend using consumables that exceed supported limits.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

You can open the drawer at any time when the drawer is unlocked. When the drawer is unlocked, the screen will display “Drawer unlocked.” During sample injection, the drawer is locked, and the message displayed will be “Drawer locked.”

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzer plate retainers have one opening on the side to allow barcode reading while the 3500 plate retainers have two openings on the side which can cover the plate barcode. If the automatic barcode workflow is enabled on the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzer, using the 3500 plate retainers will cause a barcode error in the home screen.

96-Well Standard Retainer & Base Set SeqStudio Flex Series: Cat. No. A49316
96-Well Fast Retainer & Base Set SeqStudio Flex Series: Cat. No. A49495
8-Tube Standard Retainer & Base Set SeqStudio Flex Series: Cat. No. A49296
8-Tube Fast (0.1 mL) Retainer & Base Set SeqStudio Flex Series: Cat. No. A49298
384-Well Retainer & Base Set SeqStudio Flex Series: Cat. No. A49496

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

No, the arrays for the 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers cannot be used on the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers. The SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzercapillary array SKUs are listed below:

- Capillary array 36‑cm SeqStudio 8 Flex: Cat. No. A49104
- Capillary array 50‑cm SeqStudio 8 Flex: Cat. No. A49106
- Capillary array 36‑cm SeqStudio 24 Flex: Cat. No. A49105
- Capillary array 50‑cm SeqStudio 24 Flex: Cat. No. A49107

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

Consumables that are shared between the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers and the 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers include the Performance-Optimized-Polymer (POP), Anode Buffer Container (ABC), Cathode Buffer Container (CBC), and Conditioning Reagent.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

There is no requirement to purchase a computer in order to run the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers. The Data Collection software is installed on the instrument. However, using secondary analysis software to analyze data and/or to run the Security, Audit, and Esignature (SAE) modules will require an additional computer.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

To power on the instrument, press the power on/off button on the front of the instrument. Make sure that the blue status light is on. To shut down the instrument, press the power button to turn off the instrument. If the instrument is idle for greater than 2 weeks, perform a long-term shutdown by following the Shut Down Wizard.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The specifications for the SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers are:

Dimensions (W x D x H): 70 x 67.5 x 86.5 cm (uncrated)
Weight: ~115 kg
Number of Capillaries: 8 (Cat. No. A53627) or 24 (Cat. No. A53630)
Number of Dyes: 6
Sample Format: 96-well standard plates, 384-well standard plates, 96-well fast plates, 8-well standard strip tubes, and 8-well fast strip tubes

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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

The SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer System is a medium-throughput fluorescence-based capillary electrophoresis system that is offered in two models. The SeqStudio 8 Flex Genetic Analyzer (Cat. No. A53627) holds the 8-capillary array and the SeqStudio 24 Flex Genetic Analyzer (Cat. No. A53630) holds the 24-capillary array. The available array lengths are 36 cm and 50 cm. The SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer instruments use the Applied Biosystems SeqStudio Flex Genetic Analyzer Data Collection Software (SeqStudio Flex DCS) which resides on the instrument.

Features include:

- Onboard touchscreen computer
- 4 plate loading capacity and prioritization
- Automated barcode workflow
- Cloud connectivity capabilities enabling remote monitoring and remote plate file creation
- Voice commands
- Smart Help on-instrument support request
- Remote session capabilities

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our SeqStudio Flex Series Genetic Analyzers Support Center.

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