Tips Off (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)

Description

The Tips Off (Bravo) () and Tips Off (Vertical Pipetting Station) tasks () remove disposable pipette tips from the pipette heads that are compatible with disposable tips.

 

Task is available for...	Task is available in...
Bravo Platform	Main Protocol, Bravo Subprocess
Vertical Pipetting Station	Main Protocol, Vertical Pipetting Station Subprocess

Options in the Tips On and Tips Off tasks permit tracking of pipette tip usage during and across protocol runs. In addition, an option in the Tips Off task allows you to reuse pipette tips for a portion of the protocol run. If the Bravo Platform is configured with a trash accessory, you can discard of used pipette tips at the trash location.

Requirements

Tracking tips in serial dilution tasks

In addition to selecting the tracking option in the Tips On and Tips Off tasks, you must also turn on the tracking in the Serial Dilution Wizard. For more detailed information, see Serial Dilution (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station).

Tracking tips across different protocols

If you want to track pipette tip usage across different protocols that contain Bravo and Vertical Pipetting Station Subprocesses, make sure:

•	The protocols reference the same device file.

•	The tip boxes are at the same physical locations.

•	In the software, the tip boxes are configured at the same locations across the protocols.

Note: When a set of tipboxes are designated as a process plate, tip usage is tracked during the protocol run. At the end of a run, the software resets the tipbox to the original state. The software assumes that in each subsequent run, you will load tipboxes in the original state before the run.

Task parameters

Note: The task parameters for Tips Off (Bravo) and Tips Off (Vertical Pipetting Station) are similar.

After adding the Tips Off task at the desired point in the protocol, set the following parameters in the Task Parameters area:

 

 

Parameter	Description
Location, plate	The labware involved in the Tips Off task.
Location, location	The location at which the Tips Off task occurs. <auto-select> automatically places the labware at the first-available or appropriate location for the task. If accessories are installed on the deck or shelf, the software uses the accessory configuration information in Bravo Diagnostics or Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics to determine the correct location for the task.
Allow automatic tracking of tip usage	The option to allow the software to track pipette tip usage during the protocol run or across different protocol runs. When you start the run, the software will determine the positions to use in the tipbox. If you select the option in this task, you must also select the option in the Tips On task. If you do not select this option, you must specify the positions to use in the tip box using the Well selection parameter.
Mark tips as used	The option to use only new pipette tips during the protocol run. Select the option so that the software counts the number of tips used during the protocol run. The tips that have been used once are marked as used so that they cannot be picked up and reused. Clear the check box so that during the next Tips On task, the same tips can be reused.
Well selection	The well positions to use for the Tips Off task. This parameter is available only for manual tracking of pipette tips.

Example: Change tips during liquid-handling tasks on the Bravo Platform

Goal

Add reagents from two source microplates into a destination microplate. Change tips between source microplate 1 and source microplate 2 to prevent contaminating the source microplates.

Implementation

In the liquid-handling subprocess, add a Tips Off task after each Dispense task as shown.

 

Because the tips are removed at a Tips Off tipbox, the Tips Off tipbox is selected in the Tips Off Task Parameters area.

I

Example: Discard pipette tips at Bravo trash location

Goal

Bravo Platform only. Dispose of used pipette tips in a trash container.

Implementation

1	In the device file, configure the Trash or Filter Plate Holder accessory in the Bravo profile. For details, see the Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform User Guide.

IMPORTANT The Trash or Filter Plate Holder accessory can be installed at Bravo deck location 4 or 6 only.

2	Ensure that the Labware Editor includes an entry for Tip Trash that is associated with the Base Class: Tip trash bin. For details on the Labware Editor, see the VWorks Automation Control Setup Guide.

Figure. Tip trash bin base class option in the Labware Editor dialog box

 

3	In the protocol, ensure the Bravo SubProcess includes a static labware configuration for Tip Trash. For details on configuring labware, see Configuring labware.

4	To remove the tips at the Bravo trash location, ensure that Tip Trash is selected in the Tips Off Task Parameters area.

The following figure shows a simple protocol where all the labware in the subprocess, as well as the Tip Trash are configured as static labware.

 

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Tips On task	Tips On (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Serial Dilution task	Serial Dilution (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Adding devices	• Adding devices • Device user guide
Adding tasks in a protocol	Adding and deleting tasks
Microplate-handling tasks	Setting parameters for microplate-handling tasks
Microplate-storage tasks	Setting parameters for microplate storage tasks
Scheduling tasks	Setting parameters for scheduling tasks
Setting up the Bravo Platform	Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform User Guide