Wash Tips (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)

Description

The Wash Tips (Bravo) () and Wash Tips (Vertical Pipetting Station) () tasks wash pipette tips using a number of aspirate and dispense actions.

 

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

Requirements

In Bravo Diagnostics or Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics, as applicable, ensure that at least one of the following is set up at the correct deck location or shelf and associated with a Pump Module.

•	Autofilling Reservoir

•	Tip Wash Station (also known as MicroWash Reservoir)

•	Open Wash Tray

Ensure that the protocol has a configured labware for the selected autofilling reservoir in addition to the other processes and configured labware required by the protocol.

Task parameters

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

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

 

 

 

 

Parameter	Description
Location, plate	The labware involved in the Wash Tips task.
Location, location	The location at which the Wash Tips 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.
Empty tips	The option to empty the entire contents of the pipette tips, including fluid and air. The Volume parameter is ignored if this option is selected.
Volume (µL)	The volume of liquid to be dispensed from each pipette tip.
Pre-aspirate volume (µL)	The volume of air to be drawn before the pipette tips enter the liquid.
Blowout volume (µL)	Specifies the volume of air to dispense after the main volume has been dispensed. Typically, the blowout volume is the same as the pre-aspirate volume. Note: Blowout only occurs in the last quadrant dispensed for a given dispense action.
Liquid class	The liquid class associated with this liquid. IMPORTANT To ensure consistent pipetting, always select a liquid class for liquid-handling tasks.
Mix cycles	The number of times you want to aspirate and dispense. Each cycle consists of one aspirate action and one dispense action.
Distance from well bottom (mm)	The distance between the end of the pipette tips and the well bottoms during the Wash Tips task. IMPORTANT The labware definition must be accurate and the teachpoint must be precise in order for the system to position the tips at the correct distance from the well bottom.
Dynamic tip extension (mm/(µL)	The rate at which the pipette head moves during the Wash Tips task. The software calculates the distance over which the tips will move without crashing. Use dynamic tip extension to prevent spills as the pipette tips displace the liquid. To move the tips: • At the same rate as the volume change. Calculate dynamic tip extension (DTE) as follows: DTE = (well depth)/(well vol) = 1/A, where A is the cross-sectional area of a well with straight walls • Faster than the volume change. DTE > 1/A • Slower than the volume change. DTE < 1/A The starting and ending positions can be calculated as follows: (Vdispensed * DTE) + Dwell bottom (Vaspirated * DTE) + Dwell bottom
Well selection	The wells at which the Wash Tips task occurs. Click in the parameter box, and then click the Browse button to select the wells in the Well Selection dialog box. Use this parameter only if the pipette head has fewer tips than the number of wells in the microplate, or if you are in single-row or single-column mode.
Perform tip touch	The option to touch the pipette tip on one or more sides of the well.
Which side to perform tip touch	The wall or walls for tip touch: North, South, East, West, North/South, West/East, West/East/South/North. If you also select the Dispense to waste during wash option, the tip touch is performed on the northeast side only.
Tip touch retract distance	The vertical distance the pipette tips rise before touching the sides of the wells.
Tip touch horizontal offset	The horizontal distance the tips move. The value is based on the well diameter specified by the labware definition. The value of the parameter determines the direction of movement: • 0. Tips move a horizontal distance equal to the well radius. • Great than 0. Tips attempt to move past the well radius, which results in a more forceful tip touch. • Less than 0. Tips move a distance less than the radius of the well, resulting in a lighter tip touch.
Pump fill speed (%)	The speed, in percent of maximum speed, of liquid flow into the reservoir. For the MicroWash Reservoir, this value should be high enough for the washing liquid to just bubble over the tops of the chimneys.
Pump empty speed (%)	The speed, in percent of maximum speed, of liquid flow out of the the reservoir. For the MicroWash Reservoir, this value should be slightly higher than that of the inflow pump to prevent an overflow.
Dispense to waste during wash	The option to move the tips by a specified offset (defined in the Labware Editor) and dispense used fluid outside of the reservoir chimney. This option applies only to reservoirs that have chimneys.
Dispense to waste at height (mm)	The height at which the dispense action occurs. For example, during the dispense action, the tips move up to clear the chimneys, move the offset distance, and then lower to the distance you specified. If you want the lower the tips by 10 mm, specify –10 mm.

 

 

Example: Wash the pipette tips after the liquid-handling tasks on the Bravo Platform

Goal

After some liquid-handling tasks, wash the pipette tips in preparation for reuse.

Implementation

In Bravo Diagnostics, set up the Tip Wash Station on a deck location. Associate the reservoir with one or more pump modules.

In the protocol, add a configured labware for the Tip Wash Station in addition to the other processes and configured labware required by the protocol. In the example shown, the configured reservoir is called Wash.

In the Bravo subprocess where the liquid-handling tasks are specified, a Wash Tips task is added at the end of a cycle of liquid-handling tasks.

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In the Wash Tips Task Parameters area, Wash (the name for the Tip Wash Station) is selected so that the task is performed in this labware.

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Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Adding devices	• Adding devices • Device user guide
Adding tasks in a protocol	Adding and deleting tasks
Aspirate task	Aspirate (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Dispense task	Dispense (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Set Head Mode task	Set Head Mode (Bravo)
Tips On task	Tips On (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Tips Off task	Tips Off (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
Pump Reagent task	Pump Reagent (Bravo, Vertical Pipetting Station)
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
I/O-handling tasks	Setting parameters for I/O-handling tasks