ABI PRISM 3700 Instrument-Hardware-Error … an error interrupted the wizard than the system could have either polymer only, water only or a mixture of both in the cuvette, array and

ABI PRISM® 3700 Instrument-Hardware-Error Messages This module is intended to provide recommended actions for the most commonly seen error messages on the instrument. Although other error messages may be seen, the errors listed are those that have recommended actions that can be addressed by the user. These errors cause a flashing red light. It will be necessary to restart the instrument before starting another run but only after capturing the log files. Please contact technical support if you have any questions regarding the document. Text in blue indicates a link to another portion of the document or another document. Robot Errors Observation

Possible Cause

Recommended Action

Initialization error

Restart the 3700 Instrument and Data Collection Software. Verify that the foil is not wrinkled and is sitting flat against the plate. Verify that only one layer of foil is on the plate. Use the recommended foil tape.

3M Scotch Tape 431 without backing paper 3M Scotch Tape 439 with backing paper

Foil could not be pierced.

Foil

Fangs on tip straightener

Check the tip straightener and verify that it is on securely. Clean the piercer fangs and Autoloader tips with a lint-free lab tissue moistened with isopropanol daily. Verify that autoloader tips are screwed in securely

Galil controller motion error

Autoloader tips

Loose Bent

Install new autoloader tips.

Hardware Hardware Error Messages Page 1 of 16

Find plate deck error during T0,T1,T3,T4,T5,T6,or T8 capacitance touch

Residue from dirt or liquids on the plate deck

Clean the plate deck of any residue, specifically the calibration pads.

Motion error during move to sample

Or Motion error during move to sample downward movement

Or Find edge error during move to sample bottom search

Improperly seated sample plate

Verify that tray is seated properly and that the wells are not malformed, check well depth.

Pressure Errors Observation

Possible Cause

Recommended Action

Waste tubing is crimped or clogged

Verify that the waste tubing is not pinched or crimped.

Unable to attain required vacuum in waste plenum

Or Unable to attain required air pressure in waste plenum

Plenum is full

Run the Plenum Purge Service Module through Data Collection.

Verify that the sheath flow syringe is attached until finger tight.

Leaking sheath flow syringe

Prime sheath flow syringe using Change Syringe Wizard. Check for signs of polymer leakage at the detection end of the array. Removal of the array may be necessary. Verify that the array O-ring is positioned correctly. Replace the O-ring if necessary.

FMCuvetteBlock Object: Unable to attain pressure from 8 syringes of fluid

Capillary array is not installed properly

Verify that the array thumb screws are finger tight


Inline filter clogged

Prime and replace filter

Verify that the sheath flow syringe is vertically aligned to the pump. The barrel should not be at an angle to the pump.

If error was generated while running Change Syringe Wizard, replace syringe and verify that it is screwed in correctly and rerun the Wizard.

Syringe misalignment

Run Remove Array Wizard when removing the array from the instrument.

FMSheathPump Object: Receiving bad pump status: plunger overload

Higher viscosity fluid than expected (usually occurs during an Install Array wizard when RemoveArray was not run or an error occurred during the wizard)

The appropriate module will need to be run so that the correct fluid is in the system before restarting the Array wizards. Refer to the determining modules section. Verify that the sheath flow syringe is attached until finger tight.

Possible syringe leakage

Prime the sheath flow syringe using Change Syringe Wizard.

FMSheathPump Object: Receiving bad pump status: Invalid Operand

More polymer is being dispensed than is actually aspirated in the sheath flow syringe. Typically seen when the run time has been increased.

If the run module has been edited to increase the run time it is important to also increase the sheath flow volume. Sheath Flow volume (in counts) must be greater than the sum of Run Time (in seconds) + Data Delay Time (in seconds) + 500(Can be decreased. The value is a cushion that will ensure that there is enough polymer in the syringe in the event that leakage is present.)


Installing a tip straightener Refer to page 9-25 of the ABI Prism® 3700 DNA Analyzer User Guide for more information. Step 1: CAUTION: PHYSICAL INJURY HAZARD. Handle the tip straightener carefully. The sharp fangs of the tip straightener may cut your

fingers or your hands. Taking care to avoid the sharp fangs, hold the tip straightener firmly between your index finger and thumb.

Step 2: Position yourself so that your eyes are level with the tip housing. Step 3: Steady the tip housing with your other hand, and manipulate the tip straightener loosely into the autoloader tip housing while aligning the:

♦Spring clip with the groove on the tip straightener ♦Autoloader tips with the autoloader tip “V”s Note This is awkward to do at first, but it becomes easier with practice.

Step 4: Firmly push the tip straightener upwards until the bottom of the spring clip is positioned at the bottom of the groove. When the tip

straightener is correctly positioned, the three metal locating pins should be pressed into matching recesses behind the tip housing. These help to hold the tip straightener in place and provide a positive click when the home position is reached.

Step 5: Check the position of the autoloader tips in the autoloader tip “V” as you manually move the tip straightener up and down. IMPORTANT The tips should press firmly against the angle of the “V”.


Autoloader Tips and Piercing fangs Autoloader tips

Tips should be wiped in a downward direction to prevent clogging during cleaning. Piercer fangs Adhesive from the foil can build up on the fangs, clean if any buildup is observed. Verify that the piercing fangs are not loose. Refer to HInstalling a tip straightenerH.

Plate Deck

Note the areas that are circled. The presence of any residue in these locations can result in an instrument error.
Hardware Hardware Error Messages
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Running service modules within Data Collection V2.0 Software Step 1: Go to the Instrument pull down menu> Select Utilities > Select Run Service Module Step 2: Click the Select Module button


The service module utility should automatically search the Service Modules Folder, if not the folder can be found in the D://AppliedBio/Support Files/Data Collection Support Files/ Service Modules.

Double click on the module, PlenumPurge.mod.


You Selected the module file PlenumPurge.mod The module selected should be listed.

Select Run Method.

D:\AppliedBio\SupportFiles\Data Collection Support files\Service Modules\PlenumPurge.mod Method Execution Has Successfully Finished.


When this window appears the module has completed, if there is an error during the module, please contact technical support.

Sheath Flow syringe and pump Areas of possible leaks are identified by red arrows. Note the vertical position of the syringe to the pump, the barrel should not be at an angle.

Minimal leakage. Syringe may still be used but should be cleaned regulary and monitored. If problems persists, change syringe.

More severe leakage. Replace syringe.

Port : From syringe to cuvette

Dried polymer appears as a white residue inside of the barrel. If present the dried polymer acts as an abrasive against the plunger and can damage the seal to the glass barrel. If the seal is damaged, bubbles can be introduced at this stage. Replace the syringe using the Change syringe wizard.

Port 8: From polymer bottle to syringe


Change syringe wizard Refer to page 9-15 of the ABI Prism® 3700 DNA Analyzer User Guide for more information. The Change Syringe wizard guides you through the procedures for installing, removing, or changing one of the four pump syringes. Before you begin the Change Syringe wizard, make sure that you: ♦Gather all of the replacement parts you need. ♦Have a supply of isopropanol. ♦Have lab tissues in which to wrap the old parts. Step 1: From the Instrument menu of the 3700 Data Collection software, select Wizards and select Change Syringe.

.

This starts the Change Syringe wizard


Step 2: Follow the directions in the wizard.

Detection end of array

Check the area for any polymer leaks, if present remove the array and clean the area of polymer. Clean with a lint free tissue moistened with DI water. See below to check the o-ring.

Thumbscrews should be tightened until finger tight


Checking the o-ring Step 1: While holding the detection-end base in front of you:

a. Pull the tip-cover clips laterally. b. Carefully slide the tip cover downwards to expose the tips and O-ring.

IMPORTANT With the cover retracted, the fragile ends of the capillaries are exposed. Any trauma to the tips, such as pressure from fingers during handling, will cause the tips to break and make the array unusable.

The o-ring should fit snugly within the groove. If there is any polymer, clean with a lint free tissue moistened with DI water.


Inline Filter Priming the inline filter

♦ After installing the filter, run the CuvetteFlush module. This module will flush the lines, filter and cuvette with polymer and purge bubbles from the cuvette.
Hardware Hardware Error Messages
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Determining Modules for the FMSheathPump Object: Receiving bad pump status: Plunger overload When differences in expected fluid viscosity result in the above error they are typically due to the Remove Array wizard or Install array wizard previously aborting midway and the wizard being restarted. Unfortunately the fluids in the system are no longer what the wizard expects and the instrument errors. In order to determine how to proceed, read the information below. Remove Array Wizard The remove array wizard presumes that polymer is in the cuvette, array and tubing. After successfully completing the wizard, water will replace the polymer. If an error interrupted the wizard than the system could have either polymer only, water only or a mixture of both in the cuvette, array and tubing. It is necessary to have the correct fluids in the system before starting the Install Array wizard as the wizards expect a certain viscosity in the three locations above.

♦If the wizard has only polymer in the system, restart the Remove Array Wizard. ♦If the wizard has only water in the system, proceed with the Install Array Wizard. ♦If the wizard stopped in the middle, both water and polymer may be in the system. Run the POPtoWater.mod service module, this will

replace the polymer in the lines with water and after completion start the Install Array Wizard. If the error returns, “FMSheathPump Object: Receiving bad pump status: Plunger overload error” than water may have been in the system. Run the WatertoPOP.mod service module and after completion restart the Remove Array Wizard.

♦If problem persists, please contact technical support. Install Array Wizard The install array wizard presumes that water is in the cuvette, array and tubing. After successfully completing the wizard, polymer will replace the water. If an error interrupted the wizard than the system could have either polymer only, water only, nitric acid or a mixture in the cuvette, array and tubing. It is necessary to have the correct fluids in the system before starting the Install Array wizard as the wizards expect a certain viscosity in the three locations above. Visually check the nitric acid bottle, if it still full than water is still in the system. If the nitric acid bottle is empty the instrument could have any of the fluids in the line.

♦If the wizard has only polymer in the system, restart the Remove Array Wizard. ♦If the wizard has only water or nitric acid in the system, proceed with the Install Array Wizard. ♦If the wizard stopped in the middle, both water, nitric acid and polymer may be in the system. Run the WatertoPOP.mod service module,

this will replace the polymer in the lines with water and after completion start the Install Array Wizard. If the error returns, “FMSheathPump Object: Receiving bad pump status: Plunger overload error”, the run may already have polymer in the system. If this is the case run the CuvetteFlush.mod service module to flush the bubbles from the system. After completion, start a run.

♦If problem persists, please contact technical support.


Log files Before restarting the 3700 instrument and computer, make a copy of the log files and place them in another location as they will be overwritten upon the restart of Data Collection. The log files are in the following location D:\AppliedBio\3700\DataCollection, there will be three log files for the run, two- DebugConsole.logs, and one log file.


Restarting the 3700 DNA Analyzer IMPORTANT To prevent firmware and software memory problems, we recommend that you restart the instrument and the software once a week. To shut down and restart the instrument: Step 1: The instrument should not be running or extracting data. Step 2: Close the 3700 Data Collection software by selecting Shutdown from the File menu. Note You cannot use the Close button to exit the software. Step 3: Close the OrbixWeb Daemon software by right-clicking on its button in the taskbar and selecting Close from the pop-up menu. If you get

a run-time message, click OK to close the message. IMPORTANT Do not shut down the OrbixWeb™ Daemon until after you have shut down the Data Collection program. Step 4: Restart the computer. After logging in, OrbixWeb™ Daemon should have automatically launched. Do not start Data Collection at this

time. Step 5:

a. Turn off the instrument using the On/Off button.

b. Wait 30 seconds. c. Turn on the instrument.

Step 6: When the green status light is steady, wait 1 minute. Step 7: Restart the 3700 Data Collection software. Contacting Technical Support By phone: 1-800-831-6844, option 5 By email: [email protected]


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ABI PRISM 3700 Instrument-Hardware-Error … an error interrupted the wizard than the system could have either polymer only, water only or a mixture of both in the cuvette, array and