When do I need to calibrate the 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System?
Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Power on/off the computer controlling the instrument: Weekly
Check computer disk space. If necessary, archive or back up your experiment files and instrument settings: Weekly
Run disk cleanup and disk defragmentation: Every month
Background calibration: Every month
Perform an instrument self test: Every month
Pure dye calibrations: Every 6 months
RNaseP instrument verification: After the instrument has been moved, or as needed to verify instrument performance
Can I use my 7900HT System RNase P instrument verification plates with both the 7900HT System and the QuantStudio 6 and 7 Flex Real-Time PCR Systems?
Only the TaqMan RNase P Instrument Verification Plate, Fast 96-well (for 0.1 mL block) (Cat. No. 4351979) is compatible with both the 7900HT System and the QuantStudio 6 and 7 Flex Real-Time PCR Systems. The following RNase P instrument verification plates can be used on the 7900HT System, but not on the QuantStudio 6 and 7 Flex Real-Time PCR Systems:
• TaqMan RNase P Instrument Verification Plate, 96-well (Cat. No. 4310982) (for 96-well standard block)
• TaqMan RNase P Instrument Verification Plate for 7900HT System, 384-well (Cat. No. 4323306) (for 384-well block)
• 7900HT TaqMan Low Density Array Instrument Verification RNase P Kit (Cat. No. 4351468) (for TaqMan Array Card block)
The following RNase P instrument verification plates can be used on the QuantStudio 6 and 7 Flex Real-Time PCR Systems, but not on the 7900HT System:
• TaqMan RNase P Instrument Verification Plate for ViiA7 System, 96-well (Cat. No. 4432382) (for 96-well standard block)
• TaqMan RNase P Instrument Verification Plate for ViiA7 System, 384-well (Cat. No. 4455280) (for 384-well block)
• ViiA7 Array Card RNase P Verification Kit (Cat. No. 4432265) (for TaqMan Array Card block)
What is the difference between a Fast 96-well and standard 96-well block?
There are two main differences between a Fast 96-well and standard 96-well block for the Applied Biosystems real-time PCR systems:
• Reaction well volume: The Fast 96-well blocks have 0.1 mL reaction wells and are compatible with 0.1 mL plates and tubes. The standard 96-well blocks have 0.2 mL reaction wells and are compatible with 0.2 mL plates and tubes.
• Ramp rate: The fast 96-well blocks have a higher maximum ramp rate than standard blocks for the same real-time PCR system. However, both the fast 96-well and standard 96-well blocks are capable of running standard and fast chemistry.
Note: For newer instruments (QuantStudio 3 and 5 Real-Time PCR Systems and later) "0.1 mL" and "0.2 mL" are being used in place of "fast" and "standard" as designations for the two 96-well block formats.