Purchasing a new, used or refurbished piece of lab equipment, particularly if it is a new model or an unfamiliar system, always results in a bit of a learning curve for technicians. Even if your lab previously had a 3130 Genetic Analyzer in the lab or staff has used the system before, it is a good time to complete a quick refresher for everyone.
One of the advantages of purchasing the Thermo Fisher line of Applied Biosystems genetic analyzers, regardless of the model number, is the ability to quickly and easily find information on the model through online searches. While the equipment may come with printed copies, searching and finding specifics online may be faster, easier and more effective than reading through user manuals and setup guides.
The Basics
It is a wise decision to run through the basics of operation of the 3130 Genetic Analyzer prior to staff working with the equipment. This should include basics such as short-term shutdowns and when to fully shut down the system and complete a restart. As a general guide, the system should be restarted at least once a week. This can be more frequent based on performance and issues with communication between the analyzer and the software.
Maintenance
While the 3130 Genetic Analyzer system is designed to be intuitive and easy to use once the staff is familiar with the system, there are specific requirements for maintenance. Some of these tasks need to be completed on a daily basis while others are weekly or monthly.
A good idea is to post the daily and weekly maintenance requirements at or near the system. Using a grid, technicians can check off the completion of the maintenance tasks as done, ensuring that tasks aren’t overlooked or missed. This will be instrumental in extending the life of the system and reducing the risk of unforeseen failure of the unit.