At the end of a protocol, you will need to clear all labware and consumables from firefly, ready for
the next user.
On opening the door, the decks can be moved freely and all labware and consumables can be
accessed and removed for disposal or storage according to your SOPs. Syringes can be left on the firefly and used again in the next run or replaced with new syringes if required during the set up and loading of the next protocol.
If your instrument is fitted with a vertical laminar flow module, leave this running for a few moments after you have emptied the instrument, to ensure that it is flushed free of aerosols.
You can switch off firefly immediately after running the protocol, and leave the laminar flow module running. Remember to switch it off when it has flushed the instrument.
6.6.1 Unloading firefly+
Open the door to remove labware and consumables from firefly+.
To reduce contamination risk, do not touch the top surfaces of labware as you unload the shelves.
Use the notches in the shelves to assist with removing labware.
- With a finger, use the notch to hook the labware from underneath to lift it and bring it forward onto the front lip of the shelf.
- Then pick up the labware with your index finger and thumb holding the left and right sides.
6.6.2 Disassembling EZL tip sets
Unload the full cassette from the tip stand, being careful of the used tips, and open the hinged
gate.
Slide the tip array or strip tips out of the cassette from the open side. It is important to reduce contact of the tips with the cassette at this point, to keep it clean. Tip cassettes are considered as part of the pipetting head mechanism and are not expected to come in contact with working surfaces of the tips or samples.
Cleaning tip cassettes with cleaning solutions is not recommended, and should not be required. If in exceptional circumstances it is unavoidable, follow these instructions carefully.
Dispose of used tips appropriately.
Close the gate of the cassette.
Clean the tip stand.
6.6.3 Unloading reservoirs
This is shown with the standard reservoir tray, but the process is the same for the high volume tray.
- Remove the reservoir tray from the firefly and set it on a flat benchtop.
- Unload all reservoirs and empty them of the dead volumes of reagent, according to your SOPs.
- a. There is a small indentation to make it easy to pick up the reservoirs.
- b. Ensure reservoirs are disposed of appropriately, or wash any which you are going to reuse. - Clean the reservoir tray and inserts if you have spilled any reagents, then replace it in the instrument.