Amplyus miniPCR mini16 Operation & User’s Manual

miniPCR bio and the miniPCR bio logo are trademarks of Amplyus LLC mini16 user’s guide [email protected] mini16 thermal cycler User’s guide

INDEX Quick start guide Warranty Specifications Features Components Software Overview Contents Optional accessories Getting started Download Connect Software operation Protocol types Create and save Editing protocols Running and monitoring protocols Operation without software Hardware operation Loading your samples Quickguide to LED interface Troubleshooting and maintenance Troubleshooting Care & maintenance Operating conditions I N D E X

Download software from minipcr.com/downloads Connect mini16 to your device using USB or Bluetooth > Devices tab Create a PCR, heat block, linear ramp or Flex program > Library tab Run by clicking the play symbol to upload the program and start the run Monitor progress > Monitor (mobile) or Now running (desktop) tab Q U I C K S T A R T G U I D E 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 -- QUICK START GUIDE

W A R R A N T Y This Limited Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 24 months from the date of purchase under the following conditions: Amplyus will repair or replace any defective items upon factory inspection of the item claimed. Amplyus will cover shipping charges if the claim is initiated within 30 days from purchase. After 30 days from the date of purchase, end users of the Product will be responsible for shipping charges to and from the Amplyus facility for assessment and repair under the terms of this Limited Warranty. This Limited Warranty does not cover wear and tear to components resulting from normal use of the Product, nor does it cover failures caused by incorrect use, negligence, alterations, or damage caused by intentional or accidental misuse of equipment. This Limited Warranty also excludes damage caused during any shipment/transport/movement of the product following its initial receipt by the customer. Amplyus’ sole liability, under this Limited Warranty, for failure to repair or replace miniPCR thermal cyclers after a reasonable number of attempts, is limited to the replacement of the Product or, at Amplyus’ sole discretion, the refund of the original purchase price of the Product. This 24-month warranty is valid from the date of purchase of miniPCR thermal cyclers (the “Product”). This Limited Warranty covers the original purchaser of the Product and shall not extend in its validity to third parties without the written agreement of Amplyus LLC (“Amplyus”). This Limited Warranty covers only the Product and any original accessories provided with it. It excludes software, documentation, consumables, or related items. This Limited Warranty will maintain its validity only as long as the Product is operated in the manner, conditions, and with the care described in its User’s Guide or Manual. This Limited Warranty will be voided by improper or unauthorized maintenance of the Product, or by improper attachment of electrical adapters and power supplies not supplied by Amplyus or its authorized representatives. This Limited Warranty will be voided by any failure to meet requirements for the operation of a thermal cycler in laboratory conditions as described in the User’s Guide. WARRANTY

Dual Bluetooth® and USB conectivity Programmable via Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle Fire PCR, touchdown PCR, heat block, linear ramp and FLEX programming modes FLEX mode allows for arbitrary combinations of up to 15 programming steps Portable and durable construction 16 x 0.2 ml PCR tube capacity (strip compatible) On-device microprocessor runs autonomously Universal voltage power adaptor 100-240V Battery/solar power operation for full autonomy (not included) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S FEATURES COMPONENTS Lid adjustment knob Sample-holding block for 2 x 8 x 0.2 ml microtubes Lid safety latch (pinch both sides to open) LED status indicators Heated Lid SPECIFICATIONS

miniPCRTM mini16 thermal cycler Universal voltage power adapter (2AA73) US-style AC cord (QP-1000-07) 6 ft USB Cable (QP-1000-09) Drawstring travel pouch (QP-1000-12) miniPCR™ Power Pack, 20,000 mAh Li-Ion Battery (QP-1000-13) Portable solar panel (contact [email protected]) CONTENTS OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

GETTING STARTED miniPCR App v2.0 or higher is needed to run mini16. Visit www.minipcr.com/downloads and select your platform of choice (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire). Minimum system requirements are listed on the website. iOS users: visit Apple App Store. Windows 10 users: unzip the file and run the miniPCR installer. Mac OS users: Double click and move App to the folder of your choice. If the operating system will not let you open the software (“miniPCR” can’t be opened because it was not downloaded from the Mac App Store.), you will need to change your permission settings in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Allow Apps downloaded from > select “Anywhere” Note: dialog may vary depending on operating system version. Android users: visit the Android Play Store. Kindle Fire users: click on ‘Get app’ from the Amazon web store. Open the App by double-clicking or tapping on the miniPCR icon DOWNLOAD THE miniPCRTM APP (FREE DOWNLOAD) G E T T I N G S T A R T E D 1 -- 2 --

CONNECT G E T T I N G S T A R T E D Establishing a Bluetooth (BLE) connection (iOS, Windows, Mac, Android and Kindle Fire) Note: make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your device. Turn on the mini16 using the on/off switch on the back of the unit. A flashing blue LED on the front of the mini16 indicates that it is ready to connect to your device. Click the Devices tab (Win/Mac) or the icon (mobile, top center of the screen). mini16 units within BLE range will be listed. Click on the BLE symbol of the mini16 unit you would like to connect to. Successful pairing is indicated by green text “Connected” and by the blue LED staying always on. You are ready to use your miniPCRTM thermal cycler. 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- Win/Mac Device is connected Bluetooth symbol Devices tab Android / iOS / Amazon Fire Need to add Windows first time connection.

Establishing a USB connection (Windows, Mac, Android and Kindle Fire) Win/Mac Connect the mini16 to your computer, using a USB-C to USB-A adapter and the origi- nal USB cable provided with t he miniPCR. The mini16 will connect automatically and is ready to use. microUSB OTG (‘On the go’) adapter required. 1- First connect the OTG into your device and only then connect the miniPCR USB cable into OTG adapter and the mini16 unit. 2. The mini16 will connect automatically. USB-A Connect the miniPCR supplied USB cable to the computer and the back of the mini16. The three LEDs on the front of your miniPCRTM machine will blink several times during two seconds. The mini16 will be listed under the Devices or tab of your software. You are ready to use your miniPCRTM thermal cycler. 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 2nd. Connect OTG to miniPCR USB Cable 1st. Connect OTG to Android device USB-C USB-C to USB-A adapter required. Android and Kindle Fire 1. With software closed, connect the mini16 to your Android or Kindle Fire using a USB-C to USB-A adapter and the original USB cable provided with the miniPCR. 2. The App will open and the mini16 will connect automatically. If the software fails to recognize the mini16, close the App and open it again. G E T T I N G S T A R T E D CONNECT (continued)

Changing device name (optional) The default name of your miniPCR is its serial number located on the back of the device. Navigate to the Devices tab or screen and click on the icon of the device’s name to edit. Press Save. 1 -- G E T T I N G S T A R T E D OPTIONAL CONFIGURATIONS Establishing connections to multiple miniPCR units Go to Devices to see the list of available mini16 units. Note: it is possible to connect mini8 and mini16 units simultaneously. All units connected through USB will automatically appear as ‘Connected’ and are ready to program. To connect units over BLE follow the steps in the Establishing a Bluetooth (BLE) connection. 1 -- 2 -- 2 -- 3 -- This procedure works for connecting units through BLE and/or USB.

S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N CREATING AND SAVING PROTOCOLS SOFTWARE OPERATION miniPCR App v2.0 or higher is needed to run mini16. Open the miniPCR™ App in your device and remain on the “Library” tab Click on the button on the top right corner. Select the “Protocol Type” from the menu on the top of the right pane (Win/Mac) or screen (Android / iOS / Amazon Fire) • PCR: for thermal cycling reactions • Heat Block: for incubations • Linear Ramp: for heating or cooling reactions at a steady rate • Flex: touchdown PCR and any combination of the above 1 -- 3 -- 2 -- You can program mini16 in four different modes: PCR, heat block, linear ramp and FLEX (includes touchdown PCR) Enter a protocol name; for example “GeneX PCR”. Enter protocol parameters as shown below. 4 -- 5 -- Protocol selection dialog

S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N PCR mode Input temperatures up to 99 °C, step times up to 9999 seconds minutes and cycles up to 99. Heated lid is turned on by default. This setting mantains the lid at approx 105 °C to prevent condensation on the caps of the tubes. CREATING AND SAVING PROTOCOLS (cont.) Heat block mode Input temperatures up to 99 °C and time up to 165 hours. Select from preset temperatures (37 °C, 42 °C, 55° C, 65° C, 72° C, 95° C) or use the dialog box to enter any temperature between 25° C and 99° C. Use the slider to select times between 1 and 180 minutes or the dialog box to input any number between 1 and 9999 minutes (mobile), or 99 h 59 m. Heated lid is turned on by default. This setting mantains the lid at approx 10 degrees above the target temperature.

S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N Linear ramp mode Select the initial and final temperatures and the ramp time from the first to the second temperature. A heating or cooling ramp can be selected. Heated lid is turned on by default. This setting mantains the lid at approx 10 degrees above the current temperature. CREATING AND SAVING PROTOCOLS (cont.) Flex Mode In FLEX mode, you can create a program containing a combination of PCR, heat block, linear ramp and touchdown PCR steps. Heated lid is turned on by default. Click “Save” or “Save and Run” to store your new protocol • Your protocol is now ready to use and available in the Library. • Tip: clicking “Save and Run” instead of “Save” will bring up a dialog in which you can select the miniPCR machines that you would like to upload the program to. Run will start immediately. 6 -- Note: PCR, heat block and linear ramp protocols have a cool down step that brings the block to 37 °C. When creating a FLEX program, the final cooling step can be toggled on and off.

PROTOCOL OPTIONS Click on the desired protocol from your Library to show available options: Run, View/ Edit, Copy, Delete. Click View/Edit. Editing protocols Update protocol parameters (e.g. change the number of cycles, temperature, etc.) Click “Save Only” to store the updated protocol parameters or “Save and Run” to store changes and start the protocol. You can also create a copy of an existing protocol by clicking “Copy”. A new protocol will be created (“Protocol Name (2)”). The original protocol will be preserved. Press the icon to delete the protocol. Copying protocols Deleting protocols 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N Win/Mac Mobile / iOS / Amazon Fire

RUNNING AND MONITORING Move the power switch on the back of the mini16 to the ON position. Connect your miniPCRTM thermal cycler via USB cable or Bluetooth. Tip: You can simultaneously monitor multiple miniPCR machines with one device. Each miniPCRTM will appear as a separate tab in the “Now running” (Mac/Win) or “MONITOR” (mobile) tab. Tip: If using a USB connection, external power is not needed at this step; the power switch may remain in the OFF position. In Windows and Mac each miniPCR will appear as a separate tab in the “Now running” tab. In Android, iOS, or Kindle Fire each miniPCR will appear as a bar at the bottom of the “Monitor” tab. 1 -- 2 -- S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N Win/Mac Mobile / iOS / Amazon Fire Select the desired protocol from your Library. Click the “Run” button. The run will automatically begin, signaled by the green LED turning on. 3 -- Starting the run

Autonomous run feature • It is not necessary to maintain a USB or Bluetooth connection during a run. The miniPCR will keep running the protocol while the power switch remains in the ON position. • Toggling the power switch OFF and ON will restart the last protocol programmed (with Auto Start ON, see below). Tip: The end of a run will be signaled by the green, yellow and red LEDs staying ON. 1 -- Monitoring the run Click on “[miniPCR name]” tab to monitor run status. The following information will be displayed • Protocol name • Status: Running, Stopped, Paused, Cool down, Finished. • Current step, cycle, and time in step • Elapsed time (left), remaining time (right) • You can Pause or Stop your reaction at any time S O F T W A R E O P E R A T I O N Auto Start feature The Auto Start feature controls whether the last program that was loaded on the mini16 will start automatically or not upon turning the power switch to the ON position. The Auto Start feature can be set for each unit in the Devices tab. The Auto Start selection remains in the mini16 memory until it is changed from the software. Auto Start OFF • The run will only start until RUN is selected in the Library tab. Connection to a device is required with Auto Start mode OFF. Auto Start ON • From power OFF position: Connect to AC power, turn the power switch ON. Your last protocol will automatically begin. Connection to software is not required. • From power ON position: Cycle the power switch OFF, then ON. Your last protocol will begin automatically.

LOADING YOUR SAMPLES H A R D W A R E O P E R A T I O N Open the lid by pinching the side tabs on the front plate of your miniPCRTM machine (indicated by arrows). Use your thumb and index fingers to pinch, and lift the lid with your other hand. Load the PCR tubes in the metal block. Fully untwist (counterclockwise) the adjustment knob and press the lid down until the lid clicks shut. Tighten the adjustment knob (clockwise) until you feel light resistance from the tube caps. Be careful not to over-tighten. 1 -- 2 -- Turn knob to adjust lid height Pinch both tabs to release lid HARDWARE OPERATION

QUICK GUIDE TO LED INTERFACE All LEDs flashing: protocol uploaded or device initializing All LEDs on: protocol complete Green LED: intermittent, lid heating; solid on, sample block cooling Red LED on: sample block heating Blue LED on: mini16 paired via Bluetooth H A R D W A R E O P E R A T I O N Blue LED flashing: mini16 available for Bluetooth pairing Green, Yellow, and Red LEDs cycling: mini16 ready for protocol run. Press “Run” to start Yellow LED flashing: error, reinitialize device or contact support

TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOTING T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G A N D M A I N T E N A N C E Lid won’t latch: ensure tubes are properly inserted into block and lid is at maximum height (turn knob counterclockwise). Run won’t start: ensure power supply is plugged into AC outlet and the power supply LED is on. Check miniPCR power switch is in the ON position. Ensure protocol uploads and LEDs blink. miniPCR started too soon: miniPCR run will begin as soon as a protocol is uploaded or power is switched ON. Maintain power in the OFF position during protocol upload if you do not wish to start immediately. I left my samples in the miniPCR overnight after a run: PCR product is stable in PCR buffer at room temperature for >72h. There’s no need to refrigerate samples immediately after a run. I cannot find my mini16 on the Devices tab: ensure miniPCR power is on and Bluetooth LED is flashing. A solid blue LED indicates active pairing via Bluetooth; make sure your miniPCR is not already paired to another computer or smart device. Powering mini16 off and on will reset the connection. If this fails, connect via USB. If you need to contact miniPCR: Phone: 781-990-8PCR Email: [email protected] Mail: 1770 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 167 Cambridge, MA 02140

T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G A N D M A I N T E N A N C E CARE & MAINTENANCE miniPCRTM thermal cyclers do not require regular maintenance. They can be cleaned using water or an acrylic cleaning agent. They should not come into contact with organic solvents or corrosive solutions. Ensure that no liquid enters the device. For safety reasons, the device must be switched off and disconnected from the power supply before cleaning. The device may only be opened by qualified service personnel. The miniPCR Limited Warranty will be voided in the event of damage caused by unauthorized servicing.

T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G A N D M A I N T E N A N C E OPERATING CONDITIONS miniPCRTM thermal cyclers are designed to be safe to operate under the following conditions: • Indoor use • Altitude up to 2,000 m • Temperature 9 oC to 40 °C • Maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to 31 °C, decreasing linearly to 50% relative humidity at 40 °C • Main supply voltage fluctuations not to exceed 10% of the nominal voltage • Electrical supply by provided adapter, AC 100-240V, 50-60hz, 90W or higher • Protection from accidental spills Other use conditions will impinge on safety and performance and will void the Warranty.