Hi all,

I'm a new technologist trying to set up the DNA sequencer by ABI model
3130xl.  Below are the recommendations from the company's engineer
specialist.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a better more cost
efficient way to store or aliquot the pop 7 polymer.  As of right now,
our lab is running a test a week.  What is the best way to minimize
wasting polymer, while keeping the machine working efficiently.  Thanks
in advance.

Regards,

Chris trieu

________________________________

From: John F Patton [mailto:pattonjf@appliedbiosystems.com]
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 4:37 PM
To: Trieu, Christopher
Cc: Marshall Pilcher; Howard, Tom
Subject: RE: Applications Training

Hi Chris,

No, once the polymer has been at room temp, you don't want to put it
back in the fridge and back on the instrument...that temperature cycling
will do bad things and cause much frustration.  The 3130 likes to be run
and doesn't like to sit idle...so, unfortunately, you end up wasting
polymer if the instrument isn't used very often.

For optimal results, you basically only want to put on enough polymer to
use for the week and then every week do a water wash and put fresh POP
on the instrument.  We sell it in a 7ml bottle and a 4ml bottle.  So,
since you have low throughput, in the future just use the 4ml bottles or
just use an empty bottle and fill it with as much as you suspect you'll
use that week and put the rest back in the fridge.  This "eyeballing"
method will only come with experience.  Polymer should be good at room
temp for a week or two...but we recommend changing it weekly for best
results.

So, long story short....since it's on the instrument and in use, I would
just leave the polymer on the instrument.  If you don't start using it
for a month or so, make sure to do a water wash every couple weeks (at
least once a month) to keep it clean and to minimize the degradation of
the urea in the polymer.  Also make sure to top off the buffer's so the
ends don't dry up.

BTW...never put the POP in the -20....only in the 4 degree....if your
polymer freezes...that is a bad thing....

Hope that helps.  Have a good weekend.

Cheers,
jfp

John F. Patton
Sr. Validated Markets Engineer
Applied Biosystems
800-248-0281 x7124
pattonjf@appliedbiosystems.com
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