[DIYbio] Re: Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer Issues

Hello all, 

I'm not sure if anyone out there has any experience with this particular machine, but I've been having some issues with an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer. The machine is functioning very strangely, and I'm hoping someone might be able to help me figure out why. 

Here's some background:

The machine has been serviced recently

The cartridge is relatively new (less than 1 year old)

The chips are not expired

Here is the issue:

When running samples on a chip, some will not read correctly. Extremely high fluorescence peaks, incorrect concentrations, and even the ladder will be incorrectly read on a regular basis. I have run some diagnostics using just ladder and just marker/reporter, and have determined that the machine will not malfunction on a consistent basis. This leads me to believe that the diodes within the cartridge are not damaged or functioning incorrectly.

Here's the rub:

When the machine does malfunction, I have had good success with just re-running the machine. I DO NOT change my samples, AT ALL. The chip, cartridge, software, etc. will all remain exactly the same. I do not even open the machine, I simply press start again and it tends to run successfully after a few runs. But the same issue occurs on subsequent runs, but not consistently across the different samples (i.e. sample well 2 will be incorrect on the initial run, but sample well 5 will be incorrect on the secondary run).

Again, not sure if there is anyone out there who has dealt with this, but I'm starting to get annoyed with this machine and I REALLY don't want to have to replace it. 

-SG