I see that the KingFisher 24 Deep Well Head has a processing volume of 5 mL. Does that mean that I can process up to 5 mL of my sample?
No, the processing volume refers to the maximum volume that can be held in the 24 Deep Well plates. This incorporates the volume of binding buffers and beads, so when scaling up reaction volumes, it is important to make sure that the total volume does not exceed 5 mL.
My KingFisher Flex run was stopped due to an error message. Can I start the protocol from where it stopped?
No, once a protocol was stopped, it will restart from the beginning. The extraction procedure can either be finished manually by using a magnetic stand, or a modified version of the original KingFisher Flex script would have to be created that starts off at the point where the run was stopped.
I have a 12-plate protocol but there are only 8 slots on the KingFisher Flex instrument turntable. What should I do with the remaining 4 plates?
Set up the protocol on the BindIt software. After the first 8 plates are done, the instrument will pause and instruct you to switch out the plates.
Is it always necessary to use the transport locks on the KingFisher Flex instrument?
The transport locks are only necessary when relocating the instrument.
Are the volumes of reagents in each well critical for a successful KingFisher Flex run?
We strongly recommend that you maintain the specified volumes within the defined limits to avoid spillover and to help ensure the best performance at the most efficient level.
What if the magnetic particles are attached to the tip combs after my KingFisher Flex run?
This happens sometimes but it will not affect the yield because the sample has been released from the particles.
What if the magnetic particles remain in the sample well during a KingFisher Flex run?
If the starting material is too viscous, the magnetic rods will not be able to collect the particles. Dilute the sample and check that the sample is properly homogenized/lysed. Adding low amounts of detergent will improve the collection of magnetic particles as well. Quickly centrifuge the plate to sediment the particles to the bottom of the plate.
What should I do if I forget to insert the tip combs into the tip comb holder for the KingFisher Flex instrument?
The protocol will not start without the tip combs inserted into the tip comb holder.
What should I do if the KingFisher Flex magnet sets are dirty?
Wipe the magnetic rods with a soft cloth or tissue paper soaked in a mild detergent solution, soap solution, or alcohol.
How long does it take the KingFisher Flex heater to warm up from room temperature to 80°C?
The heating block warms up at the rate of about 10°C per minute, so it will take about 6 minutes.
Can I concentrate samples during a KingFisher Flex run?
Both deep-well plates and KingFisher 96 plates can be used during the same run. Therefore, it is possible to start the processing by using larger volumes (in a deep-well plate) and elute the purified sample to a smaller volume (in a KingFisher 96 or MagMAX 96 standard plate).
How can the KingFisher Flex heads be changed?
This can be done by running the Change magnet protocol under the Maintenance menu using the “up” and “down” cursor keys.
Will the KingFisher Flex magnets get weaker? If so, how long can they be used?
The KingFisher Flex magnets are made of material that is very stable. The magnetic field will not get weaker. However, extreme mechanical force or heating can cause damage to the magnets.
Caution: It is very important to keep the KingFisher Flex heads away from each other and from other magnets at all times. Clashing together of the magnets may cause serious damage to the magnets.
How does the KingFisher Flex instrument connect to a computer?
KingFisher Flex uses a USB port, whereas the MagMAX Express- 96 requires a RS-232 port.
I have a custom protocol stored in my KingFisher Flex instrument. Can I edit this protocol and save it to my computer?
No. Protocols cannot be transferred back from the instrument to the computer. Protocols need to be previously stored in the BindIt or KingFisher software to make edits.
Can I edit the manufactured KingFisher Flex protocols?
No, manufactured protocols are locked for editing, but they can be renamed using the ‘save as' function and edited as a new version.
Can I use magnetic beads from other vendors with the KingFisher Flex instrument?
For nucleic acid extraction, we recommend using our MagMAX kits and MagJET kits. Other magnetic beads should work well as long as they are 0.5 to 10 µm in size. However, you will have to write your own KingFisher protocols using the Thermo Scientific BindIt software and validate/optimize the protocol on your own.
I am working with liquid samples with high volume and want to extract nucleic acid from them using the KingFisher Flex instrument. Can I use more volume than the protocol advises?
Yes, this can be done by sample splitting. Set the protocol so that the magnet will collect samples from multiple wells before continuing to the next step. Be sure not to overload.
Can I scale up my reaction volume with the KingFisher Flex instrument?
Yes, reaction volumes can be scaled up, and all other volumes (i.e. wash volumes) will have to be increased by the same fold difference. It is generally not recommended to scale up reaction volumes more than 2-fold unless the plate's volume capacity will allow it.
Can I use plates from other manufacturers with the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processor?
No, we strongly recommend that you use the MagMAX plates or KingFisher plates since they were specifically designed to be used with KingFisher Flex tip combs to attain maximal performance. Plates from other manufacturers may not be compatible with the KingFisher Flex heating blocks. They may also cause unexpected problems, such as cross-contamination, due to the divergent well volume and bottom height of the plate.
How many magnetic head options are available for the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processor?
There are 4 magnetic head options available for the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processor:
- KingFisher Flex head for MagMAX Express-96 Deep Well plate
- KingFisher Flex head for KingFisher 24 Deep Well plate
- KingFisher Flex head for KingFisher 96 plate
- KingFisher Flex head for PCR plate, skirted
Are all of the Applied Biosystems MagMAX kits validated for the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processor?
Yes, all MagMAX kits can be used with the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processor.
