You are here: Using the FLO i8 System : Tutorials : Creating a New Protocol

Creating a New Protocol

To run an experiment with the FLO i8, you must first create a protocol. This includes adding the labware, defining stocks, and creating pipetting steps in the Protocol Editor page.

Protocol Sample in the Protocol Editor Page

Within a protocol, you can perform a Simple Transfer, design a more complex transfer with Experiment Designer, perform a Serial Dilution, or combine any and all of these experiment modes in a multi-steps protocol. You can also add a delay and/or user confirmation in between your pipetting steps, if you need to pause at a certain time.

To determine the most appropriate mode(s) for your protocol design, read the following descriptions:

All existing protocols are accessible from the Protocol Explorer page. Besides creating a new protocol, you can also manage the protocols in folders, modify the protocols list, and remove obsolete protocols in this page.

Protocol Explorer Page

Follow the instructions below to create a new protocol.

 

Prerequisites:

 

To create a new protocol:

  1. In the Protocol Explorer page, click the New Protocol button on the Navigator Bar.

    Note: You can create a folder to save your protocols in the Explorer page. To do so, click the New Folder button .

  2. In the Protocol Editor page, select the labwares that you are going to use for the experiment. Click and drag the desired labware from the Labware List to the virtual deck.

    Note: Click OPEN LABWARE LIST, and repeat step 2 to add more labwares.

    Selecting Labware on the Protocol Editor Page

  3. Begin to create pipetting steps by choosing from the following options:

  4. OPTIONAL: Add a delay and/or user confirmation step by selecting the Add Delay or Add User Confirmation button.

  5. Repeat steps 2-3 to add more labwares and pipetting steps to your protocol.

  6. You can also change the pipetting steps’ order by clicking and dragging the selected step to the desired position, indicated by the priority number in each step. You can also revert, undo, or redo the modified order.

  7. Click Apply to confirm the changes. It may take a moment for the FLO i8 software to update the step order.

    Changing the Step Order

    Note: FLO i8 will execute the protocol based on the pipetting steps order, starting from the first step at the top of the list to the last step at the end of the list accordingly.

  8. Your protocol is ready to execute. For more information, see Executing a Protocol.

    The Protocol is Ready to Execute

Important: You might find a warning icon on your protocol(s) in the Protocol Explorer page to indicate that there is an error occurring within your protocol. In general, errors occur because the assigned pipetting parameters in your protocol have been removed and are no longer available in the FLO i8 database. Another case is that the assigned has been removed or updated. You can still open the protocol, and see the error by clicking the warning icon of the invalid step in the Protocol Editor page.
Make sure to change the pipetting parameters and/or update the invalid stock in the corresponding step to continue the protocol execution. If the problem persists, contact support@formulatrix.com for further assistance. For more information, see Pipetting Parameters.

Warning Icon on the Existing Protocols

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