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Designing a Dispense

Once you have set up the hardware, you will be able to use the TEMPEST control software to create new dispense lists and open open previously-saved dispense lists. The TEMPEST software provides you with some dispense list templates. However, you can also create your own dispense, as shown in this tutorial.

Prerequisites

• You have at least one plate type already set up in the software.
• You have listed the reagents in the Reagent List.

To design a dispense:

1. Choose from the following options:

   • Create a new dispense list:

     1. Click the New Dispense List button under the Dispense List panel.

     2. Define the dispense list name in the Name box, and select a plate type.

     3. Click OK. Then, proceed to step 2.

     OR

   • Open an existing dispense list:

     1. Click the Open Dispense List button on the Dispense List panel.

     2. Select the desired category from the list. Then, locate the desired dispense list and click Open. From here, please proceed to step 3.

     Note: TEMPEST will automatically list any unassigned dispense lists in Home. Expand the Home folder to see all of the available dispenses.

     

     Open the Desired Dispense List

2. In the Add Reagent To Dispense List window, define the Reagent Name. Then, type the Volume per well and click OK.

   Important: A warning indicator will automatically appear if the total assigned reagent volume in one or multiple wells exceeds the well capacity. Continuing the dispense may cause an error and/or inaccurate dispense results. We recommend you to reset the volume per well based on the selected plate’s maximum well capacity or create a new plate type. To check the total volume and maximum well capacity, hover over on a well to display the information.

   

   A Warning Indicator Appears When Volume Exceeds the Well Capacity

   

   Assigned Volume Information

3. Design your plate dispense with the plate designer in the Dispense List Designer panel. Select a group of wells and a pattern from the Selection group icons below the plate designer:

   • For a constant volume:

     • Directly type in a volume and press Enter on your keyboard.

       OR

     • Select the Grid button in the Toolbar and choose Constant in the dropdown menu, then type in a volume and press Enter on your keyboard.

   • To use a gradient design, click the small down arrow next to the Grid button . You may choose a horizontal gradient, a vertical gradient, a forward diagonal gradient, or a backward diagonal gradient. Type in the volume in the begin and end box, then press Enter on your keyboard.

   • To add a backfill volume, click the small down arrow next to the Grid button , and then click the Backfill Volume button. Type in the backfill volume, then press Enter on your keyboard.

4. To add additional reagents to the dispense list, click the Add Dispense List Item buttonand repeat step 2 and 3.

5. When you are done, click the Save Dispense List buttonto save the dispense list.

6. Then, choose from the following options:

   • Select the desired category to assign the Dispense List.

     

     Save Dispense List Window

     OR

   • Add a new category to the category list by selecting Home or the desired label as the path label. Click Add New Category, and type a name in the Category Name box. Click Add to add the new category to the category list.

     

     Creating a New Category

7. Define the Dispense List Name, and select the file type from the Save as type list from the following options:

   • .dl.txt to save the dispense list as a text document that can be accessed quickly and easily.

   • .dl.xls to save the dispense list as a spreadsheet file that can be edited in greater detail.

     Important: Type the name of your plate in the File name box when you save your Dispense List. The file name will be used as the barcode label. For example, if you named your plate "ASSY-AA020268", you must use this name for the barcode label.

8. Click Save when you’re done.

   Note: If you want to categorize an unassigned dispense list, open the desired dispense list from the Home category and modify it as needed. Then, click the small down arrow next to the Save Dispense List button, and select Save As Dispense List. Select one of the available categories under the Category List, or click Add New Category to create a new category. Define a new dispense list name in the Dispense List Name box and Save as type field, then click Save As when you’re done.

9. Drag each reagent from the Dispense List to the appropriate location on the Device Control panel.

   

   Reagents on the Dispense List Designer

10. Set the input type for each chip by clicking the button at the top of each chip (refer to image below). This button is a toggle; to change it to from pipette tip to tube input or vice versa, click the button.

    

    Input Buttons

11. Once you have added all reagents to the dispense list and assigned them to their positions, proceed to the next step, priming the chips.

Related Topics

• Adding or Deleting Reagents
• Adding Plate Types to the Plate Type Library
• Dispense Overview
• Priming the Chips
• Configuring the TEMPEST Chip
• Importing Dispense Data

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