BIO RAD CFX96 Touch Installation Quick Manual

AMPLIFICATION

CFX96 Touch™ Real-Time PCR System
Installation Quick Guide

Unpacking the Instruments

The CFX96™ optical reaction module and the C1000 Touch™
thermal cycler chassis are shipped in separate containers.
Unpack each box carefully. The included power cable, USB
cable, and CFX Manager™ software CD are required for
installation. The CFX96 optical reaction module may also be
placed on a previously purchased C1000 Touch thermal cycler
for a quick upgrade to a real-time PCR detection system.

Important: Carefully read the safety information and
instrument operating specifications provided in the CFX96
Touch™ and CFX384 Touch™ Real-Time PCR Detection
Systems Instruction Manual before using the system.

Setting Up the CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR System

The CFX96 Touch real-time PCR detection system should
be installed on a clean, dry, level surface with sufficient
cool airflow to run properly.

Fig. 1. Lifting the CFX96 optical reaction module
onto the C1000 Touch thermal cycler chassis.

CFX96 optical
reaction module

C1000 Touch thermal
cycler chassis

To insert the CFX96 optical reaction module into the
reaction module bay of the C1000 Touch chassis:

1. Place the C1000 Touch chassis in a suitable location
with the locking bar down.

2. Remove the instructions overlay from the C1000 Touch
chassis. Lift the CFX96 module using the handle
indents above the side air vents, as shown in Figure 1.

3. Position the CFX96 module in the reaction module bay
of the C1000 Touch chassis, leaving about 2 cm of
space in the front.

4. Reach around the thermal cycler and pull up the
locking bar (Figure 2) until it is flush with the sides of
the module bay. This action moves the reaction module
forward, locking it into place (Figure 3).

5. Use the supplied power cord to plug the chassis into
an appropriate electrical outlet.

6. Turn on the CFX96 Touch system using the power
switch on the back of the chassis.

Removing the Red Shipping Screw

The CFX96 optical reaction module is shipped with a
red screw in place in the inner lid in the hole corresponding
to well A1 (see Figure 4). Follow the instructions on the
C1000 Touch screen to remove this shipping screw before
beginning operation.

Locking bar

Fig. 2. Locking the CFX96 module into place.

Fig. 3. The CFX96 module positioned on
the C1000 Touch chassis.

Fig. 4. Red shipping screw included with
the CFX96 optical reaction module.

Operating under Software Control

Installing CFX Manager Software

A computer with the Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 operating system is
required to run the software. Minimum computer specifications are listed in the CFX96
Touch and CFX384 Touch systems instruction manual. The software must be installed on
the computer by a user with administrative privileges. To install CFX Manager software:

1. Place the CFX Manager software CD in the computer’s CD drive. The software
launch page should appear automatically.

2. Double click Install Software on the software launch page.

3. Follow the instructions onscreen to complete installation.

4. If the launch page does not appear automatically, double click on (CD drive):\
Bio-Rad CFX, then open and follow instructions in the Readme.txt file.

Installing the Drivers

With the instrument powered off, plug the supplied USB cable into the USB B port
(Figure 5) located on the back of the C1000 Touch chassis and into a USB 2.0 A port
on the computer. Turn on the CFX96 Touch system using the power switch on the
back of the chassis. To install the drivers for the CFX96 Touch system, follow the
instructions in the Found New Hardware Wizard that launches after the instrument is
first detected by the computer:

1. In the first screen, select Yes, this time only to instruct Windows to connect to
Windows Update to search for software (Figure 6). Click Next.

2. Instruct the wizard to Install the software automatically (Figure 7). Click Next
to continue installing the drivers.

3. Click Finish when the drivers are installed (Figure 8).

USB B por t

Fig. 5. USB B port on the back of the
C1000 Touch cha ssis.

Fig. 6. Windows Update screen.

After installation — open CFX Manager software by double clicking the
Shortcut icon located on the Windows desktop.

Creating, Starting, and Analyzing a Run

The Run Setup window provides quick access to the files and settings needed to set
up and start a run. To open the Run Setup window, follow one of these options:

n

Click the Create a New Run option in the Startup Wizard

n

Click the Run Setup button in the main software toolbar

The Run Setup window includes three tabs (Figure 9):

n

Click the Protocol tab to select an existing protocol to run or edit,

or to create a new protocol in the Protocol Editor window

n

Click the Plate tab to select an existing plate to run or edit, or to create a new plate

in the Plate Editor window

n

Click the Start Run tab to check run settings, select one or more

instrument blocks, and begin a run

CFX Manager software processes real-time PCR data automatically at the end of
each run, and opens the data analysis window. The data file can be analyzed or
saved to the folder of your choice, and it can be emailed from the software.
(Refer to the CFX96 Touch and CFX384 Touch systems instruction manual for
detailed information about run setup and data analysis.)

Fig. 7. Software installation screen.

Fig. 8. Software installation completion
screen.

Fig. 9. Run Setup window, including the
Protocol, Plate, and St art Run tabs.