Page 1
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer
USER GUIDE
Catalog Number A44984, A45924, A45925
Publication Number MAN0018186
Revision A.0
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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Manufacturer: Life Technologies Holdings Pte Ltd | Block 33 | Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 3 | #07-06, Singapore 739256
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
DISCLAIMER: TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC AND/OR ITS AFFILIATE(S) WILL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, MULTIPLE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH
OR ARISING FROM THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF IT.
Revision history: MAN0018186
Revision Date Description
A.0 11 October 2019 New user guide.
Important Licensing Information: This product may be covered by one or more Limited Use Label Licenses. By use of this product,
you accept the terms and conditions of all applicable Limited Use Label Licenses.
Trademarks: All trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiaries unless otherwise specified. Kimwipes is
a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
© 2019 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
ii Qubit
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Contents
About this guide ........................................................................................................... 3
1. Product information ............................................................................................... 5
Product contents .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Product description ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Instrument exterior components ................................................................................................................... 7
Product specifications ..................................................................................................................................... 8
2. Getting started ...................................................................................................... 10
Set up the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer............................................................................................................ 10
Connect to the network ................................................................................................................................ 12
After instrument setup ................................................................................................................................. 14
Sign in ............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Guidelines for using the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer ................................................................................... 23
3. Perform assays ..................................................................................................... 24
Before you begin ............................................................................................................................................ 24
(Optional) Use the Assay Range Calculator to determine the assay range ............................................ 26
Use the Reagent Calculator to prepare Qubit™ Working Solution ......................................................... 30
Run standards for assay calibration ............................................................................................................ 32
Read samples ................................................................................................................................................. 36
Results ............................................................................................................................................................. 43
(Optional) Use the Molarity Calculator to determine sample molarity .................................................. 45
(Optional) Use the Normalization Calculator to determine how to dilute the samples to the
same molarity, concentration, or mass ....................................................................................................... 48
4. Manage data ......................................................................................................... 58
View detailed sample data ........................................................................................................................... 58
Edit sample name .......................................................................................................................................... 63
Export data ..................................................................................................................................................... 66
Delete data ...................................................................................................................................................... 70
5. Configure instrument settings .............................................................................. 72
Instrument settings ........................................................................................................................................ 72
Sleep mode ..................................................................................................................................................... 73
Brightness ....................................................................................................................................................... 74
Date and Time ................................................................................................................................................ 75
Network connection ...................................................................................................................................... 78
Reset instrument ............................................................................................................................................ 84
Language ........................................................................................................................................................ 85
Cloud region .................................................................................................................................................. 86
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 1
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6. Instrument maintenance ...................................................................................... 87
Maintenance and cleaning............................................................................................................................ 87
Software updates ........................................................................................................................................... 88
System verification ........................................................................................................................................ 90
Replace battery .............................................................................................................................................. 95
Appendix A: Troubleshooting .................................................................................... 97
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................................. 97
Critical Qubit™ Assay considerations ......................................................................................................... 99
Appendix B: Ordering information .......................................................................... 101
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer and accessories ................................................................................................ 101
Appendix C: Safety .................................................................................................. 102
Symbols on instruments ............................................................................................................................. 102
Safety labels on instruments ...................................................................................................................... 103
General instrument safety .......................................................................................................................... 104
Chemical safety ............................................................................................................................................ 105
Chemical waste safety................................................................................................................................. 106
Electrical safety ............................................................................................................................................ 107
Biological hazard safety .............................................................................................................................. 108
Safety, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and Environmental standards ................................... 109
Documentation and support ................................................................................... 111
Obtaining support ....................................................................................................................................... 111
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Overview
This user guide describes how to operate the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
User
documentation
The guides listed below are available with the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
to access protocols, application notes, and tutorials.
Text and keyboard
Text and keyboard conventions used in the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide are
user documentation, see page 4.
User attention
words
Two user attention words appear in Thermo Fisher Scientific user documentation.
About this guide
Guide Pub. No.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer Quick Reference Card (QRC)
Additional resources are available on the Qubit™ Technical Resources page. Go to
thermofisher.com/qubit
MAN0018186
MAN0018187
conventions
listed below. For safety alert words and symbols used in Thermo Fisher Scientific
Convention Use
Bold
Right arrow symbol () indicates a menu choice, and
Each word implies a particular level of observation or action as described below.
Bold text indicates user action. For example:
Click Run.
separates successive commands you execute or select from a
drop-down or shortcut menu. For example:
Select SettingsInstrument Settings.
Note: Provides information that may be of interest or help but is not
critical to the use of the product.
IMPORTANT! Provides information that is necessary for proper
instrument operation, accurate installation, or safe use of a chemical.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 3
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Safety alert words
Four safety alert words appear in Thermo Fisher Scientific user documentation at
points in the document where you need to be aware of relevant hazards. Each
particular level of observation or action, as defined below:
Except for IMPORTANT! safety alerts, each safety alert word in a Thermo Fisher
to Thermo Fisher Scientific instruments (see “Safety symbols” in Appendix C).
SDSs
The Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for any chemicals supplied by Thermo Fisher
SDSs, see “Safety Data Sheets (SDS)”.
alert word—IMPORTANT, CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER—implies a
IMPORTANT! – Provides information that is necessary for proper
instrument operation, accurate installation, or safe use of a chemical.
CAUTION! – Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. It may also be used to
alert against unsafe practices.
WARNING! – Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
DANGER! – Indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This signal word is to be
limited to the most extreme situations.
Scientific document appears with an open triangle figure that contains a hazard
symbol. These hazard symbols are identical to the hazard symbols that are affixed
Scientific are available to you free 24 hours a day. For instructions on obtaining
IMPORTANT! For the SDSs of chemicals not distributed by Thermo
Fisher Scientific contact the chemical manufacturer.
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The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer (Cat. No. A44984) is shipped with the following
components:
The complete user guide is available for download at thermofisher.com/qubit.
See page 6 for the description and specifications of the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
Upon receiving the
Examine the instrument carefully for damage incurred during transit. Ensure that
See page 10 for instructions to set up the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
Register your
Go to thermofisher.com/qubit to register your instrument. You will be asked to
information on new assays for use with the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
Product contents
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer 1 each
Qubit™ Flex power cord (shipped separately)
USB drive 1 each
Qubit™ Flex LAN cable 1 each
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer Quick Reference Card (QRC) 1 each
Certificate of Conformity (COC) 1 each
Qubit™ screen cleaning cloth 1 each
Wi-Fi Dongle 1 each
[1]
The power cords for the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer are not interchangeable with those for
the other Qubit™ Fluorometer models. Powering the instrument with an unapproved power
cord can irreversibly damage the instrument.
1. Product information
Component Quantity
[1]
1 each
instrument
instrument
all parts of the instrument, including the accessories listed above, are included with
the product. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; the warranty does not
cover in-transit damage.
supply the serial number, your name, and your contact details. Registering your
instrument ensures that you will receive notifications of software upgrades and
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 5
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Product description
Qubit™ Flex
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer is a benchtop fluorometer for the quantification of
highly sensitive and accurate fluorescence-based Qubit™ assays.
Features
•
Fluorometer
DNA, RNA, microRNA, and protein. With the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer, you can
directly measure the fluorescence of up to 8 samples simultaneously using the
Fast and highly accurate quantification of DNA, RNA, and protein of up to
8 samples simultaneously in ~3 seconds.
• High levels of accuracy using only 1–20 µL of sample, even with very dilute
samples.
• Use of dyes selective for dsDNA, RNA, or protein minimizes the effects of
contaminants in the sample.
• Stores results from up to 10,000 samples.
• 8-inch, state-of-the-art color touchscreen for easy workflow navigation.
• Instrument indicates samples that are in the extended range or out of range.
• Saves sample data as a CSV (comma separated value) file.
• On-board Reagent and Range Calculators provide instructions to prepare
™
Qubit
working solution using your sample and standard inputs and to select
the most accurate assay for your expected concentration range.
• On-board Molarity and Normalization Calculators allow you to calculate
molarity of your samples based on nucleic acid length and determine how to
dilute the samples to the same concentration, respectively, using the results
from your assays.
• Allows easy definition and saving of assay preferences.
™
• Exports data to a USB drive, to a network drive, or to the Connect
cloud-based
platform.
• Connects to the local area network via the LAN (RJ-45) port using an Ethernet
cable or wirelessly using the supplied Wi-Fi adaptor.
• Instrument user interface can be personalized to display in the language of your
choice including English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, simplified Chinese
and Japanese.
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Top view
Rear view
Instrument exterior components
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 7
Touchscreen is the user interface containing the controls for all the functions
needed and displays data from the assays.
Sample chamber is used to load the Qubit™ Flex Tube Strip containing your
samples into the fluorometer for analysis.
USB drive ports (Type A) allow you to transfer and save data to your computer
™
using a USB flash drive or wirelessly to a network drive or a Connect
account
using the Wi-Fi dongle (supplied with the instrument).
Power inlet connects the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer to an electrical outlet using
the supplied power cord and the appropriate plug.
LAN port (RJ-45) allows you to connect to the network using an Ethernet cable.
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Product specifications
Physical
Instrument type: Benchtop fluorometer
Electrical input: 48 VDC, 1.87 A
Operating
Installation site: Indoor use only
areas.
Technical
Warm-up time: <35 seconds
characteristics
conditions
Instrument dimensions: 7.3 in (w) × 11.1 in (l) × 4.1 in (h)
(18.6 cm × 28.2 cm × 10.3 cm); rectangular shape
Weight: 60 oz. (1.7 kg)
Operating power: 100–240 ±10% VAC, 1.3 A
Frequency: 50/60 Hz
IMPORTANT! If the supplied power fluctuates ±10% beyond the rated
voltage, a power line regulator may be required. High or low voltages can
adversely affect the electronic components of the instrument.
Altitude: Between sea level and 2000 m (6500 ft.) above
sea level
Operating temperature: 10–30°C
Operating humidity: 15–80% (non-condensing)
Pollution degree: The instrument has a Pollution Degree rating of II.
The instrument may only be installed in an
environment that has nonconductive pollutants.
Typical environment with a Pollution Degree II
rating are laboratories and sales and commercial
Dynamic range: 4 orders of magnitude
specifications
Processing time: ≤3 seconds/sample
Light sources: Blue LED (max 460–480 nm)
Red LED (max 620–640 nm)
Excitation filters: Blue 456–484 nm
Red 612–644 nm
Emission filters: Green 513–563 nm
Far-Red 671–693 nm
Detectors: Photodiodes; measurement capability from
320–1100 nm
Calibration type: 2- or 3-point standard
Sample chamber: Accommodates one Qubit
Tube type: Qubit
polypropylene tubes; Cat. No. Q33252)
™
Flex Tube Strip
™
Flex Tube Strip (8× 0.2-mL thin-wall
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™
Flex Fluorometer User Guide
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Hardware
Display: 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with high resolution
USB drive
Capacity: 4 Gigabyte
color display
Output ports: 3× USB ports
Networking capability: Connection via the LAN (RJ-45) port using an
Ethernet cable or wirelessly using the supplied
Wi-Fi adaptor
Power supply: AC adaptor with country‐specific power cords
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 9
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2. Getting started
Install the
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer is a stand-alone instrument that does not require
plug remains accessible to allow disconnection.
5. The instrument automatically powers on, first displaying the splash screen,
6. Click Accept to accept the terms of the agreement and proceed to “Set
language and date/time options” (page 11).
7. To power down the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer, unplug it.
Set up the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer
instrument
connection to a computer.
1. After unpacking the instrument, place the instrument on a flat, level, dry
surface.
2. Plug one end of the supplied power cord into the Qubit
™
Flex Fluorometer.
3. Attach the appropriate plug adaptor to the other end of the power cord.
4. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet. Ensure that the power adaptor
IMPORTANT! Use the power cord plug adapter supplied with the
instrument that is appropriate for the electrical outlet configuration in
your country. Powering the instrument with an unapproved power
cord can irreversibly damage the instrument. Note that the power
™
cords for the Qubit
those for the other Qubit
Flex Fluorometer are not interchangeable with
™
Fluorometer models.
then the End User License Agreement (EULA) screen.
Note: The End User License Agreement (EULA) screen is displayed on
the first use of the instrument. On subsequent uses, the Home screen
(page 14) is displayed after the splash screen.
Note: You can also view and export the EULA from the About
Instrument screen (page 15).
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Set language and
After you accept the EULA, the instrument shows the Language displayed and
date/time options
Date/Time screens, which allow you to set language and date/time options. If you
wish, you can later change the language settings from the SettingsInstrument
SettingsLanguage screen (page
85).
1. On the Language displayed screen, select the Language you want your
instrument to display, then press Next.
Available options are English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese,
and Spanish.
2. On the Date/Time screen, select the Time Zone, set the Date and Time in the
desired format, then press Next.
Note: For detailed instructions on how to configure date/time options
and to set the date and time, see “Set the date and time”, page 75.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 11
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Connect to the network
(Optional)
Connect
After you set language and date/time options, the instrument displays the
to the network
Network Connection screen, which allows you to configure network options. If
you wish, you can skip this step and connect to the network later from the
SettingsInstrument settingsNetwork connection screen (page
1. On the Network Connection screen, select Wireless or Wired connection.
If you wish to use the instrument without joining a network, press Skip. You
can always join a network and configure network settings later.
78).
2. Depending on your choice, the instrument displays the Choose Network or
the IP Configuration screen (for Wireless and Wired connection, respectively).
Choose Network screen
(for Wireless connection)
IP Configuration screen
(for Wired connection)
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3. For wireless connection, select the network you want to join, then follow the
on-screen instructions to configure the network options. When finished, press
Join.
For wired connection, configure the network connection options, then press
Done.
For detailed instructions on how to join a network (wireless or wired) and
configure network options, see “Network connection”, page 78.
4. On the Network Connection screen, click Network Drive to map the location
on the network where you want to save your Qubit
™
Flex files.
For detailed instructions on how to map a network drive, see “Map a network
drive”, page 81.
Note: You must have an established network connection to map a network
drive. If you wish, you can to map the network drive later.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 13
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After instrument setup
Home screen
After you have set instrument preferences, the instrument automatically displays
Use the Range Calculator to determine the best assay to use for your sample.
the Home screen each time it is powered on.
From the Home screen, you can:
• Sign in to your local instrument profile or your Connect
• Select the assays to perform:
- 1X dsDNA High Sensitivity (HS)
- dsDNA High Sensitivity (HS)
- dsDNA Broad Range (BR)
- RNA High Sensitivity (HS)
- RNA Broad Range (BR)
- Protein
- Oligo (ssDNA)
- microRNA
• Access saved data.
• Filter, delete, or export data.
• Configure instrument settings.
• Use the Reagent Calculator to determine the exact volumes of Qubit
and reagent required to prepare the Qubit
•
™
account.
™
working solution.
™
buffer
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About Instrument
The About Instrument screen displays information about your Qubit™ Flex
3. Press Close or Back ( ) to return to the Settings screen.
screen
Fluorometer, including the currently installed software version.
To access the About Instrument screen:
1. On the Home screen, press Settings.
2. On the Settings screen, press About Instrument to display the About
Instrument screen.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 15
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Sign in
Create a local
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer allows you to create a local instrument profile for each
instrument profile
user. A local instrument profile allows you to save to a mapped network location
and it is also required to connect to your Connect
skip this step and create a profile later from the Profile screen.
1. On the Home screen, press the Profile button on the top left corner of
the screen to open the Sign In screen.
™
account. If you wish, you can
2. If you are new to the instrument and have not yet created a profile, press
Get Started to open the Get Started screen, then press Create Profile.
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3. On the Create Profile screen, press Create.
If you wish to use the instrument without creating a local profile, press Skip.
You can always create an instrument profile later.
4. Press the User name field, enter the desired user name for the profile (1−20
alphanumeric characters, no spaces), then press Done.
5. Press the PIN field, enter a 4-digit PIN, then press Done.
6. Enter the PIN in the Confirm PIN field, then press Done.
7. Press Create to create the local instrument profile.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 17
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Sign in to your
Connect™ account
After you have joined a network, you can also connect to your Connect™ account,
1. Ensure that you are connected to the network on your Qubit™ Flex instrument
Thermo Fisher’s cloud-based platform, to store and access your data files.
Note: To connect to the Thermo Fisher Cloud, you must have a Connect™
account or create one. To create your Connect
to your existing account, go to thermofisher.com/cloud.
(page 12).
2. On the Home screen, press the Profile button on the top left corner of
the screen to open the Sign In dialog.
™
account online or to sign in
3. On the Sign In screen, press Get Started to open the Get Started screen, then
press Connect to open the Connect to the Cloud screen.
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™
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4. Connect to the Cloud screen offers three methods to sign in to your Thermo
Fisher Connect™ account:
• Instrument Connect App on your
mobile phone (Step 5, page 19)
• Dashboard on PC (Step 6, page 20)
• Instrument (Manually) (Step 7,
page 21)
5. To connect to your Thermo Fisher Connect™ account with the Instrument
Connect App on your mobile phone:
a. Download the Instrument Connect Mobile App from the application
store on your mobile phone.
b. Press Instrument Connect App on the Connect to the Cloud screen, then
follow the steps on the Qubit
Step 8 (page 22).
™
Flex instrument. When finished, go to
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 19
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6. To connect to your Thermo Fisher Connect™ account with Dashboard on PC:
a. Go to thermofisher.com/cloud and sign in to your Thermo Fisher
™
Connect
b. On the Connect
account.
™
dashboard, press the Instrument Connect button.
Instrument Connect screen opens.
c. On the Instrument Connect screen, press
Add an instrument.
Add an instrument dialog opens.
d. From the instrument type dropdown, select Qubit_Flex, then press Next.
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™
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e. Press Dashboard on PC on Connect to the Cloud screen (on the Qubit™
7. To connect to your Thermo Fisher Connect™ account with manually with the
Flex instrument; see page 19) to display the linking code.
f. Enter the linking code displayed on the Qubit
™
Flex instrument into the
Add an instrument dialog, then press Send.
g. When finished, go to Step 8 (page 22).
Qubit™ Flex instrument:
a. Press Instrument (Manually) on the Connect to the Cloud screen (on the
™
Qubit
b. Enter your User name and Password for your Thermo Fisher Connect
Flex instrument; see page 19).
account, then press Connect.
™
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 21
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8. When you have signed in to your Thermo Fisher Connect™ Account,
the Profile button on the Home screen becomes blue.
When signed in, you can export your data to your Connect
™
account.
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Recommendations
To obtain the best results, follow the recommendations below. For more
been tested using the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer.
Assay tubes for
Fluorometer
Only thin-wall, clear 0.2-mL PCR tube strips are appropriate for use in the Qubit™
Guidelines for using the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer
information, see “Critical Qubit™ Assay considerations”, page 99.
• Do not operate the instrument in direct sunlight.
• Wear gloves during sample handling.
• Use the instrument at room temperature only (22–28ºC).
• Bring all kit reagents to room temperature and insert all assay tubes into the
instrument only for as much time as it takes for the instrument to measure the
fluorescence.
• Do not hold the assay tubes in your hand before performing a measurement.
• Make sure that you have calibrated the Qubit
appropriate standards.
• The assay volume must be 200 µL for an accurate read.
• Take care not to create air bubbles when mixing the sample or standard with
the working solution.
• Incubate the tubes for the Qubit
mixing the sample or standard with the working solution.
• Incubate the tubes for the Qubit
the sample or standard with the working solution.
• If you are performing multiple readings of a single tube, remove the tube
from the instrument and let it equilibrate to room temperature for 30 seconds
before taking another reading.
Note: Multiple readings of RNA samples are not recommended.
• Visit thermofisher.com/qubit
citations, software updates, and a list of validated Qubit
™
Flex Fluorometer using the
™
DNA and RNA assays for 2 minutes after
™
protein assays for 15 minutes after mixing
for additional application notes, technical notes,
™
assays that have
the Qubit™ Flex
Flex Fluorometer. For best results, we recommend using Qubit™ Flex Tube Strips
(Cat. No. Q33252).
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 23
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Before you begin
Materials needed
Qubit™ Flex Reservoir (Cat. No. Q33253) or other suitable sample reservoir
•
with the instrument or available separately
Sign in to your
1. Press the Profile button on the top left corner of the screen to open the
Otherwise, go to Step 3 (page 25).
• A Qubit™ assay kit appropriate for quantifying your samples (see page 101 for
• DNA, RNA, or protein samples in Qubit
• Appropriate standards for your assay in Qubit
• Single channel pipette (1–20 µL), multichannel pipette (200 µL)
•
3. Perform assays
™
available Qubit
Note: For instructions on the preparation of the assay standards, see
the instructions that accompany the assay you are using or the Qubit
Flex Fluorometer Quick Reference Card (QRC) (Pub. No. MAN0018187).
(Optional) USB drive, USB cable, or Ethernet cable for data transfer, supplied
Note: You can also transfer your data to a network location or your
Connect
assay kits and ordering information)
™
Flex Tube Strips
™
Flex Tube Strips
™
account wirelessly, if you have set up a wireless connection.
™
profile
Sign In dialog.
2. If you are new to the instrument and have not yet created a
local instrument profile or signed in to your Thermo Fisher
Connect
™
account, press Get Started.
To create a local instrument profile, see page 16.
To sign in to your Thermo Fisher Connect
™
account, see page 18.
24 Qubit
™
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3. Press Screen name, then select your instrument
4. Press PIN, enter the PIN for your profile, then
profile from the available options.
Note: The Connect icon next to a screen name indicates that the
profile has an associated Connect
™
account.
When the Connect icon is blue, the profile is signed in to the
™
associated Connect
account.
press Enter.
5. Press Sign in to sign in to your account and return to the Home screen.
The blue profile button indicates that you have signed in to your account.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 25
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(Optional)
The on-board Assay Range Calculator displays the core sample concentration
based on your sample volume and estimated sample concentration.
Use the Assay
1. On the Home screen, press Calculators.
range
Use the Assay Range Calculator to determine the assay
range for which the selected assay is most accurate, as well as the extended low
and high ranges based on your sample volume. Knowing the assay range can help
you determine which Qubit
™
assay provides the most accurate quantification
Range Calculator
2. On the Select Calculator screen, press Assay Range to open the
3. Press Output sample unit, then select the units in
Assay Range Calculator.
which you wish to view the assay range.
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™
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4. Select the Assay for which you wish to view the assay accuracy range.
5. Enter the sample volume to be used directly in the sample volume text box.
You can also use the + and – buttons or adjust the sample volume wheel.
The Assay Range Calculator displays the Core sample concentration range for
the selected assay and the Extended low and high ranges based on your input.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 27
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Note: Samples with concentrations within the Core range of the assay will
6. Increase or decrease the sample volume to observe how changes in the sample
dsDNA HS Assay range
dsDNA HS Assay range
have <15% relative error for the given sample volume. Samples with
concentrations within the extended range will have <25% relative error for
the given sample volume.
volume affect Core and Extended accuracy ranges for the assay.
for 20 µL sample volume
Note: The sample volume used (1–20 µL) changes the assay accuracy range.
For highest accuracy, use the maximum sample volume that would keep
for 5 µL sample volume
the concentration measurements within the core range.
Note that a different sample volume or assay may be required if the sample
concentration is outside of what the assay can accurately quantify.
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™
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7. Press the Information icon on the header bar to view the Range Details
10. Press Done to return to the Home screen.
(relative errors for the core and extended ranges) and guidelines for
obtaining best assay results.
8. Press Close to return to the Assay Range Calculator.
9. (Optional) If desired, repeat the procedure for another assay to determine
whether it would provide more accurate results in the expected concentration
range.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 29
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Use the Reagent Calculator to prepare Qubit™ Working Solution
Use the on-board Reagent Calculator to determine the amount of Qubit™ dye and
standards.
Use the Reagent
1. On the Select Calculator screen, press Reagent to open the Reagent Calculator.
additional tubes (600 µL) in the total calculated volume.
buffer required to prepare the Qubit™ Working Solution for your samples and
Calculator
2. Enter the total number of samples and standards that you plan to run.
3. (Optional) Select Include overage, if you want to include reagents for three
30 Qubit
™
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4. Press Enter to calculate the amount of Qubit™ dye and buffer required to
5. Press Done to return to the Select Calculator screen.
open the Assay Range Calculator (page 26).
prepare the Qubit™ Working Solution with these inputs.
Note: You can change the total number of tubes that you plan to run
or the overage selection on this screen.
6. Press the Back button to return to the Home screen or press Assay Range to
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 31
Page 34
Run standards for assay calibration
For each assay, you can run new standards to calibrate the assay on the Qubit™
information, see “Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer calibration”, page 100.
For
Run new standards
1. On the Home screen, press to select the Assay to perform.
2. When prompted, press Read standards & run samples to read new standards.
Flex Fluorometer or use the values from the previous calibration. For more
IMPORTANT! Be sure to use the appropriate standards for your assay.
best results, run new standards each time you perform an assay.
To view the next screen of available assays, swipe to the left. To return to the
previous page, swipe to the right.
Note: To apply the previous calibration to your assay, press Run
samples. See “Read samples”, page 36.
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™
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Page 35
3. When prompted, load the Qubit™ Flex Tube Strip containing Standard #1 into
4. When prompted, insert Standard #2, then press Run standards.
page 36.
the sample chamber, then press Run standards. The reading takes ~3 seconds.
5. For Qubit
™
protein assays only: When prompted, insert Standard #3, then press
Run standards.
The calibration is complete after Standard #2 is read (or after Standard #3 for
the Qubit
™
protein assay) and the software displays the results (see
“Calibration results”, page 34).
6. If your calibration is successful, press Next to proceed to “Read samples”,
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 33
Page 36
Calibration results
• If the calibration is successful, Standards
complete screen with the Fluorescence
vs. Concentration graph is displayed.
In the Fluorescence vs. Concentration
graph, the standard data points are
connected by a line and open circles
represent correct standards.
• If the calibration is not successful,
Calibration error message is displayed.
If you receive the Calibration error
message, you can re-run the standards
(see “Re-run standards after calibration
error”, page 35).
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(Optional)
Re-run
1. In the Calibration error screen, press Done.
3. Press Run standards, then repeat the calibration procedure (page 25).
standards after
calibration error
2. If you wish to re-run the standards, or run new standards, prepare a fresh set
of standards, then load Standard #1 into the instrument.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 35
Page 38
Read samples
Before you begin
•
• Prepare the samples. Refer to the instructions provided with the assay.
Insert samples
1. When prompted, load the tube strip containing the samples as shown in the
2. Press Output sample units to open the Output Units
Calibrate the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer as described on page 25. (Run the
appropriate standards or accept the values from the previous calibration.)
Note: Incubate the samples for the appropriate amount of time after
mixing them with the working solution (2 minutes for the Qubit
and RNA assays, 15 minutes for the Qubit
™
protein assay).
™
DNA
Insert samples screen. If you have fewer than 8 samples, press to deselect the
tube positions that do not contain a sample.
All 8 tubes contain samples No sample in positions S7 and S8
screen, then select the desired units.
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3. Press Next to go to the Sample volume screen.
for 10 µL sample volume
for 20 µL sample volume
4. In the Sample volume screen, enter the sample volume added to the assay
tube (between 1 and 20 µL).
You can enter the volume directly in the sample volume text box, use the +
and – buttons, or adjust the sample volume wheel.
When you enter the sample volume, the assay range information on the
screen automatically changes to reflect the new core and extended accuracy
ranges based on the sample volume.
dsDNA HS Assay range
dsDNA HS Assay range
Note: The sample volume used (1–20 µL) changes the assay accuracy
range. For highest accuracy, use the maximum sample volume that
would keep the concentration measurements within the core range.
If the sample concentration is outside of what the assay can accurately
quantify, a different sample volume or assay may be required.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 37
Page 40
(Optional)
Enter
Assay kit lot #,
1. Press More options to open More Options screen, where
Details of your
2. To enter an assay kit lot number, press the Enter assay kit
Add Tags,
Add Sample IDs
you can:
• Enter assay kit lot # (Step 2, page 38)
• Add Tags to your sample run (Step 3, page 39)
• Add Sample IDs (Step 6, page 40)
The information you have entered will be available on the Data
samples (page 62).
Note: You can open the More Options screen from the Insert Samples
(page 36) or the Sample Volume (page 37) screens.
lot # text box, enter the assay kit lot number, then press
Enter.
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3. To add a tag to your samples in the run, press Add Tags on the More Options
screen to open the Add Tag screen.
4. To create a new tag, press the Create new run tag text box to open the Create
New Tag screen, enter the new tag, then press Enter.
The new tag will be added to the list of available tags on the Add Tag screen.
Note: To filter the list of available tags for the last used tag, press Last
Used.
To display all existing tags alphabetically, press Alphabetical.
To sort the list of available tags alphabetically in ascending or
descending order, press the Tag column header.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 39
Page 42
5. Select the desired tag from the list of available tags, then press Apply to add
the selected tag to your samples and return to the More Options screen.
6. To add sample IDs to your samples, press Add Samples IDs, then select
The tag you have applied to your sample run is displayed on the More
Options screen and the Add Tags button changes to Edit Tags.
Note: To return to the More Options screen without applying a tag to
your samples, press Cancel.
To delete an existing tag, select the tag from the list of available tags,
then press Delete.
To change the tag applied to your sample run, press Edit Tags on the
More Options screen.
Cloud (your Connect™ account; see page 18 for sign in instructions)) or USB
for the location of the sample IDs you want to import.
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7. Select the file containing the sample IDs from the list of available files, then
Note: The file containing the sample IDs must be in CSV (comma
separated value) format and filled out like the example below: first
“Plate Barcode” then “Well” and “Sample Id”.
press Apply.
8. Press OK at the confirmation page.
9. When finished entering assay kit lot number and applying tags and sample
IDs, press Done at the More Options screen. The assay screen displays the
new information added to your samples at the bottom of the screen.
To go back to the assay screen without applying the new information, press
Cancel.
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Page 44
Run Samples
1. Press Run samples. The reading takes approximately 3 seconds and the results
are displayed in graph view in the Results screen (see “Results”, page 43).
2. To display the results in list view, press the Graph button to unselect it.
3. To run more samples, press Add samples, and repeat the procedure.
The Results screen lists the concentration of each original sample using
the output units selected at the beginning of the assay.
Note: By default, the Results screen displays the measurements in graph
view. However, the graph settings are “sticky”, so that if you close the
graph, the next time anyone runs an assay, the graph view is hidden and
the results are shown in list form.
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View results
1. The instrument automatically displays the Results screen after the completion
Results
of each sample run.
By default, the results are displayed in graph view, which shows the
Fluorescence vs. Concentration graph and lists the concentration of each
original sample below the graph.
In the graph:
• Open circles represent correct
standards.
• Blue circles represent samples that
fall within the assay’s core range.
• Orange circles represent samples
that fall within the assay’s extended
range.
• Red circles represent samples that
fall outside the assay’s range.
2. To view a sample on the Fluorescence vs. Concentration graph, press the
desired sample on the sample list. The selected sample is displayed as a gray
circle on the graph.
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Page 46
3. To display the results in list view, press the Graph button to hide the
graph.
the concentration value.
The Results screen shows the concentration of each original sample in a list
form, using the output units selected at the beginning of the assay.
• If the concentration of a sample is within the assay’s extended range, the
concentration value is displayed in orange, and an “extended range”
message and an orange circle are displayed next to
• If the concentration of a sample is outside of the assay’s range, an “out of
range” message and a red circle are displayed next to the sample.
4. To display the results in graph view again, press the Graph button.
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The on-board Molarity Calculator allows you to calculate the molarity of your
samples based on nucleic acid length and their measured concentration.
Use the Molarity
1. On the Results screen, press Calculators, then select Molarity
(Optional)
Calculator
Use the Molarity Calculator to determine sample molarity
to open the Molarity Calculator.
2. On the Molarity Calculator screen,
press the Desired units fields to select
the input and output units.
Input units Output units
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 45
Page 48
3. Press Length (bp) field for Sample 1
Note: The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer auto-populates the Molecular weight
(MW) depending on the Qubit
™
assay performed (for example, for the
dsDNA HS assay, it uses a default value of 660 g/mol for the average
molecular weight of one DNA base pair).
To change the auto-populated MW value, press the Molecular weight field
and enter the desired average molecular weight of your sample.
(S1), enter the length (bp) of
Sample 1, then press Enter.
4. If all your samples have the same length, select
Auto-populate DNA length.
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™
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5. Press Calculate to calculate the molarity of your samples
6. To export your results, press Export. The instrument exports the complete CSV
To go back to the Calculator screen, press the Back button.
based on the assay results and DNA length in the output units
that you have selected.
Note: When you press Calculate, the instrument saves the data from
molarity calculations with the sample data in the CSV file.
file with all sample data, including the molarity calculation results.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 47
Page 50
(Optional)
The on-board Normalization Calculator helps you to normalize your samples of
results from your assay.
Select the
1. On the Results screen, press Calculators, then press
volume (page 55).
Use the Normalization Calculator to determine how to
dilute the samples to the same molarity, concentration, or mass
variable concentration to the same molarity, concentration, or mass using the
Normalization
Calculator
Normalization.
2. On the Normalization Calculator screen, select:
• Molarity to determine how to dilute your samples to the same final mass
and volume (page 49).
• Concentration to determine how to dilute your samples to the same final
concentration (page 52).
• Mass to determine how to dilute your samples to the same final mass and
Note: The option to normalize your samples based on molarity is
available only if you have run the Molarity calculator (page 45) on
your samples.
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Normalize your
1. On the Normalization Calculator screen, select Molarity.
samples to the
same molarity
2. Enter the Final sample mass and select units.
3. Enter the Final sample volume and select units, then press Enter.
Note: The minimum allowed sample volume on the Normalization
Calculator is 5 µL.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 49
Page 52
4. Press Calculate to see how much sample and buffer to mix to
achieve the desired final sample concentration and volume.
5. Press the right arrow to view page 2 of
Note: When you press Calculate, the instrument saves the data from
normalization calculations with the sample data in the CSV file.
results, which displays the required
sample:buffer dilution before mixing
(“Required Dilution”, if applicable) and
the sample concentration after the
dilution (“Diluted conc.”).
If dilution is not required before mixing,
then “N/A” is displayed in the Required
Dilution and Diluted conc. columns for
the sample.
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6. Press the right arrow again to view
Calculator screen.
page 3, which displays the actual sample
concentration (“Concentration”).
7. Press the left arrow to go back to the previous page.
8. To export your calculations, press Export. The instrument exports the complete
CSV file with all sample data, including the normalization calculation results.
9. Otherwise, press Done to close the Normalization calculator and go back to the
Note: If your sample needs further dilution before mixing to achieve the
desired final molarity, the required sample:buffer dilution is indicated in
the Add sample column (in red) and in the Required Dilution column (on
page 1 and 2 of calculation results, respectively).
If dilution is not required before mixing, then the Required Dilution and
Diluted conc. columns display “N/A” for the sample.
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Page 54
Normalize your
samples to the
1. On the Normalization Calculator screen, select Concentration.
same
concentration
2. Enter the Final sample concentration and select units.
3. Enter the Final sample volume and select units, then press Enter.
Note: The minimum allowed sample volume on the Normalization
Calculator is 5 µL.
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™
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4. Press Calculate to see how much sample and buffer to mix to
5. Press the right arrow to view page 2 of
achieve the desired final sample concentration and volume.
Note: When you press Calculate, the instrument saves the data from
normalization calculations with the sample data in the CSV file.
results, which displays the required
sample:buffer dilution before mixing
(“Required Dilution”, if applicable) and
the sample concentration after the
dilution (“Diluted conc.”).
If dilution is not required before mixing,
then “N/A” is displayed in the Required
Dilution and Diluted conc. columns for
the sample.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 53
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6. Press the right arrow again to view
page 3 of results, which displays the
Calculator screen.
actual sample concentration
(“Concentration”).
7. Press the left arrow to go back to the previous page.
8. To export your calculations, press Export. The instrument exports the complete
CSV file with all sample data, including the normalization calculation results.
9. Otherwise, press Done to close the Normalization calculator and go back to the
Note: If your sample needs further dilution before mixing to achieve the
desired final concentration, the required sample:buffer dilution is indicated
in the “Add sample” column (in red) and in the “Required Dilution”
column (on page 1 and 2 of calculation results, respectively).
54 Qubit
If dilution is not required before mixing, then the Required Dilution and
Diluted conc. columns display “N/A” for the sample.
™
Flex Fluorometer User Guide
Page 57
Normalize your
1. On the Normalization Calculator screen, select Mass.
samples to the
same mass and
volume
2. Enter the Final sample mass and the desired units.
3. Enter the Final sample volume and the desired units, then press Enter.
Note: The minimum allowed sample volume on the Normalization
Calculator is 5 µL.
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 55
Page 58
4. Press Calculate to see how much sample and buffer to mix to
achieve the desired final sample concentration and volume.
5. Press the right arrow to view page 2 of
Note: When you press Calculate, the instrument saves the data from
normalization calculations with the sample data in the CSV file.
results, which displays the required
sample:buffer dilution before mixing
(“Required Dilution”, if applicable) and
the sample concentration after the
dilution (“Diluted conc.”).
If dilution is not required before mixing,
then “N/A” is displayed in the Required
Dilution and Diluted conc. columns for
the sample.
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™
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6. Press the right arrow again to view page 3 of calculation results, which
Calculator screen.
displays the actual sample concentration (“Concentration”).
7. Press the left arrow to go back to the previous page.
8. To export your calculations, press Export. The instrument exports the complete
CSV file with all sample data, including the normalization calculation results.
Otherwise, press Done to close the Normalization calculator and go back to the
Note: If your sample needs further dilution before mixing to achieve the
desired final mass and volume, the required sample:buffer dilution is
indicated in the “Add sample” column (in red) and in the “Required
Dilution” column (on page 1 and 2 of calculation results, respectively).
If dilution is not required before mixing, then the Required Dilution and
Diluted conc. columns display “N/A” for the sample.
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4. Manage data
Overview
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer can save data for up to 10,000 samples.
View list of data
1. On the Home screen, press Data. The Data screen opens and
For the saved data, the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer allows you to:
• View detailed data for each sample (page 58).
• Rename data files (page 63).
• Export data as a CSV (comma separated value) file to a USB drive, directly to
your computer, or to your Connect
• Delete data files (page 70).
View detailed sample data
™
account (page 64).
sets
displays the list of data sets that are saved in the instrument.
2. By default, the data sets are arranged by date in descending order. To sort the
data sets, press the appropriate category in the header row:
• To sort the data sets by date in ascending order, press Date.
To sort the data sets by date in descending order, press Date again.
• To sort the data sets by Assay name in descending order, press Assay
name.
To sort the data sets by Assay name in ascending order, press Assay name
again.
• To sort the data sets by the number of samples in descending order,
press #.
To sort the data sets by the number of samples in ascending order, press #
again.
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(Optional)
Filter
1. To filter data sets by Assay or Tag, press Actions to open
data sets
the Actions screen, then select Filter data.
2. On the Filter Data screen, press Assay, then select the Assay of interest.
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3. If you had applied a tag to the assay (page 38), select the Tag from the list.
Otherwise, go to step 4.
4. Press Apply to filter the data list by the assay and tag you have selected.
Only the data sets that satisfy the filter criteria are displayed in the Data
screen.
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Select data set and
1. On the Data screen (filtered or not filtered), press the data set of interest. The
view detailed
Data set screen opens and displays a list of samples in that run.
sample data
2. To view the sample details, press the sample of interest. A Data details screen
opens. To view sample details that do not fit in the screen, scroll down.
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Information in the
detailed sample
data
Run ID RFU values for the standards
Sample name Date of last read standards
Assay date Sample volume
Original sample concentration Dilution factor
Qubit™ tube sample concentration Excitation channel
Assay name Optional information (Tags, Reagent lot etc.)
Sample RFU* value
*RFU: Relative Fluorescence Units
Molarity calculation information (units, nucleic
acid length, MW, molarity)
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Edit
1. On the Data screen, select the data set of interest, then select the sample you
Edit sample name
sample name
want to rename.
2. On the Data details screen, press the Sample set # field (indicated by red
arrow). Edit Sample Name screen opens.
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3. Enter the desired sample name, then press Enter. Data Details screen
reappears and displays the new sample name.
4. If you wish to rename all of the samples in the data set, press the Next button
to go the next sample (instead of pressing Enter at step 3), then enter the new
name for that sample.
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™
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5. Repeat for all remaining samples. When finished renaming all the samples,
press Enter. Data Details screen reappears and displays the new sample
name.
6. Press the Back button to return to the Data screen for the assay. All of the
samples display the new sample names.
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Export data
Introduction
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer is designed for standalone use; it does not require an
cable. You can then view the file in any spreadsheet program.
Export data
1. On the Home screen, press Data to open the Data screen.
Two data sets selected
All data sets selected
external computer. However, to archive data and generate reports, you can export
the numeric data stored in the CSV file to a computer using a USB flash drive, or
save to your Connect
2. To export entire data sets, press the check box to the left of each data set that
you wish to export. You can select multiple data sets.
To select all data sets to export, press the blue check icon on the header row.
™
account or a network drive wirelessly or via the Ethernet
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3. To export only individual data entries from a data set, press the data set of
Three samples in the data sets selected
All samples in the data set selected
interest to view individual samples in the data set.
4. Press the check box to the left of the samples that you wish to export. You can
select multiple samples to export.
To select all samples in the data set to export, press the blue check icon on the
header row.
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5. After you have selected the data sets or the samples, press
Actions, then select Export.
6. In the Export data screen, select the Export method. Available options are
Cloud (i.e., your Connect
• To export data to a USB drive, insert the USB drive into the Qubit
Fluorometer.
• To export data to your Connect
the instrument is connected to the network wirelessly or via an Ethernet
cable.
™
account), USB, and Network Drive.
™
account or a network drive, ensure that
™
Flex
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7. Press Export to export the data. The numeric data is automatically saved as a
CSV file. You can open the CSV file using any spreadsheet program.
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Delete data
Delete data files
1. On the Home screen, press Data.
3. After you have selected the data sets or the samples, press
2. On the Data screen, press the check box to the left of each data set you wish to
delete. To select all data sets, press the blue check icon on the header row.
To delete only individual sample files from a data set, press the data set of
interest to view individual samples in the data set, then press the check box
to the left of the samples you wish to delete.
Select data sets to delete
Actions, then select Delete.
Select Sample files to delete
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4. Press Delete. A warning screen appears.
data.
5. Press Delete to permanently delete the sample data or data set.
6. Press Cancel to return to the screen previously viewed without deleting any
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5. Configure instrument settings
You can configure the following instrument settings for the Qubit™ Flex
Cloud region (page 86)
Access the
1. On the Home screen, press Settings.
Instrument settings
Fluorometer from the SettingsInstrument Settings screen:
• Sleep mode (page 73)
• Brightness (page 74)
• Date/Time (page 75)
• Network Connection (page 78)
• Reset instrument (page 84)
• Language (page 85)
•
Instrument
2. On the Settings screen, press Instrument settings to display the
Settings screen
Instrument settings screen.
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Adjust the sleep
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer has a sleep mode (i.e., automatic standby) that is
saving the changes.
Sleep mode
mode
triggered by inactivity. The system default is 10 minutes of inactivity before the
instrument goes into sleep mode.
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Sleep Mode.
2. To change the time of inactivity before the instrument goes into sleep mode,
press Edit Time field, then enter the time between 1 minute and 60 minutes.
3. To disable the sleep mode, toggle the Enable Sleep Mode switch to the Off
position.
4. Press Done to save the changes and return to the Instrument Settings screen.
Press Cancel or Back ( ) to return to the Instrument Settings screen without
Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer User Guide 73
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Brightness
Adjust screen
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Brightness.
saving the changes.
brightness
2. Move the Brightness slider up or down to adjust the brightness of the display.
3. Press Done to save the changes and return to the Instrument settings screen.
Press Cancel or Back ( ) to return to the Instrument settings screen without
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Set the date and
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Date/Time.
Date and Time
time
2. Press Time Zone, then select the time zone for your location from the list.
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3. Press Date, then choose MM DD YYYY, DD MM YYYY, or YYYY MM DD
for the date format.
4. To set the date, press the DD, MM, and YYYY fields to enter the Day, Month,
and Year.
5. Press Enter when finished entering the date, then press Done.
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6. Press Time, then choose 12 Hour or 24 Hour for the time format.
7. To set the time, press the Hours and Minutes fields to enter the Hours and
8. Press Enter when finished entering the time, then press Done.
12-Hour format
24-Hour format
Minutes. If you have chosen the 12 Hour format, select AM or PM.
12-Hour format
24-Hour format
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Page 80
Network connection
Access the
Network Connection screen allows you to connect to an available wireless
To map a network drive to save your Qubit™ Flex files, go to page 81.
Network
Connection screen
network using the supplied Wi-Fi adaptor, or to configure and join a local area
network via the LAN (RJ-45) port using an Ethernet cable. After you have joined a
network, you can also connect to Thermo Fisher’s Connect
to store and access your data files.
1. To access the Network Connection screen, press SettingsInstrument
Settings, then select Network connection.
2. The Network Connection screen opens.
™
cloud-based platform
• To connect to a Wi-Fi network, go to page 79.
• To establish a wired connection to a local area network (LAN), go to
page 80.
•
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Connect to a Wi-Fi
1. Ensure that your USB Wi-Fi dongle is inserted into one of the available USB
the connection is established, the network is highlighted in blue.
network
ports on the instrument (see page 7).
If it is not, insert the Wi-Fi dongle, then restart the instrument by
disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply.
2. Press SettingsInstrument Settings, then select Network connection.
3. On the Network Connection screen, press Wireless. The instrument searches
for available wireless networks within range.
4. On the Choose Network screen, press the network you want to join.
5. If required, enter the appropriate security credentials, then press Join. After
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Connect to a local
area network (LAN)
1. Ensure that the instrument is connected to an active network jack via the
5. Press
to join the local area network.
LAN (RJ45) port (page 7) using a standard Category 6 Ethernet cable.
2. On the Instrument Settings screen, press Network connection, then select
Wired.
3. On the IP Configuration screen, select DHCP or Static.
4. If you have selected Static, enter the static IP address, MAC address, Subnet
mask, Default Gateway address, and primary and secondary DNS server
addresses for the LAN port.
Done
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Map a Network
1. Ensure that the instrument is connected to an active network and that you
Drive
have signed in to your profile (page 24).
2. On the Instrument Settings screen, press Network connection, then select
Network Drive.
3. On the Network Drive screen, press Drive location, enter the location of the
drive to save your Qubit
™
Flex files, then press Enter.
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4. Press Domain name, enter the domain name where the drive is located, then
press Enter.
5. Press User name, enter your user name for the network drive, then press
Enter.
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6. Press Password, enter your password for the network drive, then press Enter.
7. When finished entering all the required fields for the Network Drive, press
Connect.
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Reset instrument
Reset instrument
Reset instrument function returns the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer to its default
factory settings, and erases all saved data and user-defined instrument settings.
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Reset instrument to
display the Reset Qubit
™
Flex screen.
2. To return the instrument to its default factory settings, press Reset.
After the reset is complete, all data, user-defined instrument settings, and
custom assays are removed, and the instrument displays the Home screen.
Press Cancel or Exit ( ) to return to the Instrument settings screen without
saving the changes.
IMPORTANT! The reset function is not reversible.
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Change the
You can change the language that the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer displays to English
to confirm the change and return to the Instrument
Language
displayed
language
(default), French, German, Italian, Spanish, simplified Chinese, and Japanese.
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Language to display the
Language screen.
2. Press to select the desired language. Available options are English, French,
German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.
3. When prompted, press Yes
settings screen.
If you do not want to change the language settings, press Cancel or Exit ( )
to return to the Instrument settings screen without saving the changes.
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Cloud region
Change the cloud
1. On the Instrument Settings screen (page 72), press Cloud region.
region
2. Select the cloud region from the available choices, then press Change.
3. When prompted, press Change to close the warning screen, then press
Change again to change the cloud region of the instrument. The instrument
will restart after changing the cloud region.
If you do not want to change the cloud region, press Cancel to return to the
previous screen.
Note: If you change the cloud region of the instrument, you must relink all
instrument accounts.
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Maintenance
The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer does not need regular maintenance. To troubleshoot
• Do not expose the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer to direct sunlight.
Clean the Qubit™
We recommend that you clean the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer periodically to prevent
6. Instrument maintenance
Maintenance and cleaning
problems with the instrument, contact Technical Support (page 111).
• Do not perform any repairs or service on the Qubit
damaging the instrument.
CAUTION! Never disassemble or service the instrument yourself. Do not
remove any covers or parts that require the use of a tool. Unauthorized
repairs may damage the instrument or alter its functionality, which may
void your warranty. Contact your local distributor to arrange for service.
™
Flex Fluorometer to avoid
Flex Fluorometer
the buildup of dust and dirt that might reduce its performance and cause
contamination.
CAUTION! To avoid electrical shock, always disconnect the power cable
before cleaning or decontaminating the instrument.
IMPORTANT! Using a cleaning or decontaminating method other than
that specified by the manufacturer may result in damage to the instrument.
• Clean the surface of the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer with a damp cloth.
• To clean the touchscreen, disconnect the power cable, and clean the touchscreen
with a soft cloth lightly moistened with LCD (liquid crystal display) cleansing
detergent.
• Cleaning the screen with excessive force can damage the touchscreen. Wipe the
screen dry immediately.
• Do not use abrasive cleaning solutions or material to prevent the touchscreen
from getting scratched.
™
• To disinfect the instrument, disconnect the power cable from the Qubit
Flex
Fluorometer and clean the instrument, including the touchscreen, with a soft
cloth lightly moistened with 70% ethanol, 70% isopropanol, or 10% bleach
(0.6% sodium hypochlorite).
• The cloth included with the instrument is not recommended for use with
ethanol or isopropanol.
• Ensure that the cleaning solution does not enter the power button, the power
inlet, the sample port, or the USB drive ports.
• Never pour or spray any liquids directly on the instrument to avoid electrical
shock when the instrument is plugged in.
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Software updates
Before you begin
1. Download the latest software to a USB drive or to your network from
wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable.
Update the
1. On the Home screen, press Settings, then select Software update.
2. If using a USB drive, insert the USB drive into the instrument.
software
thermofisher.com/qubit.
If using a network drive, ensure that the instrument is connected to the network
2. On the Software Update screen, select Cloud, USB, or Network Drive. If you
have selected Cloud or Network drive, enter your credentials to sign in.
The instrument searches your Connect
network drive for the update.
™
account, the USB drive, or the
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3. If a new update is available and the appropriate files are detected, the
5. When prompted, press Restart to complete the software update.
Note: If the USB drive is not inserted into the USB drive port or the
instrument does not recognize the USB drive, a warning message is
displayed.
To proceed with the software update, insert the correct USB drive into
the instrument, then press Retry.
instrument displays “Software update is available”. Press Update to view the
available versions of the software.
4. Select the software version you want install on the instrument for the update,
then press Update.
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System verification
The system verification checks the internal components of the Qubit™ Flex
instrument is suspected. It is not necessary to perform the verification regularly.
Perform System
1. On the Home screen, press Settings, then select System Verification.
Fluorometer and requires the use of the Qubit™ Flex System Verification Assay Kit
(Cat. No. Q33254). Perform the system verification when a problem with the
verification test
2. On the System Verification screen, press Next.
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3. When prompted, set up three Qubit™ Flex Tube Strips and label the tube strip
lids 1−3.
4. Add 200 µL of Blank Reagent to each tube of tube strip #1, 200 µL of Green
Fluorescence Reagent to each tube of tube strip #2, and 200 µL of Far Red
Fluorescence Reagent to each tube of tube strip #3, then press Next.
5. When prompted, ensure that the sample chamber is empty and the lid is
closed, then press Start test to run the Qubit
System Verification). This test takes approximately 15 seconds.
™
Flex hardware test (Step 1 of
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6. When prompted, ensure that the Qubit™ Flex Verification Assay is prepared,
then press Next.
System Verification Pass
System Verification Failed
7. Insert tube strip #1 into the sample chamber, close the lid, then press Read.
8. When prompted, read tube strip #2 and tube strip #3 as described for tube
strip #1.
9. When the test is complete, the software displays the error status.
• If no errors are found, System Verification Pass message appears. Press
Close to return to the Settings screen or press Next to view the System
Verification Report (page 93).
• If errors are found, Error Reading Reagents message appears. Verify that
the test was run with the lid closed, then press OK to re-run the test with
the tube strips in the correct order.
• If the System Verification Failed message persists after re-running the
tube strips with the lid closed, do not use the instrument and contact
Technical Support for help (page 111).
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10. Press Report to view the System Verification Report or press Data Log to view
11. Press Close to return to the Settings screen or press Data Log to view the
and export the available data logs (page 93).
The System Verification Report shows the pass/fail status of the instrument
components.
Far Red Fluorescence Channel Fail
available data logs.
All Pass
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12. To export a Data Log as a PDF report, select the desired Data Log, press
Actions, then press Export. You can select multiple Data Logs for export.
13. Select Cloud (Thermo Fisher Connect
Network Drive for the location where you want to save the PDF report of the
Verification Assay Test Results.
14. To delete a Data Log, select the desired Data Log, press Actions, then press
Delete. You can select multiple Data Logs for deletion.
™
cloud-based platform), USB, or
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The Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer contains a 3 V CR2450 battery, which is required to
cannot keep the time setting, which indicates the need to replace the battery.
Replace battery
1. Disconnect the Qubit™ Flex Fluorometer from the power source.
Replace battery
record the export CSV file date and time. When the battery runs out, the system
2. Remove the four screws (as indicated by the red arrows) on the bottom
chassis of the Qubit
3. Flip the instrument so that the top chassis is facing up.
4. Open the instrument slightly (~ 3 cm) from the bottom right side.
™
Flex instrument using a Phillips-head screwdriver.
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5. Pry the old battery from its housing using a flat-head screwdriver and
remove it.
6. Insert the new 3 V CR2450 battery to the battery housing.
7. Arrange two cable assemblies into the groove on the bottom chassis, place the
top chassis on the bottom chassis so that the slots for the screws align
properly, then tighten the four screws on the bottom chassis using a Phillipshead screwdriver.
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Handling samples
RNA standards. The integrity
free gloves, pipette tips, and tubes. Keep the tube
as soon
centrifugation will often help dissipate bubbles.
High reading
• The sample is out of range. Use a
entirely at room temperature.
Troubleshooting
• The calibration standards included in the Qubit™ microRNA, Qubit™ RNA HS,
• Ensure that the assay tubes are at room temperature at the time the reading is
• Be careful not to spill sample into the sample chamber. Promptly wipe any
• The Qubit
• The tube must be clean and dry on the outside when taking readings.
• Minute bubbles in samples will cause errors in readings. Be sure not to
Appendix A: Troubleshooting
and Qubit™ RNA BR Assay Kits are high-quality
and concentration of these standards is critical to the optimal performance of
the Qubit
as you would any other precious RNA. Use appropriate RNase-free handling
techniques, including RNaselids closed whenever possible; do not press the pipet to the inside wall of the
tube when withdrawing a sample. Return the RNA standards to –80°C
as possible after use.
taken. Do not hold assay tubes in your hand and do not leave assay tubes in
the Qubit
See “Assay temperature”, page 100.
spills.
from a previous sample may result in errors. Use a clean Qubit
Strip for each reading.
Moisture and condensation on the tube surface can lead to reading errors.
introduce bubbles into samples. Slight tapping on the tube wall or brief
™
RNA assays. We highly recommend treating the rRNA standards
™
Flex Fluorometer for longer than it takes to read the fluorescence.
™
assays are very sensitive and even small amounts of material
™
Flex Tube
sample that is less concentrated or add a
smaller volume of sample into the assay
to further dilute the sample.
™
• For Qubit
quantification assays, view
the Fluorescence vs. Concentration
graph in the Results screen to confirm
that the values for the samples fall
between the values of the standards
(page 43).
• Ensure that the lid is closed while
reading standards and samples.
• Prepare samples and standards
according to the instructions in the
™
Qubit
assay kit you are using.
• Ensure that the assay is performed
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Low reading
• The sample is out of range. Use a
sample that is more concentrated or use
• Ensure that the assay is performed entirely at room temperature.
a lower dilution (for example, 20 µL in
180 µL instead of 10 µL in 190 µL).
™
• For Qubit
quantification assays, view
the Fluorescence vs. Concentration
graph in the Results screen to confirm
that the values for the samples fall
between the values of the standards
(page 43).
• Ensure that you have prepared the
Qubit
™
working solution correctly
(1:200 dilution using the buffer
provided in the kit).
• Ensure that you have prepared the
standard tubes correctly (10 µL of each
™
standard in 190 µL of Qubit
working
solution).
• Ensure that the standard and sample tubes are filled to 200 µL.
™
• Protect the Qubit
• Select the correct Qubit
reagent and working solutions from light.
™
Flex Fluorometer assay for the Qubit™ assay you are
performing and calibrate the fluorometer correctly. Standards must be used
in the correct order.
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