How to maintain and care the nucleic acid automatic extractor to ensure its long-term stable operation and good extraction results?

Here are some ways to maintain and care for your automatic nucleic acid extractor:
Regular Cleaning
External cleaning: After each use, the external surface of the instrument should be wiped with a clean and soft cloth to remove dust and stains. For more difficult to clean stains, dip a small amount of 70% ethanol solution to wipe, but to avoid liquid into the internal instrument. Regularly clean the vents and heat sinks of the instrument to prevent dust from accumulating and affecting heat dissipation, which may cause the performance of the instrument to deteriorate.
Internal Cleaning: Clean the inside of the instrument regularly according to the instructions in the instrument manual. This includes the sample rack, sample channel, elution tubes, elution plates, centrifuge and other parts, which can be wiped with special detergent or 70% ethanol to ensure that there is no residual impurity. After cleaning, wait until the parts are completely dry before installing them back into the instrument.
Checking the liquid level and reagents
Liquid level check: Before and after each use, check the level of various liquid reagents, such as lysis solution, binding buffer, washing buffer, elution solution, etc., to ensure that the amount of reagents is sufficient, and avoid operating at low levels to prevent extraction failure or inaccurate results due to insufficient reagents.
Reagent quality and preservation: Use the matching reagents recommended by the instrument manufacturer to ensure the best extraction effect and normal operation of the instrument. Meanwhile, pay attention to the storage conditions of the reagents. Generally, the lysate and eluent should be stored in a cool and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent deterioration of the reagents from affecting the extraction effect.
Replacement of consumables
Regular replacement: According to the frequency of use and the instruction manual of the instrument, the consumables of the instrument should be replaced regularly, such as sample tubes, elution tubes, elution plates, cartridges, columns, pipette tips, O-ring seals, etc. These consumables may be used for a long period of time and may not be suitable for the extraction process. These consumables may wear out, deteriorate or become clogged after long-term use, affecting the normal operation of the instrument and the extraction results.
Use qualified products: When replacing consumables, be sure to use qualified products that match the instrument to avoid liquid leakage, cross-contamination of samples, or performance degradation due to consumables quality problems.
Calibration and Quality Control
Parameter calibration: Regularly calibrate the parameters of the Nucleic Acid Extractor, such as temperature, time, speed, centrifugal force, etc., to ensure that the operating parameters of the instrument are accurate. Special calibration equipment should be used and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the accuracy of the calibration.
Quality testing: Regular quality control tests can be performed to verify the performance of the instrument and the extraction effect by conducting extraction experiments using standards or nucleic acid samples of known concentration and comparing the extraction results with the expected values. At the same time, internal and external quality controls can be performed to ensure that the instrument is performing as required.
Software and Firmware Updates
Keep an eye on updates: Keep an eye on software and firmware updates released by the instrument manufacturer. As technology advances, new versions often improve instrument performance, add new features, or fix known problems.
Keep up-to-date: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for updating the instrument’s software and firmware to ensure that the instrument is always using the latest version to maintain its performance stability and functional integrity.
Temperature and Environmental Control
Temperature stabilization: Nucleic acid extractors often require control of specific temperature conditions, so check and calibrate the temperature sensor to ensure that the internal temperature of the instrument remains constant to avoid excessive temperature fluctuations that could affect the accuracy of nucleic acid extraction. At the same time, the instrument should be placed in a well-ventilated environment with suitable temperature (20℃-35℃) to prevent the instrument from overheating and damaging the electronic components.
Environmental requirements: The instrument should be placed in an environment free of corrosive gases, strong magnetic field interference, and relative humidity 0%-80%, avoid placing it in a humid, direct sunlight or near large electrical equipment, so as not to affect the performance and life of the instrument.
Operation Training and Records
Personnel training: Ensure that the operator has received appropriate training and is familiar with the correct use of the instrument, operating procedures and precautions. Operators should strictly follow the operation manual to conduct experiments, to avoid improper operation leading to instrument failure or poor extraction results.
Maintenance records: Establish detailed maintenance records, including maintenance dates, maintenance contents, replaced parts, calibration results, and any problems or repairs. This will help track the instrument’s usage and maintenance history, identify potential problems in time, and provide a reference for preventive maintenance.

Safety Practices and Troubleshooting
Safe operation: Follow laboratory safety practices and wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as lab gloves, masks, and goggles, when operating instruments. Handle and dispose of chemical reagents and wastes correctly, and avoid contact with hazardous substances such as lysate and eluent to prevent accidents.
Troubleshooting: In case of malfunction or abnormal situation of the instrument, such as increased noise, decreased extraction efficiency, error message, etc., it should be stopped immediately and unplugged from the power supply. Contact the supplier or professional maintenance personnel to deal with, do not dismantle the instrument, so as not to cause greater damage.