QIAcuity User Manual 06/2022
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General Description
The QIAcuity performs a fully automated processing of the QIAcuity Nanoplates, including all
necessary steps of plate priming, sealing of partitions, thermocycling, and image analysis.
Depending on the plate type, up to 8, 24, or 96 samples per plate can be analyzed. For high
sensitivity applications, the QIAcuity Nanoplate 26K 8- or 24-well is available. The number of in
parallel processable plates depends on the instrument configuration (One, Four, Eight). The
QIAcuity controls all integrated modules, including a robotic gripper for plate handling, a
partitioning module, a PCR thermocycler, and a fluorescence imaging module.
Setting up experiments and the analysis of results is done in the stand-alone QIAcuity Software
Suite. The Software Suite and instrument software are able to communicate with each other over a
direct or a network connection. If the Software Suite is not available in the instrument, setting up an
experiment only in the instrument is also possible.
QIAcuity principle
The QIAcuity is designed as a walk-away instrument that integrates and automates all plate
processing steps. Only the plate preparation must be done manually before starting the run. This
includes the pipetting of the target reagents and master mix in the input wells of the plate and the
closing of the wells with the top-seal. If this preparation is done and the experiment is set up, the
plate must be placed in a free plate slot of the instrument tray. By reading the barcode of the plate,
the instrument links the plate to the experiment previously defined in the software and after pressing
the play button, all further steps are performed fully automated by the instrument.
The following process steps are done sequentially:
Partitioning
: In the first module, the microchannels and partitions of the plate are filled with the input
volume of the wells. This is done by plunging the pins in the elastic top-seal and the input wells. This
creates a peristaltic pressure that pumps the input well liquid into the microchannels and partitions.
Subsequentially, the connecting channels between the partitions are being closed by a pressure-
controlled rolling process (see images hereafter).
Summary of Contents for QIAcuity 911000
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