RainDrop Sense Operator’s Manual
LCN 50-04343 Rev. D
7-9
The ICS does not display
droplets during a run or
displays an unstable pattern of
droplets.
You have under-filled one
or more sample wells. This
means that there is less
than 25 µL in the
problematic well. The lane
will fail.
The sample in that lane is
lost. Deselect the
corresponding lane on the
Sense run.
One of the lanes fails, displays
erratic droplet formation, or
uneven droplet spacing.
Sample may be improperly
sheared, may have too
much DNA, or may have
contaminants such as
fibers that interfere with
droplet formation. Refer to
the
RainDrop Assay dPCR
Guidelines
for information
in preparing the sample.
The sample is lost. Make
sure the DNA is properly
sheared. Try diluting the
sample and generating
droplets. Filter materials
through a 0.2 micron filter
to remove debris and
contaminants.
There is a white sheen on the
tube strip when I remove it from
the instrument and there is
liquid in the tube strip nest and
the emulsion is not in the tube
as expected.
Inspect the tube strip to
see if there is a hole in the
bottom of one of the tubes.
This is a rare, but known,
manufacturing defect and
the sample may have
leaked out of the tube.
The run may time out after
50 minutes or it may finish
properly.
Visually inspect tube strips
before using them.
The sample is lost in tube
strip nest and is
unrecoverable. In addition,
you must contact
RainDance Support (see
to clean the
instrument to ensure that
the tube strip sensor is
working properly.
The ICS displays unstable
droplet generation, a lower than
expected number of droplets,
or the lane fails.
The sample was
improperly pipetted and
either is mixed with too
much air or is a bead on
the side wall of the sample
input well.
Sample may be lost. When
you pipette sample, ensure
that you place the tip at the
bottom of the well to avoid
leaving the sample on the
wall of the sample input
well.
Table 7-1: Troubleshooting the RainDrop Sense Instrument
