Dear Fluidigm customers,
In these difficult times of Corona virus pandemic, we have received requests on the proper method to shut down Helios, CyTOF1, CyTOF2 and Hyperion systems for an extended period of time. Please follow the procedures below for shutting down your systems and backing up your data.
Recommendations for Hyperion Shutdown and Startup:
Hyperion Shutdown:
1. Remove slide from ablation chamber if necessary. Ensure stage has returned to its home position by loading the empty stage back into the chamber after removing
slide.
2. Shut the Helium supply valve
3. Quit CyTOF software.
4. Turn off the Hyperion imaging unit
5. Follow steps for Helios shutdown (see below)
Hyperion Startup:
1. Follow steps for Helios startup (see below).
2. Turn on the Hyperion imaging unit.
3. Check alignment of the coupling tube
4. Open the Helium supply valve
5. Launch CyTOF software
Recommendations for Helios Shutdown and StartupPlease note that the Shutdown and Startup procedures for CyTOF 1 and CyTOF 2 are the same as for Helios.
If you do not have a copy of the Helios Users Guide, you can download it from the Fluidigm website:
https://www.fluidigm.com/binaries/conte ... igm%3AfileIf you have trouble with the link, please reach out to your regional field applications specialist.
Extended cleaning prior to Helios Shutdown1. Clean the sample probe line, sample line, sample capillary and nebulizer by running wash solution for at least 5 min with wash solution and ultrapure water (DIW)
for at least 10 min.
Optional: Wash solution can be run for longer than 5 min if desired. However, make sure to rinse with DIW for at least 2 times as long as the wash solution is run.
Note: If plasma is not on, follow steps 1-8 for cleaning procedure without plasma in the Helios Users Guide (page 76).
2. Remove the sample capillary from the nebulizer.
3. Remove the nebulizer from the nebulizer adaptor.
4. Disconnect the neb gas line from nebulizer.
5. Clean the nebulizer according to the nebulizer cleaning procedure as described in the Helios Users Guide (pages 93-94).
6. Store the nebulizer by soaking in DIW in a covered container.
7. Disconnect the argon gas line from the sample loader.
Helios Shutdown:
Follow the instrument shutdown procedure provided in the Helios Users Guide (page 80 )
Important Note: If you decide to shut off the Argon supply to the instrument, you will need more time to recover the vacuum levels in the TOF chamber when the time comes to start-up the instrument.
Helios Startup:
Please follow the start-up procedure provided in the Helios User Guide (page 81)
Important Note: If the Argon supply was shut off, start the Argon gas supply for two hours prior to re-starting the Helios.
Recommendations for Data Backup for both Helios and Hyperion Systems
We recommend that you backup your data as well as the CyTOF ‘conf’ folder following the steps below.
1. Backup all the data from the E drive to an external and/or Network drive. Please note that we highly recommend backing up your data after each run. If you are not
sure about the size of the data, which exists on the E drive, please ask your IT department for advice about the size of the target backup drive.
2. Close the CyTOF software and wait for 10 seconds.
3. Open the file explorer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\Fluidigm\CyToF
4. After verifying that the software is closed, make a copy of the “conf” folder onto the same external drive and/or the Network driver where you have backed up your sample generated data.
Stay Safe and healthy,
Team Fluidigm