BIOWAVE DNA

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Biochrom Ltd Tel: +44 (0)1223 423723

22 Cambridge Science Park Fax: +44 (0)1223 420164
Cambridge [email protected]
CB4 0FJ England www.biochrom.co.uk
The Instrument

Display panel

On/off key

Alphanumeric keys
Cell holder

Arrow keys Escape/Cancel

Set reference

View options
Enter selection/take measurement

Key Action
On/off key Turns the instrument on/off
Cell holder Insert the cell here. The instrument accepts standard 10 mm pathlength quartz,
glass or plastic cells. The light beam is directed from RIGHT to LEFT.
Arrow keys Use the four arrow keys to navigate around the display and select the required
setting from the active (highlighted) option.
View Options: ::; View options for that application mode.
Display panel Displays folders, menu options that guide you through taking measurements
and displays your results.
Alphanumeric keys Use these to enter parameters and to write text descriptions where
appropriate, or required. Use repeated key presses to cycle through lower
case, number and upper case characters. Leave for 1 second before entering
next character. Use C button to backspace and 1 to enter a space.
Escape/Cancel: Escape from a selection and return to the previous folder. Stop making
measurements.
Set Reference: 0A/100%T Set reference to 0.000 A or 100%T on a reference solution at the current
wavelength in the mode selected. When in scan mode, do a reference scan.

Enter/OK/Next: Enter, or confirm, a selection. Take a measurement.

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The Display Screen

Navigation
Move between boxes using the up and down arrows.

Enter parameters by:

using the key pad numbers
OR
If the box contains the symbol :, either type in a value or press
the options key ::;, and choose a parameter from the next
screen.
OR
If the box contains arrow symbols, use the left and right arrow
keys to select the required parameter.

Press OK to save the Press Cancel to erase

selected parameters selections and return
and go on to the next to the previous screen
screen

Taking Measurements

1. Insert the reference sample in chamber. Press the

blue 0A/100% key.

2. Insert the first sample and press the green Enter

key .

Repeat 2 for each sample.

Results

The results are displayed on screen.

Press the ::; key, or use the number keys to select

further options either relevant to the application used, to
print the results, view the parameters etc. – see below for
details.

Press Cancel: , to exit the application.

Options (select using key pad numbers)

1. View parameters for the experiments
2. Print the results
3. Display a graph of the results
4,5,6 Specific to an application
7. Define the sample number you wish to start from
8. Save the parameters as a method in the Methods folder
with a defined method name.
9. Toggle auto-print on/off. Default is off.

Exit options by pressing , or wait.

Experienced operators can use the numeric keys as a
shortcut to the option required without needing to enter the
Options menu.

Biowave DNA Quick Reference Guide Page 3

Parameter Dictionary

Parameter Folder Sub-Folder Manual Description and options

page
Auto Standby Utilities Preferences 40 Select whether to use a standby mode after
defined periods. Options: 1 hour, 2 hours, at
night or off
Auto-Print Utilities Printer 39 Select whether auto-print is on or off. When
on, results are automatically printed after a
measurement is taken. When off, printing
has to be initiated manually
Background DNA 11 Select whether the background correction
RNA 13 at 320 nm is used or not. Options: On or Off
Oligo 15
Protein Protein UV 24
Brightness Utilities Contrast 40 Adjust the brightness using the left and right
arrows
Calibration Protein BCA 26 Select the calibration mode. Standard,
Bradford 29 measure prepared standard or Manual,
Lowry 32 enter values using key pad numbers
Biuret 35
Coeff. 1 Protein Protein UV 24 Enter coefficient 1 (for absorbance at 280
nm). Default is 1.55 as in Christian and
Warburg equation: protein (mg/ml) =
1.55*Abs 280 – 0.76*Abs 260
Coeff. 2 Protein Protein UV 24 Enter coefficient 2 (for absorbance at 260
nm). Default is 0.76 as in Christian and
Warburg equation: protein (mg/ml) =
1.55*Abs 280 – 0.76*Abs 260
Concentration Absorbance/ 19 Enter the concentration of the standard.
Concentration Range 0.01-9999. Only available when the
‘standard’ mode has been selected.
Contrast Utilities Contrast 40 Adjust the contrast using the left and right
arrows
Correction Cell Culture 20 Allows a correction factor to be applied to
match the instrument to read the same OD
as other instruments
Curve Fit Protein BCA 26 Select the type of curve fit to be used.
Bradford 29 Options: straight line regression (forces the
Lowry 32 line through the origin), zero regression,
Biuret 35 interpolated or cubic spline
Day Utilities Date and Time 39 Enter the day of the month
Diluent DNA 11 Enter the volume of the diluent. Range:
RNA 13 0.01 – 9999
Oligo 15
Protein Protein UV 24
Dilution Factor DNA 11 Enter the dilution factor using the keypad
RNA 13 numbers or press ::; to calculate the
Oligo 15 dilution factor
Protein Protein UV 24

DP Absorbance/ 18 Determines the number of decimal places in

Concentration the results (0-2). Results have a maximum
Protein BCA 26 of 5 figures
Bradford 29
Lowry 32
Biuret 35

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Parameter Folder Sub-Folder Manual Description and options
page
Factor Absorbance/ 18 Enter the Factor. Default is 1, range 0.001-
Concentraion 9999.
Factor DNA 11 Enter the factor. Default is 50, range: 0.01-
9999
Factor Oligo 15 Enter the factor. Default is 33, range: 0.01-
9999
Factor RNA 13 Enter the factor. Default is 40, range: 0.01-
9999
Factor Cell Count 20 Enter the factor. Relates measures
absorbance to cell density, range: 0.01 to
9999
History Utilities Preferences 40 Select whether to use previously entered
parameters when the instrument is switched
on or to use default values. Options: On or
Off
Hour Utilities Date and Time 39 Enter the hour. Range 1-24
Language Utilities Regional 39 Select the language used on the display
screen. Options: German, French, English,
Spanish or Italian.
Minutes Utilities Date and Time 39 Enter the minute. Seconds are zeroed when
OK is pressed
Mode Absorbance/ 17 Select ‘Absorbance to make absorbance
Concentration measurements, or to make contentration
measurements select ‘Factor’ if the factor is
known or ‘Standard’ if it will be calculated
from a standard of known concentration
Month Utilities Date and Time 39 Select the month
Multiplier Cell Culture 20 Sets the expoint for the the cells/ml value,
either 1000 or 1,000,000
Number Utilities Regional 39 Set the decimal point style: 999,9 or 999.9
Format
Pathlength DNA 11 Select the relevant path length – 5 or 10
RNA 13 mm
Oligo 15
Protein Protein UV 24
Printer Utilities Printer 39 Select the printer to send the results to.
Options: Built in (internal printer), or to a
computer via either USB port or Bluetooth
Replicates Protein BCA 26 Select the number of standards to be
Bradford 29 measured and averaged at each standard
Lowry 32 concentration point. Options: OFF (=1), 2 or
Biuret 35 3. This parameter is only available if the
calibration mode is set to Standards
Standards Protein BCA 26 Enter the number of standard concentration
Bradford 29 points to be used in the curve. Range 1-9.
Lowry 32
Biuret 35
Std. n (n=a Protein BCA 26 Enter the concentration value for each
number) Bradford 29 standard. These parameters are only
Lowry 32 available if the calibration mode is set to
Biuret 35 Manual
Theme Utilities Preferences 40 Define the screen layout of folders. Options
are a grid format (the default) or a list

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Parameter Folder Sub-Folder Manual Description and options
page
Units DNA 11 Select the units to measure the absorbance
RNA 13 ratio in. Options: µg/ml, ng/µl or µg/µl
Oligo 15
Protein Protein UV 24
Units Absorbance/ 18 Enter the units using the alphanumeric keys
Concentration or press ::; and select pre-defined units
Protein BCA 26 using the left and right arrows (options:
Bradford 29 (µg/ml, µg/µl, pmol/µl, mg/dl, mmol/l, µmol/l,
Lowry 32 g/l, mg/l, µg/l, U/l, %, ppm, ppb, conc or
Biuret 35 none)
Units Cell Culture 20 Selects either cell count (cells/ml)or OD
(optical density)
Volume DNA 11 Enter the volume of the sample. Range:
RNA 13 0.01 to 9999
Oligo 15
Protein Protein UV 24
Wavelength Absorbance/ 17 Enter the wavelength at which you want to
Contentration measure absorbance or concentration
Wavelength Protein BCA 26 Set at 562 nm
Wavelength Protein Biuret 35 Set at 546 nm
Wavelength Protein Bradford 29 Set at 595 nm
Wavelength Protein Lowry 32 Set at 750 nm
Wavelength Cell Culture 20 Set at 600nm
Year Utilities Date and Time 39 Enter the year

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