Essential Maintenance of Your Transilluminator for Gels: Expert Recommendations

It is the paradoxically peaceful but at the same time exciting moment where your precious DNA is revealed through the sight complemented with fluorescent blue. That crucial instant is achieved through the use of a transilluminator. This laboratory equipment is essential for visualizing nucleic acid molecules and stained proteins that have been separated by gel electrophoresis. Given its vital role, keeping this equipment in excellent condition is mandatory to ensure accurate and safe research results. 

The protection filter of your scientific instrument is a critical part that is often overlooked. It weakens the energy of ultraviolet light to a wavelength that is not harmful to either the operators or the gel molecules. It is therefore essential to keep it clean to ensure optimal equipment performance. For cleaning, we recommend using a soft cloth dampened with water or a mild cleaning solution. The operation should be performed carefully and avoid scratching the surface. 

Checking the Illumination System

At the core of this gel viewer is its illumination system, the source of that ultra-fine radiation that will illuminate your dye-impregnated gels. It is crucial, experts suggest, to regularly check the UV lights and replace damaged or old lamps. This will not only ensure optimal performance, but also keep researchers safe by minimizing exposure to potentially harmful UV radiation. 

The fuses in a gel transilluminator are often the first to succumb to the stress of continuous use in a laboratory environment. If you notice that your device is not turning on or is showing signs of erratic operation, checking the condition of the fuses can be a good start. Remember, preventive maintenance can save you a lot of unnecessary time, effort and frustration.

General Recommendations 

In addition to these maintenance recommendations, it is strongly suggested that you consult your equipment manual. This will give you a more specific idea of the care and cleaning your laboratory device requires. 

In conclusion, proper maintenance of your transilluminator will ensure that it remains in optimal working condition, prolong its useful life and guarantee the accuracy of your research results. Therefore, taking care of your lab equipment is as essential as your research itself. Remember, a scientist is only as good as his equipment.

The future at Kalstein 

As a manufacturer of laboratory equipment, we at Kalstein are pleased to offer you high-end products, with updated design and advanced technology; know our transilluminators HERE, you will find the YR models that are available for your purchase, we also have a new 3D platform that has unlimited versatility, present in more than thirty countries worldwide, publish with us without language restrictions, with shipping plans, be seen, you are more.