Cleaning agents specifications and applications for Tecan (LiHa and RoMa) parts

Clean each component of the Tecan instrument, specifically the LiHa (Liquid Handling Arm) and RoMa (Robotic Manipulator), on a regular basis using only the specified and appropriate cleaning agents for each part. Proper cleaning is essential to maintain instrument performance, accuracy, and longevity.

Using incorrect cleaning agents, harsh chemicals, or strong detergents can damage the instrument. In particular, these substances may dissolve or degrade the protective coatings on carriers and worktable surfaces, leading to premature wear, corrosion, or functional issues that can negatively affect assay performance.

The tables below provide detailed guidance on:

• The recommended cleaning agents for each Tecan component

• Specifications and usage considerations for each cleaning agent

• Manufacturers of commercially available cleaning products

Table 1. Cleaning agents that can be used for each Tecan parts.

Instrument part	Cleaning agent
Liquid system, including waste system	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, base Suitable for flushing are: Bleach, Decon / Contrad, Terralin protect
Worktable	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, disinfectant, base, bleach
Housing	Water, alcohol, surface disinfectant
Metal parts	Water, alcohol, disinfectant
Carriers	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, disinfectant Use: Decon / Contrad for surface cleaning only Do not use: Decon / Contrad, Bleach, SporGon as cleaning bath for carriers (damage to aluminum)
Racks	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, disinfectant
Gripper	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, disinfectant
Tips	Water, alcohol, weak detergent, disinfectant, base
Safety panels	Water, alcohol, disinfectant, suitable for acrylic glass
Disposable tip cones	Alcohol
PosID scanner head laser beam output window	Alcohol
Arm guide, arm guide roller of arms	Do not use any agent
Z-rod	Do not use any agent

Table 2. Specifications for each cleaning agent.

Agent	Specifications
Water	Distilled or deionized water
Alcohol	70% ethanol or 100% isopropanol (2-Propanol)
Decon / Contrad	Liquid concentrate, for dilution with water (normally 2%, 5% in case of severe contamination)
Weak detergent	eg, Liqui-Nox
Disinfectant	eg, Bacillol plus, SporGon
Surface disinfectant	All disinfectants except: Lysetol FF, SporGon
Base	eg, 0.025-0.25 mol/l NaOH
Bleach	0.5% to 3% sodium hypochlorite

Table 3. Manufacturers of commercially available cleaning products.

Agent	Description	Manufacturer
Contrad 70*	Surface active cleaning agent	Decon Labs Inc., USA www.deconlabs.com
Contrad 90* Contrad 2000*	Surface active cleaning agent	Decon Laboratories Limited, UK www.decon.co.uk
Decon 90*	Surface active cleaning agent	Decon Laboratories Limited, UK www.decon.co.uk
Bacillol Plus	Alcoholic, disinfection agent, free of formaldehyde, for surface cleaning	Bode Chemie, Hamburg www.bode-chemie.de
DNAzap	Cleaning agent for surfaces contaminated with nucleic acids	Ambion www.ambion.com
SporGon	Disinfectant	Decon Laboratories www.deconlabs.com
Liqui-Nox	Weak detergent	Alconox www.alconox.com

*These are identical products; are hereafter called Decon / Contrad

Notes:

• If weak detergents, base or bleach, are used, thoroughly clean with water and wipe dry to remove the cleaning agent and obtain normal operating conditions.

• Use a lint-free tissue together with the appropriate cleaning agent.

For further information, see Operating Manual Infinium LiHa and Infinium RoMa guide.

For any feedback or questions regarding this article (Illumina Knowledge Article #7003), contact Illumina Technical Support [e-mail].