• Minimizing the volume helps with improving the precision. When using the 10 μl protocol, there is higher variation in the “time to empty” for different wells on each plate. This is related to the flow rate of the microchannel and larger volume show more net effect on flow duration (and variation of the duration).
  • The new 5 μl protocol also reduces the incidences of “slow” or “stopped” flow. With proper pipetting technique and by use of the new protocol, our lab tests show that flow failure rate (well does not empty after 10 minutes) is now less than ∼ 0.2%.
  • We have verified through extensive assay tests that change from 10 μl to 5 μl does not affect the assay sensitivity. This is partly owing to improvements made to the OptiMax™ buffer formulations.