DNA sequencer

[Eric C. Anderson]

In article <mikep.157.000C329D at uniwa.uwa.edu.au>, mikep at uniwa.uwa.edu.au
(Michael Poidinger) wrote:

> >We are going to purchase a DNA sequencer.  We would appreciate if anyone can 
> >comment on the machine that they are using.  Thnak you very much.
> 
 We use an ABS 373A  sequencer which when it is working really gives no 
> problems.  It breaks down about 1/month, usually in the middle of a run so 
> that you lose the entire gel, not to mention samples and about $200 worth of 
> reagents
> 
> I have heard tell of a lab in Cambridge that has 4 of these things and never 
> has all 4 running at once.
> 
> My advice: A working DNA sequencer takes a lot of time and hassle out of 
> sequencing, but requires a department with good infrastructure and 
> maintainance money that they are prepared to spend on a maintainance contract 
> with ABS

i'd just like to add my thoughts on the Perkin Elmer/ABD 373A (disclaimer:
no connection other than my lab has one and i run it).  we have had ours
for 10 months now.  the only mechanical problem we've had with it was a
noisy mirror assembly screw motor which was fixed within 24 hours of the
service call (even though our service rep covers about 6 states) at no
charge, and no problems since then.

i believe the lab referred to above is perhaps the Sanger Centre UK which
is collaborating with the C. elegans Genome Sequence Center here at
Washington U. who have been of great help to me both in terms of setting up
the machine as well as with C. elegans specific assistance (since i'm a
worm guy in a lab full of yeast people).  i don't know about the Sanger
Centre's set-up but the Genome Center here has 16 373's running 2 runs per
day 6 days per week.  sure, they break down on occassion, but all 3 times
that i have been over in their facility to take a look at the machines, all
of them have been in operation.

i agree that a maintenance contract with PE/ABD (the new moniker since
Applied Biosystems merged with Perkin Elmer) is a good idea, but just as
important is a good relationship with the service rep., tech services dept.
as well as the sales rep.  our lab (and indeed almost everyone that runs an
ABI here at the Medical Center that i've spoken with) loves the 373A and
has had very few problems with it.  (FWIW, the one lab that i know of that
has one that is continually breaking down allows anybody in the dept. to
use it.  they pour their own plates, set up the machine and collection
computer, run their own reactions, etc.  IMHO this has always been an
accident waiting to happen.  the 373A can be a temperamental machine and
when used by people who haven't been well-trained to use it and understand
the way it works, it can cause a great deal of trouble.  i suggest -- as
does PE/ABD -- that one or two people be in charge of actually setting up
the machine and gel and loading and running the reactions.  this cuts down
a lot of problems and also allows for quick fixes of minor problems that
some people might not notice before they become expensive repair bills.)

my 2 cents,

eric
-- 
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*Of course it's not true...         *
*But let's make the bastard deny it!*
*                        LBJ (1948) *
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eric c. anderson                                
anderson at pharmdec.wustl.edu
dept. of molecular bio. and pharm.               (314)362-3963 (lab)
washington univ. school of medicine              (314)862-2435 (home)
660 s. euclid box 8103                           (314)362-7058 (FAX)
st. louis, mo 63110