Define an incubation step
Core elements tutorial 7.2
Incubation steps, i.e., periods in which liquids are kept at a specific temperature, with or without agitation, are common in laboratory protocols. This can be specified in a workflow using the Incubate element. This element can either control an integrated incubator or otherwise asks the user to intervene and manually move the liquids to and from an incubator.
Get started
Tip: This should include an incubator.
Aliquot liquids and incubate
In this example, one set of liquids is defined by the Define Liquids and Plates element, aliquoted using the Aliquot element, and then the aliquoted liquids are incubated using the Incubate element.
In the workflow builder, add 3 elements to your canvas: 1x Define Liquids and Plates, 1x Aliquot and 1x Incubate. Define the input liquids and the aliquot conditions. To learn how to define input liquids, click here.
Connect the Liquids parameter from the Define Liquids and Plates element to the Liquids to Aliquot input parameter of the Aliquot element.
Connect the Aliquots parameter from the Aliquot element to the Liquids to Incubate input parameter of the Incubate element.
In the Parameters panel within the incubate element define the duration, temperature, and shaking speed of the incubation step.
Simulate the workflow
Check that the device that you selected can follow the instructions that you prepared. To learn how, click here.
Preview the execution
After you simulate the workflow, click View Simulation to open the simulation details.
Open the Preview tab, then click through the steps to check that the instructions that Synthace has generated are correct.
Check your work:
To see what your finished workflow to this tutorial should look like simply navigate to the Tutorials and search for Tutorial. 7. Utility elements.
Challenges
Some protocols have multiple incubation steps. Starting with the workflow above, dilute the liquids on the plate to a second plate, incubate them further, and then aliquot the dilutions to a third plate.