QIAcube HT

Instrument for automated mid- to high-throughput nucleic acid purification in 96-well format

S_5443_IAS_QIAcube_HT_PrepManager_s
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QIAcube HT, w/o laptop, System

Cat. No. / ID:  9001896

Robotic workstation for mid- to high-throughput nucleic acid purification in 96-well format; includes installation, application training and one-year warranty on labor, travel and parts. Does not include a laptop.
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InstrumentProduct
QIAcube HT
Accessories Pack, QXT
Contains
Without laptop
laptop
Service Options
System
Priority
PrioPLUS
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The QIAcube HT is intended for molecular biology applications. This product is not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
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Features

  • Reliable DNA, RNA and miRNA extraction from virtually any sample type
  • Mid- to high-throughput solution with dedicated purification kits saves costs and time
  • User-friendly software allows for easy data management and documentation
  • Innovative design features increase safety and minimize cross-contamination
  • Convenient, flexible and easy-to-use instrument with small footprint

Product Details

QIAcube HT enables automated mid- to high-throughput nucleic acid purification in 96-well format using silica membrane technology. A variety of QIAcube HT Purification Kits lets users quickly and easily purify DNA, RNA and miRNA from almost any type of sample – including cells, tissues and stool samples, as well as from bacteria and viruses in animal samples. Automated protocols and dedicated accessories and consumables increase reliability and convenience and save valuable time. The system provides the same high-quality results as other trusted QIAGEN purification technologies.

Performance

QIAcube HT provides fast and reliable automated high-throughput nucleic acid purification for use in a variety of sensitive downstream applications. Researchers can easily increase their sample purification throughput and expect the same high-quality results as from other trusted QIAGEN nucleic acid purification solutions.>

DNA from blood, cells and tissues

Automated purification of total DNA from blood, cells and tissue samples is quick, easy and reliable with QIAcube HT and the dedicated QIAamp 96 DNA QIAcube HT Kit. Fresh or frozen whole blood containing common anticoagulants can be processed (see figure  Analysis of genomic DNA purified from human blood). QIAcube HT lets users increase sample purification throughput without having to compromise on quality or reliability, providing high yields of pure DNA that perform well in downstream analyses (see figures  Purification of genomic DNA from tissues and  High performance in downstream assays). >

DNA from stool samples

Automated purification of DNA from stool samples is quick, easy and reliable with QIAcube HT and the dedicated QIAamp 96 PowerFecal QIAcube HT Kit. Whether stool samples from 10 different animals were subjected to manual gDNA purification using the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit or automated using the dedicated instrument kit, the target could be successfully amplified in a real-time PCR assay, as indicated by comparable CT values (see figure  Automated bacterial DNA purification from various animal stool samples gave comparable yields to the manual procedure).
Stool samples are rich in PCR inhibitors such as complex polysaccharides, bile salts, lipids and urate. In the best cases, these inhibitors make it difficult to amplify targets by PCR, while in the worst cases, their presence can entirely suppress PCR signals. Therefore, effective removal of these inhibitors is critical to successful analysis of nucleic acids purified from stool samples. The QIAamp 96 PowerFecal QIAcube HT Kit efficiently eliminates PCR inhibitors from samples, enabling reliable detection of DNA, similar to other QIAGEN stool DNA purification solutions whether used manually or automated (see figure  Efficient PCR inhibitor removal with all kits whether used manually or automated). >

Viral DNA and RNA from a variety of samples

The QIAamp 96 Virus QIAcube HT Kit enables automated purification of viral RNA and DNA from a broad range of sample types including fresh or frozen tissues, blood and other body fluids. The procedure yields high-quality viral nucleic acids that perform well in downstream PCR and RT-PCR analyses (see figure  Reliable purification from a range of sample types). The procedure also provides high yields of pure RNA or DNA that perform well in downstream analyses, similar to other QIAGEN DNA purification solutions (see figures  Reliable automated purification and  High sensitivity of viral nucleic acids in PCR and RT-PCR). >

RNA from cells and tissues

RNA purification on QIAcube HT is simple and reliable with the RNeasy 96 QIAcube HT Kit and provides linear sample recovery with no significant well-to-well variation across a 96-well plate (see figures  Linear recovery of total RNA from tissues and  Reproducible 96-well RNA purification). This economical, easy-to-use system provides the same results as other trusted QIAGEN purification technologies (see figure Automated purification of high-quality RNA from tissues). >

Viral DNA and RNA and bacterial DNA from animal samples

QIAcube HT enables reliable purification of nucleic acids from undiluted animal whole blood with minimal risk of silica membrane clogging. Automated processing of samples in 96-well format is precise and repeatable between different purification runs performed on different days, providing not only convenience but also peace of mind (see figure  Highly repeatable viral RNA isolation). Co-purification of viral RNA and bacterial DNA is easily automated with QIAcube HT and dedicated cador Pathogen QIAcube HT Kit, and provides the same high-quality nucleic acids as manual processing with the QIAamp cador Pathogen Mini Kit (see figure  Co-isolation of viral RNA and bacterial DNA). >

DNA from complex food samples

The DNeasy mericon 96 QIAcube HT Kit has been specially adapted for rapid mid- to high-throughput purification of DNA from a variety of raw and processed food matrices on the QIAcube HT instrument. A modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) extraction procedure allows DNA extraction from all food samples in radically shorter time compared with conventional CTAB protocols (see figure  Efficient and rapid DNA extraction from complex food samples). Now users can prepare the same high-quality DNA as from the manual DNeasy mericon Food Kit with a quick and simple automated procedure (see figure  Purification of DNA from complex food samples).
The DNeasy mericon Kit can only be used with the QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software when requesting a customized protocol. The protocol is not included in the standard configuration of the Prep Manager software. However, all DNeasy mericon Kit protocols are pre-installed and compatible with the QIAcube HT Operating Software 4.17.

See figures

Principle

Automated purification on the QIAcube HT is quick and cost-effective and delivers high-quality nucleic acids from 24–96 samples per run. Dedicated QIAcube HT Kits enable purification of nucleic acids from a diverse range of starting materials, including cells, tissues, bacteria, viruses, stool and food material. The QIAcube HT is extremely easy to use, and the intuitive software lets users start a run with just a few mouse clicks.
Dedicated QIAcube HT Kits for a wide range of starting materials
Specimen Input Kit Eluate Elution volume
Fresh, frozen or treated blood, cells and tissues Blood: up to 200 µl
Cells: up to 5 x 106 cells
Tissues: up to 20 mg
QIAamp 96 DNA QIAcube HT Kit (5) Total DNA 200 µl (default)
Fresh or frozen stool Up to 200 mg QIAamp 96 PowerFecal Kit (5) Host and bacterial DNA 100 µl (default)
Fresh or frozen tissues, swabs, blood and any other body fluids Body fluids: up to 200 µl
Tissues: up to 20 mg
QIAamp 96 Virus QIAcube HT Kit (5) Viral DNA and RNA 100 µl (default)
Animal or human cells and tissues Cells: up to 5 x 106 cells
Tissues: up to 40 mg
RNeasy 96 QIAcube HT Kit (5) Total RNA including miRNA 110 µl (default)
Animal samples including whole blood, serum, plasma, body fluids, swabs, washes, tissues, feces Body fluids: up to 200 µl
Tissues: up to 25 mg
cador Pathogen 96 QIAcube HT Kit (5) Viral RNA
Viral/bacterial DNA
150 µl (default)
Raw or processed food matrices Up to 300 mg food material DNeasy mericon 96 QIAcube HT Kit (5) DNA 200 µl (default)

QIAcube HT is a compact, benchtop instrument with a very small footprint. It fits easily onto most lab benches and can be readily moved into biosafety level laboratories. QIAcube HT comes with a laptop computer for added flexibility.
Advanced instrument safety features, including a translucent hood, help to protect precious samples from environmental contamination. The HEPA filter maintains positive clean air pressure on the worktable underneath the hood and protects precious samples from potential airborne contamination. The UV light provides efficient worktable decontamination and helps to prevent cross-contamination. QIAcube HT ejects used tips through the tip disposal chute into a disposable plastic box located at the side of the instrument. This external tip ejection prevents waste accumulation in the clean workspace. The tip disposal box holder keeps the box positioned correctly under the tip chute. The disposal box also comes with a secure-fitting lid to make waste disposal simple and safe.

Procedure

QIAcube HT provides automated, high-throughput nucleic acid purification for 24–96 samples per run, in increments of 8 samples. The instrument uses a vacuum-driven system to perform the simple and fast bind–wash–elute procedure during sample purification. The vacuum chamber is composed of two separate compartments. This configuration is one of many measures that minimizes sample cross-contamination during purification.
All materials needed for sample purification are placed onto the instrument worktable prior to the run. A 96-well sample block contains the starting sample material that will be lysed and transferred to the filter plate during the run. Easy-to-fill disposable troughs contain all necessary buffers and reagents for sample binding, washing, and elution. Pipet tips are positioned on the right side of the worktable.
Liquid-handling tasks are performed by the 8-channel pipetting head, which provides fast transfer of liquids during the run. The software tracks tip use and internally updates tip availability as the run proceeds. QIAcube HT optimizes the use of plasticware with a smart and economical tip reuse strategy. After washing, the pipetting head moves the 96-well filter plate to the elution compartment, where purified nucleic acids are eluted into the elution microtubes. The included 8-well strip caps securely close the elution microtubes for sample storage.

Software

QIAcube HT Software provides a user-friendly interface for operating the QIAcube HT instrument. The software wizard simulates the instrument worktable and makes it easy to set up and start a run with just a few mouse clicks. The software automatically calculates reagent volumes according to the number of samples, and fully documents every run. The software also allows you to import bar code databases, manage user access, and integrate Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

Services

Have your throughput demands increased? Do you want to expand your application range or further streamline workflows? Do you need to manage more complex samples? Do you need improved connectivity?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then QIAGEN’s trade-in/trade-up program is just right for you!

QIAGEN makes it easy to keep up to speed with the latest automation and sample processing technologies. Simply exchange an old instrument for a new one. Improve your efficiency by trading in a competitor instrument or trading up with an older QIAGEN instrument.

Learn more about trade-in/trade-up opportunities.

Supporting data and figures

Specifications

FeaturesSpecifications
Accessories (supplied)Vacuum Control Station, Vacuum Chamber, Pinch Valve, Channeling Adapter (Channeling Block and Channeling Block Holder), Transfer Carriage, Riser Block EMTR, Adapter Reagent Plate SBS, Adapter Reagent Plate R1, Tip Disposal Box Holder, Tip Chute, Tip Chute Protective Cap, Waste Bottle with Lid Assembly
Pollution level2
DimensionsInstrument width: 540 mm (21 in.), height: 450 mm (18 in.), depth: 630 mm (25 in.); vacuum control station width: 495 mm (19 in.), height: 520 mm (20 in.), depth: 400 mm (16 in.)
Warranty1-3 years warranty, depending on service package
Precision20-200 µl, less than 4% coefficient of variation
WeightQIAcube HT instrument: 41 kg (90 lb.); vacuum control station: 19 kg (42 lb.)
HEPA filterPreinstalled dual-cartridge HEPA filter system provides positive pressure clean air within the closed hood.
Consumables (supplied)QIAcube HT Plasticware (5 S-Blocks, 5 Elution Microtubes RS (EMTR), 120 x 8-Well Strip Caps for EMTR, 9 x 96 Filter-Tips OnCor C, TapePad), 3x Tip Disposal Box with Lid, 2x Reagent Trough Lid 170 ml, 3x Reagent Trough with Lid 70 ml
CommunicationsRS232 and USB
Throughput24-96 samples in increments of 8 samples
UV lampPreinstalled UV lamp for worktable decontamination
HumidityOperating humidity 40-70%
Place of operationFor indoor use only
Tip disposalAll used tips ejected externally; no waste accumulation on the worktable
SoftwareSupplied with unlimited user license with free upgrades by web download
Pipetting system8 pipetting channels, pipetting volume (20-200 µl)
Notebook (supplied)QIAcube HT comes with a notebook computer for added flexibility.
Table capacity4 x SBS positions (127.76 x 85.48 mm), compatible with 96-well plates or tip racks 1 custom adapter for a reagent trough plate compatible to accept reagent troughs vacuum chamber with chambers for waste and elution
Electrical100–240 V AC, 250 VA, 50–60 Hz, overvoltage category II; mains supply voltage fluctuations are not to exceed 10% of the nominal supply voltages

Service Plans

QIAxtractor/QIAcube HT, Premium Agreement

Cat. No. / ID:  9241770

On-site QIAcube HT instrument repair, including travel, labor and parts, for a period of one year. Response time of next business day. Includes one Preventive Maintenance or Inspection Service during the Premium Agreement period.
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QIAxtractor/QIAcube HT, Full Agreement

Cat. No. / ID:  9241769

On-site QIAcube HT instrument repair, including travel, labor and parts, for a period of one year. Response time of two business days. Includes one Preventive Maintenance or Inspection Service during the Full Agreement period.
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QIAcube HT, Core Agreement

Cat. No. / ID:  9245244

For the QIAcube HT, one on-site repair service and one on-site Preventive Maintenance or Inspection Service, including travel, labor and spare parts for a period of one year. Response time of five business days. Includes a 10% discount on additional repair service during the Core Agreement period.
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QIAcube HT, Preventive Subscription

Cat. No. / ID:  9241777A

One on-site Preventive Maintenance or Inspection Service visit for the QIAcube HT, including travel, labor and parts. Includes a 10% discount on repair services during the Preventive Subscription period.
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Resources

Safety Data Sheets (1)
Instrument User Manuals (6)
Important note regarding new QIAcube HT declaration of conformity and instrument symbols
Alternative options for the CD drive on the QIAcube HT Notebook, Part Number 9026761
For use with the QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software
For QIAcube HT and QIAxtractor
For QIAcube HT and QIAxtractor
Brochures & Guides (3)
For fast and reliable automated 96-well nucleic acid purification
A versatile workflow for the detection of low-abundance microbes
Operating Software (2)
QIAcube HT instrument operating software. This software offers a state-of-the-art user interface and a wizard-guided experimental setup for quick and easy purification experiments.

For software installation instructions, please refer to the QIAcube HT Unpacking and Installation Instructions or to the QIAcube HT User Manual, chapter 4.4.1.

Important: It is not possible to install both QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software and QIAcube HT Operating Software 4.17 on the same computer. Please uninstall QIAcube HT Operating Software 4.17 before installing QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software. For more information, contact QIAGEN Technical Services.
QIAcube HT instrument operating software. We recommend installing the new improved QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software, which offers a state-of-the-art user-interface and a wizard-guided experimental setup for quick and easy purification experiments.

Important: It is not possible to install both QIAcube HT Operating Software 4.17 and QIAcube HT Prep Manager Software on the same computer. Please uninstall Prep Manager Software before installing QIAcube HT Operating Software 4.17. For more information, contact QIAGEN Technical Services.
Certificates of Analysis (1)

FAQ

Can I run the QIAcube HT with the QIAxtractor software or vice versa?

No, the two software applications are not interchangeable.

 

Additionally, the QIAcube HT and QIAxtractor software cannot be installed on the same computer. The QIAcube HT software versions is v4.17 or higher, while the QIAxtractor software version is v4.16 or lower.

FAQ ID -9102
Can I upgrade a Corbett CAS-1820 to a QIAcube HT?

No, this upgrade is not possible.

FAQ ID -9104
What file is required for reporting a QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor issue?

The Support Packages are important when reporting an issue to QIAGEN Technical Services. Upon completion of each run, the software automatically saves a support package.

 

To retrieve a support package, click Help in the QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor software and select Choose support package. In the new windows, select the support package that corresponds to the issue and send it to QIAGEN Technical Services.

 

FAQ ID -9100
I am getting vacuum errors on my QIAcube HT. What should I do?

1. Check the vacuum tubing to make sure it is not pinched or obstructed in some way. Sometimes the tubing can become pinched against the bench top when the vacuum station is placed too far from the instrument.

Waste bottle tubing

2. Make sure that the channeling adapter is properly placed. Check if the carriage is moving the plate completely from the waste chamber position to the elution chamber position. If the calibration seems incorrect, the instrument may need to be re-taught at this position.

Adaptors

3. When using less than a full plate, make sure all the unused columns are covered with an adhesive seal.

Also, make sure each column of 8 samples is full. When processing a number of samples that results in < 8 samples per column, use water as a substitute in the empty positions until the column is filled. This ensures even vacuum across all unsealed well positions.

4. Make sure correct plates are used for the selected protocol.

5. When the vacuum is on, please listen for any hissing noise from the tubing that is coming down to the waste container. This could indicate leaks in the tubing.

If the issue persists, please contact QIAGEN Technical Service.



FAQ ID -9106
What do I do if the QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor software runs in virtual mode while the instrument is connected to the computer?

Make sure the QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor software uses the same COM port number as assigned to the QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor instrument on the computer. The COM port setting can be checked by clicking Options\Robot Setup\Select COM port in the QIAcube HT or QIAxtractor software.

 

Ensure that the cable between the instrument and the computer is securely inserted. Power on the instrument first, and then launch the QIAxtractor/QIAcube HT software. 

 

The instrument has both RS-232 (serial) and USB interfaces for computer connection. Try an RS-232 cable if the communication cannot be established between the instrument and computer with a USB cable.

 

If the issue persists, please contact QIAGEN Technical Services.

 

FAQ ID -9101