The pre-lab helped refresh our memory on the exact procedures needed when using a micropipette. Our experience with using a micropipette was excellent and we fully understand the difference between the first and second stop of the micropipette. There was one point where there was a little bit of the liquid left on the tube, but not too bad. Overall, the use of micropipettes was success.
Fluorimeter Procedure
Smart Phone Camera Settings
Type of Smartphone: Samsung Note3
Flash: Off
ISO setting: Maximum
White Balance: Automatic
Exposure: 0
Saturation: N/A
Contrast: N/A
Camera set-up
We gathered a phone holder/stand and vertically inserted the phone. Using a plastic box we stabilized the phone. We then measured thirteen centimeters between the phone and the fluorimeter.
Distance between the smart phone cradle and drop = 13 centimeters
Placing Samples onto the Fluorimeter
Step one: Turn on the Fluorimeter
Step two: While wearing gloves place the smooth side of the slide down on the Fluorimeter
Step three: Place the camera 13 centimeters away from the Fluorimeter
Step four: Adjust camera to line up the picture
Step five: Pipette 80 microliters of SYBR green on the slide in between the 2 sets of dots
Step six: Pipette 80 microliters of the sample with the 80 microliters of SYBR green
Step seven: Move the slide so the light shines through the middle of the drop
Data Collection and Analysis
Images of High, Low, and Zero Calf Thymus DNA
5mg/mL
0.5 mg/mL
ZERO DNA
Calibrator Mean Values
Initial Concentration of 2X Calf Thymus DNA solution (micrograms/mL)
Final DNA concentration in SYBR Green I solution (µg/mL)
Sample Number
RAWINTDEN DROP - BACKGROUND
'
'
MEAN
Standard Deviation
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
5
2.5
C-1
26422
27830
27194
27148.66667
705.0938472
2
1
C-2
28838
29510
29510
29286
387.9793809
1
0.5
C-3
29178
27081
26528
27595.66667
1397.957915
0.5
0.25
C-4
32079
32458
31500
32012.33333
482.4669246
0.25
0.125
C-5
29451
31190
3614
21418.33333
15443.50169
0
0
C-6
28291
2991
13392
14891.33333
12716.46572
Calibration curves
Images of Our PCR Negative and Positive Controls
Positive Group
Negative Group
PCR Results: PCR concentrations solved
PCR Results: Summary
Our positive control PCR result was 45.80738602 μg/mL
Our negative control PCR result was 41.01719245 μg/mL
Observed results
Patient 33309 : The image for the positive control group was dim at first sight. After comparing to the negative control group, a slight difference in the top stripe was noticed. This was confirmed through the initial finding of the ImageJ measurement of the RAWINTDEN Of the Drop of 1058630 which was much higher than the negative control results, as discussed below. The calculation of the positive control group's PCR result was 45.80738602 μg/mL, confirming the higher concentration.
Patient 32924 : The image for the negative control results did show a slight stripe for the green image after analyzing the positive control group. But, the image showed noticeably less saturation than the positive control group at the measurement of RAWINTDEN of the Drop at the number 748912. The calculation of the negative control group's PCR result was 41.01719245 μg/mL, confirming a lower concentration.
While both images first appeared to have no difference between them, this was discounted through the measurements of ImageJ and the concentration levels through the calculations.
Conclusions
Patient 33309 : Patient one results compared to positive and negative control value was inconclusive. Further data is required to determine whether the patient one is positive or negative.
Patient 32924 : Patient two's results determined a positive result for the test. No further testing is necessary.