This document is an instruction manual for Criterion™ Blotter, providing information on the specifications, safety precautions, setup and basic operation, transfer conditions, optimizing electro-elution, choice of blotting membranes, troubleshooting guide, maintenance, and product information.
The Criterion Blotter is an electrophoretic transfer cell designed for use with Criterion precast or hand‑cast gels. It can be equipped with either standard wire platinum electrodes or plate electrodes (platinum‑coated titanium anode and stainless‑steel cathode) and operates with an external DC power supply such as the Bio‑Rad PowerPac 200.
The manual covers safety interlocks, preparation of the ice block, buffer formulation, assembly of the gel‑membrane sandwich, transfer procedures (including acidic transfers), troubleshooting, and warranty information. All specifications, dimensions, and operating limits are listed for reference.
| Overall dimensions (tank) | 11.8 × 218 × 15 cm |
|---|---|
| Tank material | Molded polysulfone |
| Buffer capacity | 1.3 L |
| Electrode dimensions | 9.45 × 13.84 cm |
| Anode material | Platinum‑coated titanium |
| Cathode material | Stainless steel |
| Wire electrode material | Platinum wire |
| Cassette dimensions | 11.4 × 16.5 cm |
| Cassette material | Red or black molded polysulfone |
| Maximum gel size | 9.4 × 15 cm |
| Gel capacity | 2 Criterion or 4 Ready Gel precast gels |
| Assembly tray material | Molded polycarbonate |
| Assembly tray overall dimensions | 17.3 × 32.5 × 5.7 cm |
| Maximum voltage limit | 300 VDC |
| Maximum power limit | 200 W |
| Maximum ambient temperature | 50 °C |
Current enters the cell through the lid assembly; removing the lid breaks the circuit and stops current flow.
The cell is limited to 300 VDC, 200 W, and a maximum ambient temperature of 50 °C.
Freeze the ice block prior to preparation of the blot assembly.