How to Prime Your NanoFil Gas-Tight Syringe System
When working with gas-tight NanoFil™ syringes, especially in applications involving viral vectors or delicate biological samples, priming your syringe correctly is essential to ensure reliable and accurate sample delivery. Even microscopic air pockets can lead to inconsistent dosing or air injection, which can be detrimental in high-precision workflows. Here's a step-by-step guide to priming your NanoFil™ syringe system effectively.
Why Priming Matters
Priming removes microbubbles trapped inside the needle shaft or syringe barrel. If left untreated, these tiny air pockets can interfere with your sample volume and lead to inconsistent experimental results. This is particularly important in applications where ultra-low volumes or highly sensitive reagents are used.
What You'll Need
- A dish of deionized (DI) water (Sterile DI water if required by your protocol or regulatory authority)
- Fully assembled NanoFil™ syringe system
- At least 3 inches of water depth in your container
Step-by-Step Priming Process
- Submerge the Needle – Hold your fully assembled NanoFil™ and submerge the needle tip into the DI water. Ensure the tip is fully below the surface-this will help you see bubbles more easily.
- Plunge and Observe – Slowly draw DI water into the syringe barrel. Then, gently depress the plunger back to the 0 µL mark. Watch carefully for bubbles during both actions.
- Eliminate Air Pockets – If you see any air bubbles:
- Carefully tap the side of the needle to release microbubbles.
- Apply pressure at the base of the plunger, but do this with care. You need enough force to dislodge bubbles, but not so much that you risk bending or damaging the PTFE plunger.
- Repeat as Needed – Continue the draw-and-depress cycle until no visible bubbles remain inside the barrel or the needle. At this point, your system is fully primed and gas tight.
Optional: Add an Air Pocket
After expelling all residual DI water from the syringe, you may draw back ~0.5 µL of air. This creates a small "air cushion" between the plunger and your sample. While this step is not required, this method is commonly used when working with viral vectors or other sensitive samples to minimize contact between your reagent and the PTFE plunger base.
Final Note
Taking the time to prime your NanoFil™ gas-tight syringe system ensures precise and reproducible results, especially when working with delicate or expensive reagents. If you have any questions about this procedure or want to troubleshoot your syringe system, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team.
