Beijing Liuyi WD-9420 Universal Staining and Destaining Apparatus
| Brand | Beijing Liuyi / LY |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | WD-9420 |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
Overview
The Beijing Liuyi WD-9420 Universal Staining and Destaining Apparatus is an engineered benchtop platform designed for standardized post-electrophoresis processing of nucleic acid and protein gels. It operates on the principle of controlled diffusion-based reagent exchange, enabling reproducible, uniform staining and destaining across multiple gel formats without cross-contamination. Unlike manual tray-based methods, the WD-9420 integrates modular, dimensionally optimized compartments—each with defined volume capacity and geometric compatibility—to support simultaneous processing of agarose gels (up to 15 × 20 cm), polyacrylamide gels (up to 20 × 20 cm), and cellulose acetate membranes. Its architecture eliminates manual agitation variability while maintaining passive diffusion kinetics essential for ethidium bromide (EtBr), Coomassie Brilliant Blue, silver nitrate, and SYBR®-class dye protocols. The system is intended for use in academic teaching laboratories, core facility environments, and R&D labs performing routine electrophoretic analysis under GLP-aligned workflows.
Key Features
- Modular compartmentalized design: Includes one EB staining box (660 mL capacity), four identical rinsing boxes (858 mL each), one pipette storage tray, and a dedicated rack for stable vertical alignment of all components.
- Dimensionally standardized containers: EB box (200 × 110 × 55 mm), rinsing box (260 × 110 × 55 mm), pipette tray (368 × 110 × 65 mm), and rack (470 × 210 × 210 mm) ensure consistent reagent depth and minimize surface-area-to-volume ratio effects.
- Cross-contamination prevention: Physically isolated chambers with non-overlapping liquid pathways eliminate carryover between staining, destaining, and rinse steps—critical for quantitative densitometry and downstream applications such as gel documentation or mass spectrometry sample preparation.
- Reagent conservation engineering: Optimized chamber geometry reduces typical staining solution consumption by up to 40% compared to conventional open trays, supporting compliance with ISO 14001 environmental management guidelines and institutional chemical waste reduction policies.
- Robust construction: All trays and racks are fabricated from chemical-resistant polypropylene, certified for compatibility with common electrophoresis reagents including acetic acid, methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, and sodium acetate buffers.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The WD-9420 accommodates standard electrophoretic support media including 0.8–2.0% agarose gels, 8–20% SDS-PAGE and native PAGE gels, and cellulose acetate membranes. It supports both aqueous and organic solvent-based staining systems (e.g., Coomassie R-250 in methanol/acetic acid/water; silver staining solutions containing glutaraldehyde and formalin). All components comply with GB/T 21299–2007 (Chinese national standard for laboratory equipment safety) and meet material biocompatibility requirements per ISO 10993-5 for indirect contact with biological samples. While not FDA-cleared as a medical device, its configuration aligns with CLIA and CAP pre-analytical handling recommendations for nucleic acid and protein separation workflows.
Software & Data Management
The WD-9420 is a fully manual, non-instrumented apparatus and does not incorporate embedded electronics, sensors, or software interfaces. As such, it requires no firmware updates, network configuration, or data export functionality. However, its standardized dimensions and repeatable protocol timing make it compatible with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) when integrated into documented SOPs. Users may log processing parameters—including reagent lot numbers, exposure durations, ambient temperature, and operator ID—in accordance with 21 CFR Part 11–aligned electronic notebook platforms. Audit trails for gel processing steps can be maintained manually or via barcode-scanned workflow modules in validated LIMS deployments.
Applications
- Routine visualization of DNA fragments in agarose gels using EtBr or SYBR Safe™ under UV transillumination.
- High-sensitivity protein detection in polyacrylamide gels via Coomassie G-250/R-250 or silver nitrate staining protocols.
- Teaching laboratory implementation: Enables parallel processing of student gels with minimal reagent cost and consistent inter-group results.
- Preparative gel excision workflows where uniform staining intensity is required prior to band isolation and extraction.
- Quality control testing of electrophoresis buffer performance and gel polymerization consistency across batches.
FAQ
Is the WD-9420 compatible with fluorescent dyes other than ethidium bromide?
Yes—it supports SYBR Gold, SYBR Green I/II, GelRed™, and GelGreen™, provided appropriate UV or blue-light documentation systems are used.
Can the rinsing boxes be used interchangeably for destaining and washing steps?
Yes—the four identical rinsing boxes allow sequential staging (e.g., two for destain, two for final wash), improving throughput without cross-contamination risk.
Does the apparatus include tubing or connectors for automated fluid handling?
No—the WD-9420 is a passive, gravity-fed system requiring manual solution transfer; it does not support pump integration or peristaltic accessories.
Are replacement parts available for individual components such as the EB box or rack?
Yes—Beijing Liuyi provides part numbers for all listed components (e.g., 412-0001, 412-0004), enabling targeted replacement without full-system procurement.
What safety certifications apply to the polypropylene construction?
Materials conform to GB/T 20201–2006 (polypropylene for laboratory use) and exhibit resistance to hydrolysis, UV degradation, and repeated autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes (non-sterile reuse only).
