Protocol for using the Beckman Coulter, DU530 Life Science UV/Vis Spectrophotometer to measure
RNA concentration
Turn on the machine by flipping the switch on the bottom left corner of the back of the machine.
Under the heading “Select Mode:” choose the fourth option “Nucleic Acid” by Pressing the key with a
“^” symbol found at the top of the key board which points to the “Nucleic Acid” heading.
Use the arrow key to move down the list to choice 7 which reads “RNA”.
Press the “Enter” key.
Wait for the “UV” at the top right of the screen to stop blinking to allow the UV light to warm up.
To set the dilution factor of the sample press the “^” key which points to the “Dilution X:” heading.
Type the dilution factor using the keyboard.
Press the “Enter” key.
Place blank into the machine and press the “^” key which points the “Blank” heading.
After blanking the machine read samples by pressing the “^” key which points to the “Read” heading.
Between reading samples it is beneficial to read the blank to make sure that the machine is still properly
calibrated.
To print press the “Recall” key.
Press the “Enter” key twice.
Press the “Print” key.
To turn off the machine flip the switch on the back of the machine to the off position. (No keys need to
be pressed to turn off the machine.)
Cleaning the cuvette between samples:
Rinse the cuvette twice with DI water.
Rinse the cuvette once with 70% ethanol.
Blow dry the cuvette with the tubing and tip connected to the air valve to the right of the machine.