Microchip electrophoresis apparatus and microchip electrophoresis method
A microchip electrophoresis apparatus includes a microchip, a dispensing part, a suction part, and a control part. The control part is configured to perform a buffer solution filling step and a liquid surface aligning step. In the buffer solution filling step, a buffer solution is filled in a channel of the microchip, and also a liquid surface level of the buffer solution in a first reservoir and a liquid surface level of the buffer solution in a second reservoir provided on the other end of the channel are set to a predetermined level or more. The liquid surface aligning step is performed after the buffer solution filling step. In the liquid surface aligning step, tips of a first suction nozzle and a second suction nozzle are lowered from above the first reservoir and the second reservoir to the predetermined level while allowing the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle to perform suction operation, such that the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir is sucked in order from a surface layer side, and aligning the liquid surface level of the first reservoir with the liquid surface level of the second reservoir.
1. A microchip electrophoresis method using a microchip in which a channel having a first end and a second end is provided inside, the microchip comprises a first reservoir opening upward at the first end of the channel and a second reservoir opening upward at the second end of the channel, the method comprises:
a buffer solution filling step of filling a buffer solution in the channel so that liquid surface levels of the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir reach to a predetermined level or more; and
a liquid surface aligning step of, after the buffer solution filling step is completed, aligning the liquid surface level of the first reservoir and the liquid surface level of the second reservoir with each other by lowering tips of the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle that are configured to suck the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir, respectively, from above the first reservoir and the second reservoir to the predetermined level while causing the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle to perform suction operation, in such a way that the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir is sucked in order from a surface layer side.
2. The microchip electrophoresis method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the buffer solution filling step, the buffer solution is discharged from the tip of the dispensing probe while connecting the dispensing probe to the first reservoir in a liquid-tight manner in a state in which no liquid is present in the channel of the microchip.
3. The microchip electrophoresis method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the liquid surface aligning step, the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle are temporarily stopped lowering immediately after the tips of the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle have sucked a surface layer part of the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir.
4. The microchip electrophoresis method according to claim 3 , wherein, in the liquid surface aligning step, the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle are temporarily raised immediately after the tips of the first suction nozzle and the second suction nozzle have sucked the surface layer part of the buffer solution in the first reservoir and the second reservoir.