I'm using ABI 3500 for CE and several of my MLPA (fragment runs) turned out to be entirely blank on electropherogram. What can cause such a thing? Is my ABI 3500 malfunctioning?
Assuming that your assay did work then one possibility is that you only collected data or analysed for the wrong colour dye or the size standards were not selected in run setup so sizes could not be calibrated. Did you have peaks in the raw data which were not analysed or just no peaks of any kind showing in the electropherogram. Were the missing results over a complete run or just a few samples in each run. If just a few samples in each run then a blocked capillary is a possible cause
Thank you very much, sir, for the kind reply. Yes, we figured it out, it was the blocked capillaries. There were nly a few samples in each run that has that sinister "all-blank" electropherogram -- there were NO peaks or ANYTHING whatsoever in the raw data.