Bio-Rad ReadyPrep™ 2-D Starter Kit - Manual (Page 9)

Gently place the strip gel side down onto the sample as illustrated in Figure 4. The “+”
and “pH 4-7” should be legible and positioned at the left side of the tray. Take care not to
get the sample onto the plastic backing of the strips as this portion of the sample will not
be absorbed by the gel material. Also take care not to trap air bubbles beneath the strip.
If this happens, carefully use the forceps to lift the strip up and down from one end until
the air bubbles move to the end and out from under the strip.
7
Fig. 4. Placing IPG strips gel side down onto the protein samples.
Rehydration of the IPG strips is a critical
step in the 2-D process. The method
shown in Figures 2-4 allows for consis-
tently even distribution of the sample
along the length of the strip. If the sample
appears unevenly distributed or areas of
the strip were not wetted with sample,
hold the strip at one end with the forceps
and slide the strip back and forth several
times along the length of the channel.