# Thermal Sheath & Temperature-controlled incubations

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Congrats on choosing the Omni-Stainer™ thermal sheath S12 / C12!\
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The Omni-Stainer™ is made of heat-conductive aluminum and can be used in conjunction with a temperature control module, allowing the temperature to be programmatically controlled between -20° to 99.9°C. This enables a variety of protocols, such as FFPE Antigen Retrieval, smRNA-FISH, or CycIF to be performed directly inside the Omni-Stainer™ device.\
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To run thermal incubations there are 3 main things you need 

1. A thermal module.   We recommend QInstruments ColdPlate
2. A temperature-controlled program
3. A thermal sheath and Opentrons robot

<figure><img src="https://3271682270-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FWKyUXOqIKtqE7cAUE2yQ%2Fuploads%2FwGab6oSyr5ThlBSwQYBv%2Fgif%20of%20S12%20going%20on%20thermal%20block%20and%20thermal%20sheath.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=00e62ed8-143e-4d4f-8cb8-55edd7b2c928" alt=""><figcaption><p>Omni-Stainer going onto thermal module and covered with thermal sheath</p></figcaption></figure>

### [QInstruments ColdPlate Product Page](https://www.qinstruments.com/automation/coldplate/)

## Temperature-controlled protocols <a href="#h.lo4ss8ltvx08" id="h.lo4ss8ltvx08"></a>

* Assemble Omni-Stainer as in the Assembly and Sample Prep protocols, make sure there is sufficient water in the base and the humidity barrier paper.
  * [s12-assembly-and-sample-prep](https://docs.parheliabio.com/product-guides/s12-assembly-and-sample-prep "mention")
  * [c12-assembly-and-sample-prep](https://docs.parheliabio.com/product-guides/c12-assembly-and-sample-prep "mention")
* Place thermal sheet on top of the Omni-Stainer
* Set up the temperature module on the deck of the QInstruments ColdPlate manual.
* When running the protocols, make sure to select “omni\_stainer\_###\_with\_thermosheath”, where ### is the instrument model (i.e. S12\_slides or C12\_cslps)
* During the calibration step, **calibrate the pipette tip to the calibration point on top of the thermal sheath**

<figure><img src="https://3271682270-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FWKyUXOqIKtqE7cAUE2yQ%2Fuploads%2F7nkMpJbFj2GiDToUyAOR%2Fcalibrate%20the%20thermal%20sheath%20not%20omnistainer%20rushed%20pic.png?alt=media&#x26;token=38ca21c7-4928-41e0-adc7-7440ce5d4aca" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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When creating your own protocol, ensure that you utilize the`openShutter(...),` and `closeShutter(...)` functions from the protocol header. **Neglecting to do so may result in damage to your pipette, for which we cannot be held responsible**.
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## Temperature Modules

At Parhelia , we value efficient, precise equipment. That's why for the Opentrons OT-2 to effectively utilize the Omni-Stainer **S12 or C12** with a thermal sheath, we recommend the QInstruments thermal module. The current Opentrons thermal module is slightly too tall for the Omni-Stainer with thermal sheath, making QInstruments the ideal alternative. Their ColdPlate ensures unrivaled heating and cooling precision for demanding robotic applications. \
[QInstruments ColdPlate Product Page](https://www.qinstruments.com/automation/coldplate/)&#x20;

## QInstruments ColdPlate

Compact, lightweight, effective, and silent, it provides heating and cooling combined in a single unit. **Fully adjustable from -20° to 99.9°C**, its optimized thermo adapters and premium aluminium housing ensure excellent temperature control. Opentrons support remains available for assistance, despite this being a third-party module. With an easy setup and an extended warranty, the QInstruments module is a valuable addition to any laboratory setup.

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If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please email [info@parheliabio.com](https://app.gitbook.com/u/hZa0JIMxOpQOLaWee4XzjrlnFyX2)
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