As part of the Delvotest® Accelerator Smart (DAS)'s Working Principle🔗, colour calibrations are essential for making sure it is able to consistently and reliably assign colour values of all Delvotest® plates-wells. In this article, we will guide you through how to execute it.
Required Reference Material
Get the foldable Delvotest® Colourcard that came with your DAS. This colourcard is composed of several colour blocks with their respective sRGB values individually noted underneath. Handle it carefully to avoid dirt and damage, as any significant deviations can lead to failed colour calibrations, and remember to always store it in a dark, cool, and dry place—i.e., preferably c, 21°C and not exceeding c. 50% relative humidity. Each Delvotest® Colourcard has an unique ID on the white 'flap side', highlighted below.
Colourcard File ID
Before beginning your colour calibration, you'll first need to make sure your DAS has been configured with the correct Colourcard ID. To do this, follow these steps:
Colourcard ID // Step 1
Download the file that corresponds with your colourcard's ID from the list below onto the computer from which you are accessing the interface. This Colourcard ID can be found in the section highlighted in the image above. This ID string should start with the letters 'CT', followed by eight numbers, all hyphenated between the fourth and sixth digits (e.g., CT24-35-1472).
// get the right download links set up //
Colourcard ID // Step 2
2.1. Sign in as the administrator🔗.
2.2. In the top-right corner, click on the Setup tab.
2.3. Scroll down to the Color calibration section.
Colourcard ID // Step 3
In the Color calibration section, first check whether the Color card ID parameter reporting field matches with your colourcard's ID.
✅ If it does match, no further action is required.
❌ If it doesn't match ...
3.1. Click on the Choose File button.
3.2. A dialogue box should appear, where you will need to navigate to the location you've stored the correct Colourcard ID file previously downloaded and select it.
3.3. The dialogue box should then disappear, returning you to the still-open Setup tab where the correct Colourcard ID file name should appear next to the Choose File button (e.g., "CT24-35-1472").
3.4. Once that's shown, click on the Upload file button.
3.5. The Color card ID parameter reporting field should now display the updated Colourcard ID file—and voilà! You have successfully updated your DAS's Colourcard ID file to match your physical colourcard's ID 😊
💡 By the way, if you are operating multiple DASes, did you know that you don't need to manually update the colourcard ID for each by following the steps above? That's right! As long as one DAS that's been updated with the latest Colourcard ID file is connected to the other DASes in your local network, you can deploy the latest version to all other DASes with the Update other devices feature🔗.
Executing Colour Calibration
Once the required reference materials are ready, follow these steps:
Setting up
Sign in as the administrator🔗and, in the top-right corner, click on the Calibration tab and then click on the Execute button for the Color parameter's row (see below). This will initiate the interface's step-guide wizard.
Colour Calibration // Step 1
Activate Service Mode by holding the DAS's physical ⚙️ Settings button🔗 for 10 seconds. Its physical light indicators and display text should change from either Idle (⬜⬜🟩) or Heating (⬜🟦🟩) to Service Mode (⬜🟦🟩). Once that's done, go back to the interface and click on the Confirm button.
Colour Calibration // Step 2
2.1. Open the lid.
2.2. Carefully remove the heating grid by lifting it through the side-entries on the top and bottom.
2.3. Check the glass underneath the grid is clean—no smudges, dirt or dust particles. For cleaning tips, check out this article🔗.
2.4. Leave the lid open, and, going back to the interface, click on the Confirm button.
Colour Calibration // Step 3
3.1. Open your colourcard fully so that the front and back connect and you can see the 'colour blocks' on one side and the grey-white block on the other.
3.2. Place the folded colourcard onto the glass with the 'colour blocks' facing down towards the glass plate, aligning it to the middle of the glass window, to the right of the heating grid locking mechanism.
3.3. Close the lid.
3.4. Go back to the interface and click on the Confirm button.
The DAS should now start calculating colour values, where a progress indicator will show (see below). Wait until this is done before proceeding.
Colour Calibration // Step 4
A report with a Result table should appear. There are two possible outcomes: either the colour calibration has been successful, or not.
❌ If unsuccessful
If the colour calibration has not been successful, the values on the Result table usually signifying colour value performance will report a Valid parameter row result of False, with the usual Activate button also not being available, as exemplified below.
In this example, unusual colour values were identified because no colourcard was inserted. However, in some rare circumstances colour calibrations may fail despite steps having been thoroughly followed. If this is the case, you will need to troubleshoot🔗 before proceeding.
✅ If successful
If the colour calibration has been successful, the Valid parameter row should result in True, with similar values on the Result table signifying colour value performance as follows:
| Parameter | Value | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Std | 1.58 | 2.50 | |
| Valid | True | ||
| Nr areas | 24 | 24 | 24 |
If this is the case, simply click on the Activate button shown above on the bottom right to proceed.
Colour Calibration // Step 6
The page should then refresh immediately with the Activate button being replaced by an Is Activated text.
Colour Calibration // Step 7
To continue, click on the Home button shown above on the bottom left. The page should then refresh immediately, with the following being shown:
Colour Calibration // Step 8
Then, simply:
8.1. Open the lid.
8.2. Remove the colourcard.
8.3. Re-insert the heating grid.
8.4. Close the lid.
🔂 If you have multiple DASes, repeat this process for each.
Next Steps
If you are following the Installation and Setup flow🔗, now that you have completed the colour calibration, it’s almost time to start your first test—but first, you'll need to briefly familiarise yourself with the application principles for properly preparing Delvotest® plates. Understanding these application requirements will help ensure you achieve consistent, reliable results from your very first test.
⏭️ Next article: Introducing Application Protocols🔗
If you are not doing any other calibrations at this time, press the DAS's physical ⏹️ Stop button🔗 to leave Service Mode, and then, going back to the interface, click on the Home button shown on the picture above on the bottom left. This will return you to the Calibration tab, where the Age [days]'s column value in the Color parameter row should now be '0' with a green colour indication🔗signifying the calibration is recent.
💬 Got any questions? Need help? Contact us at support@delvotest.com