Methods for Loading a Sensor Substrate

A method of loading beads on a sensor substrate, the method comprising:

• applying a suspension including nucleic acid beads to a flow cell defined over a sensor substrate, the sensor substrate comprising a plurality of wells, the beads at least partially depositing into the plurality of wells;
• flowing a gas/liquid interface through the flow cell and over the sensor substrate;
• flowing a gas for a period of at least 15 seconds and not longer than 30 minutes at a rate in a range of 100 μL/min to 100 mL/min to at least partially evaporate liquid from the flow cell and at least partially evaporate liquid from the plurality of wells;
• and
• applying a condensing solution through the flow cell.