Every research kit contains a protocol manual with a troubleshooting section that explains the most common mistakes made with the kit at the research bench. If the kit procedure fails, the first thing most scientists do is turn to the troubleshooting section to determine if the reason could have been Operator Error.

However, if you read the troubleshooting section before using a kit for the first time, you'll be more likely to avoid the most common mistakes when you do the procedure. So, read the protocol first, the troubleshooting section second, and glance through the protocol one more time before starting.