Category Maintenance
Teflon Tubing Is a Powerful Tool for All Types of Laboratory Analysis Using an Autoanalyzer When Perstorp bought Alpkem way back when, they radically changed the platform and created the Expanded Range (ER) detector which to this day is arguably the best autoanalyzer detector ever made. In combination, they added their type of tubing and [...]
Used to help liquids flow through autoanalyzer tubing more easily and to help facilitate mixing, surfactant is a necessity for flow analyzers. Surfactant has been used since autoanalyzers were constructed and comes in many varieties, but I prefer basic Brij-35 and Dowfax 2A1. These two, tried and true surfactants were the mainstay for nearly all [...]
In this article, I am going to focus on flow cell maintenance. Keeping an older autoanalyzer running can save considerable amount of money for a lab, but this does not mean that its operation is free. If a lab takes a little time and money to keep up a few essential parts on an autoanalyzer [...]
As solutions flow through an autoanalyzer system the debubbler is a key component in providing the opportunity to evaluate the condition of the reagents and ultimately the sample. It’s through the debubbler that we can see if the bubble patterns are correct, if there is a block in the cartridge causing surging, how well the [...]
In this series of discussions, I wanted to address specific problem areas that laboratories encounter while operating auto analyzers. These segments will each focus on the individual items that EZkem repairs, replaces, reconditions or in any way modifies while doing service in the field or in our repair facility, like inspecting the flow cell. Initially, I would [...]
The peristaltic pump is a very important component in the proper operation of an autoanalyzer instrument. If it is not functioning properly, it’s possible to have problems with reproducibility, accuracy, and prematurely worn pump tubing. These signs of a pump problem might be observed as poor peak shape, split peaks, tailing peaks, surging, and inconsistent [...]
There are many reasons why people use auto analyzers and it's much less expensive and more profitable to keep an older autoanalyzer running as long as possible instead of spending the money for a costly replacement. If a lab does choose to run an older piece of equipment, it is imperative that they spend a [...]
