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Section 5
Care and Maintenance
5.1 Scanner Maintenance
With regular use the PharosFX scanner should provide years of trouble-free operation,
without the need for operator maintenance. If you suspect that the PharosFX system
requires servicing, please contact your local Bio-Rad office.
It is recommended that the casing of the scanner be periodically inspected to verify that no
panels are loose or distorted.
Caution: Do not remove the cover from the PharosFX system, as this voids the warranty.
There are no user-serviceable components in the scanning unit. Attempting to operate the
product with the cover removed may damage the instrument and expose the operator to
laser energy. The PharosFX system can only be serviced by Bio-Rad or its trained repre-
sentatives.Use only mild, non-abrasive and water-based detergents to clean the external
surface of the scanner.
5.2 Care for PharosFX Plus Accessories
5.2.1 General Care of Imaging Screens
Utmost care should be taken to ensure that the protective plastic covering over the
phosphor matrix is not damaged. The phosphor crystals are hygroscopic and any holes,
nicks or punctures in this environmental barrier will eventually cause damage to the
phosphor and render that portion of the screen unusable. For the same reason the imaging
screen should never be directly exposed to wet gels or chemicals. Use some water-imper-
meable media between a wet sample and the phosphor screen (e.g. "Saran Wrap™").
Never expose the screen to acids, acid vapors or other organic solvents.
Never bend the screen as this may damage the phosphor matrix.
5.2.2 Radioactive Contamination Check
If you suspect that a storage phosphor screen has been contaminated, follow the procedure
outlined below to confirm this.
1. Clean (see Section 5.2.3) and erase the screen to background levels.
2. Check for complete screen erasure by scanning at 800 microns.
3. Place the screen in a dark area such as a lab drawer for 6 to 24 hours.
4. Re-scan the screen at 800 microns.
5. Use Quantity One software to check the screen background counts. If no areas of high
signal (hot spots) are detected, erase the screen and use.
Any contamination will be visible as a localized region of high signal over background (hot
spots). If there is contamination, clean the screen as described below and clean the grid of
the exposure unit. Screen contamination can be minimized by using plastic wrap as a phys-
ical barrier to separate the phosphor screen from the radioactive sample.
5.2.3 Cleaning Imaging Screens
If contaminated, the screens should be cleaned to remove any radioactive contamination,
sample residue or dust.
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