BioCare Medical VALENT, Manual

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7
Z-head
The Z-head, (see Figure 1c), is mounted on the Y-arm that moves along the horizontal
left/right X-axis inside the instrument. The following are components of the Z-head:
Reagent Probe: The instrument uses a Teflon coated stainless steel probe. The probe is
washed inside and out before each new reagent is applied. The reagent probe employs a
high-accuracy dispense mechanism which gently dispenses reagents across a slide in a
manner that avoids any tissue disruption.
Liquid Level Sensor: The ultrasonic level sensor detects the reagent volume level. The
system will provide a visual alarm if there is insufficient reagent to complete the run.
The run will not start if reagent volumes are insufficient for the programmed protocols.
Barcode camera: The barcode camera, is used for scanning slide and reagent barcodes
and is capable of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and image recognition. The
barcode camera ensures that the correct vials and slides are in place to prevent errors.
Additionally, the barcode camera allows the software to alert the user if reagent vial
caps are still mistakenly left in place before a run starts.
Wash-Blow-Wash Nozzle: In a single pass, the nozzle applies a layer of Aqua Rinse or
Wash Buffer, followed immediately by a curtain of air to blow off the wash, and then a
second layer of Aqua Rinse or Wash Buffer to wash a second time. This occurs at each
rinse step and also at preset intervals to keep slides from drying out during the holding
time before the start of a run. The air nozzle removes excess liquid from a slide before
applying reagents by blowing air across the entire width of the slide.
Probe wash station
The probe wash station is located next to the Z-head park position and is used to wash
the reagent probe. The reagent probe is cleaned in the wash station throughout a run.
Bulk reagents and carboys: Antigen
Retrieval (AR), Aqua Rinse and Wash
Buffer
AR-Hi pH, AR-Lo pH, Wash Buffer and Aqua Rinse Carboy assemblies have liquid level
sensors to detect volume levels. The carboys allow for a nominal volume of 8L with
1L of dead volume. If there is insufficient Wash Buffer or Aqua Rinse in the carboy
assemblies, the instrument will not initiate the staining process.
Check the levels of the bulk reagents before each run, replenish and reset if indicated
by the VALENT Software during the staining process. The required volumes for each run
are calculated by the VALENT Software and displayed during the programming process.
Bulk mixing carboys
10L bulk mixing carboys are used for preparing bulk reagents which include Wash
Buffer, Aqua Rinse and Antigen Retrieval. Bulk reagents prepared in these bulk mixing
carboys will be transferred to the 8L bulk reagent carboys on the VALENT Cart.
Waste storage
The VALENT separates hazardous and non-hazardous waste. A non-hazardous waste 8L
carboy and a hazardous waste 8L carboy are provided for accumulated waste collection.
The actual amount of waste volume generated will depend on the number of slides
programmed per run and staining protocol. The required available volumes for each run
are calculated by the VALENT Software and displayed during the programming process.
Both waste carboy volumes should be checked and emptied as needed before starting a
staining run.
Dispense Manifold There is a dispense manifold for each trough that dispenses AR and Aqua Rinse onto the slide.
Troughs
There are four troughs on the VALENT, located below the slide trays, that are used for
the antigen retrieval step and draining reagents to waste.
DePar
A mineral oil based deparaffinization reagent is held in a 500mL bottle located to on the
left side of the VALENT.
Window The VALENT has a red window to prevent photobleaching of fluorochromes.