216 | Chapter 5: Qualification
Qualification Overview
Instrument verification for the MultiFlo FX involves three activities: qualification of
installation and setup, qualification of routine capability, and qualification of long-
term stability. These activities are called Installation Qualification
(IQ)
, Operational
Qualification
(OQ)
, and Performance Qualification
(PQ)
, respectively. Verification
testing includes:
l
The
System Self Test
verifies system components, such as the vacuum, manifold, and
carrier positioning. The
Checksum Test
verifies the basecode software against internal
checksum values to ensure that no corruption has occurred.
Washer
l
Evacuation Efficiency:
This test measures the residual volume per well after
aspiration. The lower the residuals per well, the better the evacuation efficiency of the
washer.
l
Dispense Precision:
This test measures the variability of volumes dispensed from tube
to tube across the manifold.
Washer Qualification Tests
:
l
Dispense Precision and Accuracy Test on page 253
l
Evacuation Efficiency Test on page 254
Peri-pump and Syringe Dispensers
l
Dispense Precision
is a measure of the variability of volumes dispensed from tube to
tube across the manifold or tip holder. The optical density of the solution in a well is
proportional to the total volume of the solution in the well. When the % Coefficient of
Variation (%CV) is calculated, the result is a measure of the uniformity of the
distribution of dispensed volumes across the manifold. It is the ratio, expressed in
percent, of the standard deviation of the distribution of fluid volumes in the wells to the
mean value of volume per well. The uniformity of distribution across the manifold
improves as the %CV is lowered.
l
Dispense Accuracy
is a measure of the average volume dispensed per well. It is
independent of precision. The volume per well may vary greatly over a plate, yet the
accuracy may be exact because it is an average of the volumes.
Peri-pump Qualification Tests
:
l
Performing the Peri-Pump Precision and Accuracy Tests on page 224
MultiFlo™ FX Multi-Mode Dispenser