CORNING Lambda EliteTouch, Instruction Manual

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20 – Corning Lambda EliteTouch Pipettors INSTRUCTION MANUAL – 21
Problem Cause Solution
Droplets
of air appear
in the liquid
aspirated
into the pipet
tip.
The pipet tip immersion
is too shallow.
Immerse the tip
deeper according to
the instructions.
The pipet tip is incorrectly
pressed onto the pipettor
shaft.
Press the pipettor
firmly.
The tip is damaged or worn
out due to extensive use.
Replace the tip with
a new one.
The pipettor
incorrectly
aspirates
the liquid
or the liquid
drops out
from the tip.
The pipettor tip is
incorrectly pressed onto
the pipettor shaft.
Press the pipet tip
firmly.
The shaft surface is
damaged or contaminated
at the sealing site.
Clean the shaft or
replace it with a new
one.
The plunger or the seal is
damaged due to prolonged
aspiration of aggressive
liquids.
Disassemble the
shaft set; wash the
shaft, the plunger and
the seal (Section 10:
Cleaning). Replace the
elements with new
ones if necessary.
Apply a small amount
of lubricant onto
the plunger and
reassemble the set
in the correct order.
The inside of the pipettor is
contaminated.
No lubrication on the
sealing elements.
Uneven
work of the
pipetting set,
the pipetting
pushbutton
gets blocked.
The inside of the pipettor
is contaminated due to
aspiration of aggressive
substances.
Unscrew the shaft
set, wash the parts.
Replace the elements
with new ones if
necessary. Apply
a small amount
of lubricant on
the plunger and
reassemble the set
in the correct order.
The inside of the pipettor
is contaminated due to the
liquid entering the pipettor.
No lubrication on the
sealing elements,
e.g. after repeated
autoclaving procedures.
Sterilization
Sterilization in an autoclave
The pipettor can be sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C for
20 minutes. Sterilization under other conditions may cause
damage to the pipettor. It is recommended to:
• Unscrew the shaft nut slightly prior to sterilization and
re-tighten after autoclaving.
• Set the locking ring in upper (unlocked) position prior
to sterilization.
• Sterilize the pipettors in autoclave with an initial vacuum
and drying cycle.
• After sterilization, the pipettor should be dried and cooled
to room temperature.
The precision of the results should not alter if the pipetting
process and autoclaving are carried out as described in this
manual. Because a slight change in the accuracy of the
dosage may occur, it is recommended to:
•
Check the calibration of the pipettor after the initial first,
third, and fifth autoclaving cycles and then after every
10 autoclaving cycles.
Ultra Violet (UV) Sterilization
The pipettors are UV resistant. However, the recommended
distance from the radiation source to the exposed element
should be not less than 50 cm. Prolonged and very intense
UV exposure can cause discoloration of pipettor parts
without effecting their performance.
11. Troubleshooting
If you notice an improper pipettor operation, identify
the cause and eliminate the fault. Follow the instructions
in the sequence provided. Replacement of parts should
be required only occasionally and should not occur under
normal pipettor use.
Problem Cause Solution
Droplets of
liquid remain
in the pipet
tip.
The pipet tip is emptied
too fast.
Decrease the speed
of pressing the
pipettor pushbutton.
The pipet tip wettability
has increased due to
extensive use.
Replace the tip with
a new one.