Drucker Diagnostics QBC STAR, System Operator'S Manual

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1 – Introduction
Placing the cap on the tube performs three actions simultaneously:
• Seals the tube protective plastic sleeve
• Inserts the float into the QBC STAR tube
• Closes the air vent
The density of the float is matched to the density of the buffy coat so that it centers itself in that region.
If a tube breaks during centrifugation, blood and glass are fully contained within the capped tube
protective plastic sleeve. This design provides a high degree of user and instrument protection from
exposure to blood and aerosols.
QBC STAR Instrument
The QBC STAR Instrument (Figure 2) is a compact, portable, centrifugal hematology analyzer. The instru-
ment contains a single tube centrifuge for sample mixing and for separating the blood into the various
cell populations. Analysis of the sample occurs in the centrifuge rotor after the centrifuge is finished.
A single filled QBC STAR Tube is placed into the rotor, the door is closed, and the “STAR” button
pressed to start the test process. The centrifuge cycle mixes and then separates the blood into distinct
cell layers. The instrument initially spins slowly for up to 30 seconds allowing the blood in the tube to
mix. Once this initial mixing is done, the centrifuge accelerates to a higher speed which is maintained
for 4.75 minutes. This stage separates the blood cell populations into distinct packed cell bands. After
the cell populations have been separated, the centrifuge decelerates to measure the band lengths.
Analysis of the tube occurs at the illumination/read station. This station consists of an LED light source
and optical imaging system.
Figure 2 – QBC STAR Instrument
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