59
SECTION 5
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY
5.4 Cleaning the Stainer and Carousels
WARNING!
All cleaning procedures should be performed in a well-ventilated room by authorized trained
personnel wearing appropriate protection equipment.
1
Clean the outside of the instrument with 70 to 100% alcohol.
2
Clean the carousel and lid with 70 to 100% alcohol.
NOTE:
Freshly prepared (< 24 hours old) 10% dilution of household bleach
solution (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) can also be used. The 10% bleach solution
helps clean the stained
areas.
Cleaning Liquid Spills
Remove any liquid spilled on the instrument immediately to avoid damage to the
equipment.
WARNING!
If potentially infectious liquid is spilled on the instrument, the instrument must be
disinfected in accordance with all applicable local regulations. Refer to
Decontaminating the Stainer and Carousels (below) for instructions.
Cleaning Broken Slides
You must take stringent precautions if a slide breaks inside the instrument during a
staining cycle, especially if the instrument has been processing dangerous pathogens.
Always use protective gloves, safety glasses, and forceps when removing broken glass
from inside the instrument.
•
Glass shards embedded in the walls of the bowl can cause serious cuts and pose a
risk of infection.
•
Always remove embedded shards with a scraper before attempting to remove
loose glass.
•
Use a vacuum or adhesive tape to pick up loose glass inside the stainer bowl.
