ProtoFluor-Z SEVEN – Operating Instructions
Page
12
Storage and stability
: Specimens
should be analyzed soon after collection
and before hemolysis occurs
. Storage
at 4
o
C for up to one week may be
acceptable, but as anticoagulated
blood ages, it becomes hemolyzed,
which may cause erroneous results.
7.2. Preparation and Warm-up
1. Verify that the instrument is in a
location free of a draft from air
conditioning or heating vents.
Drafts from heating or air conditioning
vents result in fluctuating values which
are particularly noticed when trying to
calibrate the instrument
2. Turn on the power if unit is off. It is
recommended that the unit be left on
when not in use and only cycled off/on
prior to beginning test.
NOTE: If your instrument is left on
continuously, turn the power off and
on again to reset electronics.
The instrument can be left on
continuously, if preferred. However,
instruments left on continuously must
have the power turned off and on again
to clear all previous settings before a new
daily setup
3. Verify that the instrument is in the
correct mode for the units to be reported.
Properly set switch on back of unit.
Position
Mode
1 (Up)
ug/dL (42 Hct)
2 (Mid)
umol/mol
3 (Down)
ug/dL (35 Hct)
4. Allow the instrument to warm-up at
least 30 minutes.
This 30 minute warm-up warms the
electronics in the instrument, but the light
bulb is on only when MEASURE is
pressed.
5. Press MEASURE 5 to 10 times to
warm up the light bulb, waiting
approximately 5 seconds between each
time the button is pressed for the screen
to reset. This cycles the light bulb on and
off and should be done prior to making
the first reading.
6. Remove calibrators and samples from
the refrigerator and allow to equilibrate to
room temperature before testing begins
(requires
about
30-45
minutes).
ProtoFluor Reagent is stored at room
temperature.
Fluorescence is affected by temperature
and inaccurate readings will be obtained
if samples and reagents have not
equilibrated to room temperature.
7.3. Blank Instrument
1. Insert the empty sample holder (no
coverslip) into the instrument.
When the sample holder is completely
inserted into the instrument, a “click” is
heard as the sample holder is pushed
into place.
2. Press MEASURE.
Note that after MEASURE is pressed, the
display will read either (----), H35 or H42
(indicating the mode of operation) for 5
seconds and then a value appears.
The reading on the blank cavity (sample
holder inserted with no coverslip) should
be 000-003. Higher values may indicate
