Thermo Scientific APEX 100, User Manual

Page: 261 / 442

Thermo Scientific APEX User’s Guide
Page 261
Always Use Spherical Test Samples
Your test samples should contain spherical metal contaminants. Any other shape
produces a different size signal, depending on its orientation as it passes through the
search head. As a result, miscellaneously-shaped test samples can lead to inconsistent
results.
Test the Entire Reject Process
In most applications, when the reject process fails, the reject device is to blame. So,
always test the entire reject process to verify your reject device is working properly. In
addition, make sure that, if the reject device fails, you can safely recover your test
samples. If you have safety concerns about your reject process, please contact Thermo
Fisher Scientific—as described in the “Contacting Thermo Fisher Scientific” section at the
end of the manual.
Keep Things Simple So Testing Is Done Frequently
If the test procedures you implement are simple, you and your operators are more likely
to do them on a regular basis. As a general rule, the detector should be tested once per
shift, or—at a minimum—on a daily basis.
Keep Written Records of All Tests
You should keep detailed written records, as part of your overall quality-assurance
program, of all tests done on the detector. Good records allow you to build up a
historical record of the performance of the detector and its associated components over
time, and will help you head off current problems and identify problems in the future.
Carefully Examine All Rejected Products
All rejected products should be carefully examined to determine exactly what type of
contamination they contain, and—most important of all—to allow you to identify the
exact source of the contamination. Rejected products, for example, should be examined
as soon as the shift ends (or, at a minimum, on a daily basis), to ensure that problems
upstream of your detector are indentified and corrected in a timely manner.
Enable the Detector’s QA Test Function
Use the detector’s QA Test function to ensure that its performance will be tested on a
regular basis by you or your operators.
Enable the Detector’s AuditCheck Function
If the optional AuditCheck hardware is installed on your detector, set up the AuditCheck
function. When the AuditCheck function is enabled, the detector’s performance is
automatically tested at regular intervals—without the need for operator intervention.