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Section 5: Preventative Maintenance and Safety
5.5 Decontaminating the Stainer and Carousels
All parts of the instrument that come into contact with biological specimens, patient specimens, positive
control specimens, or hazardous material must be treated as potentially infectious.
Before the instrument is returned for service, all outer surfaces must be decontaminated. The operating
authority must complete a disinfection declaration, otherwise the instrument may be rejected by the
distributor or service center or quarantined by customs authorities.
WARNING!
Reagents used with the instrument contain moderately hazardous chemicals that require care
in handling. Always use appropriate safety measures including gloves and eye protection, when
handling reagents.
WARNING!
Authorized and trained personnel wearing appropriate protection equipment should perform
the decontamination procedure in a well-ventilated room. It is very important to thoroughly
decontaminate the instrument before removing it from the laboratory or before performing any
technical service. This procedure may not be effective against prions.
WARNING!
Prior to decontaminating, disconnect the instrument from the main power supply to avoid any risk
of fire and explosion.
WARNING!
The decontamination procedure and the disinfectants must comply with the local applicable
regulations.
Solutions for Decontaminating the Instrument
The outer surfaces of the instrument should be decontaminated using a decontaminating solution such as:
• 70% ethanol or methanol
• Mild detergent
• 10% bleach solution (< 24 hours old)
• Decontamination Solution (REF: SS-133)
Figure 13: Lid Latch and Locking Pin Hole Locations
1. Lid Latch Hole
2. Locking Pin Hole
Decontaminating the Instrument
1. Prepare a suitable container for all disposables.
2. Cover the lid latch and locking-pin holes with waterproof tape to protect the interior (Figure 13).
3. Place the instrument in a biological safety hood or well-ventilated area.
4. Spray the inner bowl and inner lid with a decontaminating solution such as Ref: SS-133.
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