19
Filta-Max
xpress
Operator’s Guide
3. Transfer the sample to an L10 tube using a suitable pipette primed with buffer solution.
Note:
Priming, by drawing up buffer into the pipette and subsequently expelling it, prevents
any target organisms from sticking to the wall of the pipette.
4. Rinse the sides of the centrifuge tube twice with half the remaining volume of reagent-grade
water, transferring each of these wash volumes to the same L10 tube. For example, if the
volume remaining in the centrifuge tube is 7 mL, perform two rinses each with 1.5 mL of
reagent water.
5. Perform IMS according to appropriate procedures, for example,
U.S. EPA Method 1622/1623,
Microbiology of drinking water (2010)-Part 14-Methods for the isolation, identification and
enumeration of
Cryptosporidium
oocysts and
Giardia
cysts
or other appropriate guidelines or
manufacturer’s instructions.
Purging the buffer solution
When all the Filter Modules have been eluted, you must remove any remaining buffer solution from
the lines of the Pressure Elution Station by purging the system with reagent-grade water.
Note:
If sample elution is performed infrequently during a day—for example, early morning and late
afternoon—it is advisable to perform a buffer purge between elution events. This will increase the
volume of buffer solution required.
1. Load a blank Filter Module into a Filta-Max
xpress
Filter Housing. (See
Module and filtering the sample" on page 13
This blank Filter Module can be reused for one month to perform the initial system check or to
purge buffer solution from the system.
2. Complete steps 1–8 of
"Eluting the sample" on page 16
3. When performing a buffer solution purge, replace the buffer solution with reagent-grade water.
At the end of the elution cycle, discard the liquid from the centrifuge tube.
The centrifuge tube can be reused to perform the initial system check or to purge buffer
solution from the system.
4. Disconnect the Filter Housing from the Pressure Elution Station, and then disconnect the
outlet diverter fitting from the Filter Housing. The lines are now filled with reagent-grade water.
5. Clean the Swagelok QC stem on the Pressure Elution Station with alcohol-soaked wipes.
Because the system uses positive pressure to elute filters, there is limited to no risk of
sample-to-sample cross-contamination.
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