General Information 2-5
Samples
■ What types of samples can I run on the VS2?
Whole blood, serum, or plasma.
■ Is precision pipetting required?
No. Adding approximately 100–120 Pl of sample is sufficient. (Make sure not to overfill
the chamber, or internal spills can result.) The VS2’s on-board microfluidics handle the
rest.
■ Can I use sodium heparin?
No. This anticoagulant can alter results. We recommend using lithium heparin with
the VS2.
■ Can I use whole blood directly in a rotor?
No. Syringes might be heparinized with sodium heparin anticoagulant, which is not rec-
ommended for use with the VS2. Instead, transfer the sample to a green top lithium hepa-
rin tube before loading into the rotor.
Rotors
■ If I inadvertently run an outdated rotor, do I risk inaccurate results?
The analyzer checks the rotor, and cancels the run if the rotor is outdated. This makes it
essential to set your VS2 to the correct date and time. See “Changing Date and Time” on
page 5-14 for instructions.
■ What is the shelf life of rotors?
Rotor shelf life depends on the type of rotor, but averages approximately 9 to 18 months
from the date of manufacture. See the package label to determine the rotor expiration date.
To ensure optimal performance through the expiration date, the rotors must be refrigerated
at 2–8° C (36–46° F), and used one at a time directly from the refrigerator.
Note: Do not store rotors in the freezer. This freezes the diluent pack,
which prevents it from running properly in the instrument.