21
Instrument Operation
A series of adapters is provided for use when testing Advanced
Instruments reference solutions, controls, and calibration standards con-
tained in ampules and vials. Insert the adapters into the primary carousel
so that they contact the tabs at the bottom of the carousel tube holders.
Rotate the adapters until the barcodes are outwardly visible in the tube
slots. The adapter used with vials contains a notch in the top section to
permit viewing the barcode on the vial label. Rotate that adapter until
the notch is facing outward.
A sensor located beneath the carousel scans each of the 20 carousel
positions during the initial portion of the test sequence to identify which
positions contain primary tubes. The software records this information
to ensure that only those positions containing tubes are rotated into posi-
tion below the pipettor for sample aspiration.
CAUTION Do not rotate the primary carousel manually when loading
or unloading tubes while electrical power is applied to the
instrument. Rotating the carousel can produce voltage
spikes that can damage the electronics. Manual rotation
will also misalign the carousel, resulting in possible dam-
age to the pipettor during testing.
NOTE The A
2
O will not test tubes that were added after the scan for
tube locations is complete.
The internal barcode scanner also scans each of the 20 carousel loca-
tions to determine whether a readable barcode is present. If a tube does
not contain a barcode label, or if the tube is positioned so that the label
cannot be read, the software provides instructions to manually enter a
sample ID or reposition the tube. The barcode feature may be turned off
in the software.
Cleaning station (Figure 3)
The cleaning station has two ports, each with a different purpose. The
large central port collects excess sample and system fluid used to clean
the pipettor after each test. The smaller port is used to wash the exterior
of the pipettor tip by dispensing clean system fluid. The system fluid
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