31
Instrument Operation
• The osmometer sample probe rises up from the wiper ring. Then the
turntable rotates to position the next available sample cup in the
pipettor dispensing position.
• The osmometer displays the result on the touchscreen display.
• The pipettor rises up from the cleaning station. The primary carousel
rotates to the position of the next primary sample tube to be tested.
• Sample testing and system cleaning continues until all samples in
the primary carousel are tested.
Sample preparation
NOTE The plastic sample tube used in the osmometer is designed for
single-use only and must be discarded after one test. The
mechanical impact used to nucleate the sample state change
during the test deforms and cracks the plastic tube. Reusing the
cracked tube can result in sample leaking into the cooling
chamb er. This will contaminate the cooling chamber, and will
produce inaccurate test results or errors.
No special sample preparation is required for serum samples. Other
body fluids such as urine may be tested directly. Samples with viscosi-
ties up to 20 mPa
.
s (20 cP) can be dispensed and tested. Samples with
viscosities greater than 20 mPa
.
s may affect the ability of the system to
accurately pipette the sample, which could affect the results. If high
viscosity samples are to be tested using the
A
2
O
, diluting the sample
with water and applying a dilution factor to the results could be an
option.
When using blood collection tubes with separator gels, ensure that the
sample volume above the gel satisfies the minimum volume require-
ments of Table 2. Do not permit the pipettor tip to contact the gel. If
the pipettor tip does contact the gel, the osmolality reported may be
affected. If contact occurs, prime the system to remove any gel inside
the pipettor tip and then clean the exterior using 70% isopropyl alcohol.
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