BD FACSymphony A5 SE - Cleaning the fluidics

Cleaning the fluidics
Introduction
This topic describes how to perform the daily fluidics cleaning.
Overview
Cleaning the fluidics daily prevents the sample injection tube from becoming clogged and removes dyes that
can remain in the tubing.
In addition to daily cleaning, follow this procedure immediately after running viscous samples or nucleic acid
dyes such as Hoechst, DAPI, propidium iodide (PI), acridine orange (AO), or thiazole orange (TO).
Procedure
To clean the fluidics:
1. Press RUN and HIGH on the cytometer fluid control panel.
2. Install a tube containing 3mL of a cleaning solution on the SIP with the support arm to the side (vacuum
on) and let it run for 1minute.
For the cleaning solution, use BDFACSClean™ solution. See Maintenance overview (page 36) for other
recommended cleaning solutions.
3. Move the tube support arm under the tube (vacuum off) and allow the cleaning solution to run for 5
minutes with the sample flow rate set to HIGH.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with DI water.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with 1.5% dilution of BD
®
Detergent Solution Concentrate.
Note: The BD
®
Detergent Solution Concentrate must be diluted before use. Mix one full 15mL bottle of
BD
®
Detergent Solution Concentrate into 985mL of DIwater to make 1L total.
Do not mix BD
®
Detergent Solution Concentrate and bleach because they produce chlorine gas.
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with DI water.
7. Press the STANDBY button on the fluidics control panel.
8. Place a tube containing no more than 1mL of DI water on the SIP.
A tube with 1mL of DI water should remain on the SIP to prevent salt deposits from forming in the injection
tube. This tube also catches back drips from the flow cell.
Do not leave more than 1mL of water on the SIP. When the instrument is turned off or left in standby
mode, a small amount of fluid will drip back into the sample tube. If there is too much fluid in the tube, it
could overflow and affect the cytometer performance.
Chapter 4 Maintenance 37