Beckman Coulter COULTER ACT 5diff - 5 Calibration

PN 177196BB
5-5
CALIBRATION
AUTO-CALIBRATION
5
3. For good results, the calibrator must be stored, mixed, and handled according to the
instructins on the package insert provided with the calibrator material.
If the laboratory plans to use the recommended COULTER A
C
•T 5diff Cal Calibrator
and the trainee has not used it before, review the instructions on the package insert.
4. Calibration can be done in the Autoloader mode or the Manual mode.
a. If the calibrator vial has a pierceable cap, you can run it in the Autoloader mode or
you can run it closed-vial in the Manual mode.
b. If the calibrator vial has a non-pierceable cap, you must run it open-vial in the
Manual mode.
5. If running the calibrator in the Manual mode:
a. Before aspirating a sample, make sure the calibrator is well mixed according to the
instructions on the package insert.
b. Always remix the calibrator between cycles.
c. If the cap is non-pierceable:
1) Remove the cap from the calibrator vial before placing the vial in the tube
holder.
Note: Cycling a vial with the non-pierceable cap still on will damage the
sampling probe, requiring its replacement.
2) Carefully close the cap-pierce door to prevent spillage from the open vial.
3) Clean the cap threads with a lint-free tissue each time the cap is removed to
prevent contamination from flakes of dried calibrator.
6. Once the calibration run is completed, the instrument automatically does the necessary
calculations and checks the results.
a. It compares the CVs of all the directly measured parameters to preset calibration CV
limits and highlights in red any results that are out of limits.
b. It compares the new calibration factors to the old calibration factors and highlights
in red any calibration factors with a greater than 20% difference between the two.
7. Calibration is done on the results accumulated for the runs selected.
a. The Operator can exclude results from the calibration calculations.
1) Sample results should only be excluded if you can trace an Operator error to
the unacceptable results.
2) Excluding too many runs can cover up an instrument problem and bias
calibration.
3) The minimum results needed is based on the Minimum Runs for Automatic
Calibration setting on the Quality Assurance setup options screen.
4) Beckman Coulter recommends calibration factors based on a minimum of five
acceptable results.
b. The Operator can elect to “force” calibration, that is to calibrate even if results are
outside limits.
c. The Operator can elect to calibrate one or more CBC parameters.