174 | Chapter 4: Maintenance
Storing the Instrument 210
Replace Components 210
Calibrate the Backlash for Syringe Dispenser 212
Overview
A Preventive Maintenance (PM) regimen for the MultiFlo FX includes rinsing and
soaking the fluid path and cleaning and/or autoclaving the various components.
The level of maintenance required to keep the instrument performing as expected
is dependent on several factors, including the type of fluid dispensed, the
frequency of use, and the work habits employed.
The Recommended Maintenance Schedule on page 176 summarizes BioTek’s
recommended maintenance tasks, and indicates approximately how often each task
should be performed. Daily and periodic routines and minimal guidelines for
frequency are listed. Beyond that, it is difficult for BioTek to recommend a fixed
frequency for each task to be performed. The frequency of conducting these tasks
must be based on the risk and performance factors of your assays.
Develop a maintenance schedule for your MultiFlo FX based on the characteristics
of the fluids used and the activity level. Here are some guidelines for each
component:
Washer
o
If the washer will be idle for several hours or days at a time, soak the tubes to
keep them in a ”wetted” state. Enable AutoPrime if the washer is idle for more
than 3 hours.
o
Wash solutions affect the rinse frequency. If the solution does not contain
surfactant, consider rinsing (or running AutoPrime) at least once an hour.
Peri-pump
o
Purge the fluid at the end of a dispense run and flush the tubing with water (or
buffered saline and then water). This is a good practice whenever the dispenser
will be idle for more than an hour, and at the end of the day.
o
When using the 1 µL cassette, filter fluids to 50 microns to reduce the chance of
the tips clogging.
o
When dispensing fluids that can crystallize or harden after use, increase the
frequency of maintenance activities. Autoclave the cassette as needed.
MultiFlo™ FX Multi-Mode Dispenser
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