Hologic thinprep 2000 - Filter Wetting; Cell Collection

INTRODUCTION
ThinPrep 2000 Processor Operator’s Manual 1.9
1
Filter Wetting
The head seal lowers to seal the filter assembly. Negative pressure is briefly applied, drawing a small
amount of fluid through the ThinPrep Pap test filter to wet it. Following wetting, the system gently
blows out the liquid in the ThinPrep Pap test filter. This clears any cellular material from the filter
surface.
Cell Collection
The filter membrane is biologically neutral and is mounted at one end of the ThinPrep Pap test filter
cylinder. The membrane is a flat, smooth, porous surface that collects the cellular material on one
plane.
The pneumatic system applies negative pressure to the filter in a series of pulses. These negative
pressure pulses (sips) draw PreservCyt Solution through the filter membrane and collect suspended
cellular material onto the outer membrane surface.
The collection process ceases when a target filter coverage, predetermined by the processor sequence,
is attained. Cell collection is controlled by an embedded microprocessor that monitors the pressure in
the ThinPrep Pap test filter cylinder. After collection, the cells sit on a single plane over the pores,
ready for transfer to the slide. Figure 1-2 illustrates cell collection.
Figure 1-2 Cell Collection
Negative pressure
creates a vacuum
ThinPrep Pap
test filter
Flow of fluid
Filter
pores