Siemens Hematek 3000 System - Verifying Pump Volumes and Ratios

8 Troubleshooting
Hematek
®
3000 System – Instruction Manual – Version 1.3 118
8
• If the second mixing groove is completely flooded with the stain and
buffer mixture, turn the buffer adjustment knob and the stain adjustment
knob counter-clockwise slightly, see Figure 8-4.
Adjust amount of rinse 9. Examine the stained glass slides under a microscope.
• If excess stain is left on the stained glass slides appearing as
precipitation under the microscope, turn the rinse adjustment knob
clockwise, see Figure 8-4.
• If the staining of the stained glass slides is pale due to over-washing,
turn the rinse adjustment knob counter-clockwise, see Figure 8-4.
Check staining 10. Load three priming slides into the grooves of the conveyor spirals with
the marked side facing in the opposite direction of conveyance.
 The
system primes the platen and performs the staining.
11. Load five smeared glass slides immediately following the priming slides.
12. Check if the capillary space between the platen and the smeared glass
slides fills properly with stain in the staining area.
• If so: Go to step 13.
• If not: Go back to step 4.
13. Check if the capillary space between the platen and the smeared glass
slides fills properly with a stain and buffer mixture just before the rinsing
area.
• If so: Go to Chapter 8.5.3.
• If not: Go back to step 8.
8.5.3 Verifying the pump volumes
The pump volumes are verified by checking the rinse volume for a specific
amount of glass slides and by checking the stain-to-buffer ratio.
You will need:
• 1 beaker
• 2 10mL graduated cylinders
• 1 25mL graduated cylinder
• 10 blank glass slides
Note: Any change in the rinse setting can cause a slight color change
due to the small amount of methanol in the rinse.
Occasional small voids can occur on the stained glass slides after
proper filling. These voids are acceptable and will not adversely affect
stain quality. Do not try to compensate for small voids by increasing the
amount of stain. Doing so can upset the optimum stain-to-buffer ratio
and can affect the stain intensity.