DOC-00322-ENA.doc Page 19 of 29 ! Wescor, Inc
e. Press the prime button that corresponds with the reagent line to be tested. The display shows the selected
Pattern Test and which reagent line is being tested. The instrument sprays a short burst of the
corresponding reagent.
f. The spray pattern must be round and uniform. If the spray pattern is abnormal, a clogged nozzle may be the
reason. Resolution to this problem is usually achieved by doing one or more of the following:
1. Wipe the nozzle orifice with methanol or ethanol, then run a CLEAN cycle.
2. Briskly push the bristles of the nozzle cleaning brush into the nozzle orifice. Repeat several times to
allow bristles to remove debris blocking the orifice.
3. Disassemble and clean the nozzle.
g. Press STOP to exit Pattern Test.
h. If the spray pattern is normal but staining results are abnormal, perform a Slide Pattern Test.
ii. Slide Pattern Test
a. Place a 26 mm x 76 mm (1” X 3”) piece of paper in slots 1 and 2 of the carousel with a blocking slide in
the slot before the paper slides. Replace the carousel lid. Load the carousel into the instrument and close the
lid.
b. Press VOLUME TEST.
c. Press 1.
d. Press the manual prime button for the reagent line to be tested. This sprays the paper “slide” and reveals the
pattern of stain application to the slide.
e. Remove the paper slides.
f. Repeat steps a to e for each reagent line.
g. Press STOP to exit the Pattern Test.
h. The pattern on the slide should be uniform without any continuous lines or streaks. If continuous lines or
streaks on the paper slides are observed, disassemble and clean the defective nozzle.
iii. Spray Volume Test
a. To test the volume of stain being delivered, press VOLUME TEST.
b. Press 2 to select Volume Test.
c. Hold a small container such as the 14 mL centrifuge tube included with the Aerospray Maintenance Kit to
capture the spray from the desired nozzle.
d. Press the corresponding prime button. The pump for that position runs for 20 seconds.
e. Place the centrifuge tube with the collected reagent in the tub stand of the maintenance kit. Place the tube in
the position that corresponds to the reagent line being tested. Use the information found in Interpreting
Results to determine the results of the Spray Volume test.
f. To exit Volume Test press STOP.
iv. Interpreting Results
When factory new, the A nozzle should deliver between 9.0 and 12.0 mL over the 20 second spray sequence if
using the Fluorescence decolorizer. All other nozzles, A (when using Carbol Fuchsin decolorizer), B, C, D, and E
nozzles should deliver between 7.75 and 11.5 mL over the 20 second spray sequence. Older nozzles may exhibit
higher volumes. The instrument stains properly with reagent deliveries above and below these levels. Volume
relationships between nozzles are at least as important as the actual volumes collected, and your investigation
should center on whether these nozzle groups are delivering close to the same levels.
When operating correctly, nozzles B, C, and D (front) should deliver approximately the same volume of stain. The
D (rear) nozzle volume may be slightly higher or lower. Reagent A will almost always be higher. Reagent E can
be higher or lower than the other nozzles (except Reagent A).
Low Volume
Normal
Pattern
Moderately
Abnormal Pattern
Very
Abnormal Pattern
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