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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots reported wash, waste, or fluid-related faults by checking external containers, tubing, connections, spills, obstructions, and configuration applicability.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Stop Unsafe Operation and Protect Testing Continuity
If liquid is leaking, waste is overflowing, tubing is disconnected, or the system cannot reliably manage fluids, stop affected operation. Use appropriate laboratory precautions for potentially contaminated material.
Coordinate with laboratory staff to move patient testing to an approved alternate workflow.
If the installed BACTEC FX configuration does not contain the reported wash or fluidics function, identify whether the message originates from a connected accessory or another analyzer.
Expected outcome: Exposure risk is controlled, testing continuity is maintained, and the actual affected component is identified.
2. Confirm the Exact Fault
Record the displayed message and determine whether it concerns waste level, liquid flow, wash function, drainage, leakage, or another fluid-related condition.
Identify whether the fault appeared after container service, cleaning, relocation, or maintenance.
Expected outcome: The specific fluid-related complaint is clearly defined.
3. Inspect for Leaks or Spills
Visually inspect accessible external areas for liquid, wet surfaces, loose tubing, overflowing containers, or evidence of leakage.
Do not continue energizing equipment when liquid has entered an electrical area.
Expected outcome: No uncontrolled leak or electrical liquid exposure is present. If liquid intrusion is suspected, remove the equipment from service immediately.
4. Check External Containers
If applicable to the installed configuration or connected accessory, verify accessible waste, drain, supply, or wash containers are correctly installed, not overfilled, not empty when supply is required, and properly capped or connected.
Use appropriate PPE according to laboratory policy.
Expected outcome: External containers are correctly installed and within normal operating condition. If correcting a container condition clears the fault, proceed to verification.
5. Inspect External Tubing and Connections
Inspect accessible tubing for kinks, pinching, disconnection, incorrect routing, visible blockage, or damage.
Do not disconnect potentially biohazardous lines without following laboratory and manufacturer safety procedures.
Expected outcome: Tubing is routed correctly and connections are secure. If correcting an external kink or loose connection restores operation, verify the system before return to use.
6. Check for Obstruction Around Accessible Sensors
Inspect accessible container seats, level-sensing areas, caps, fittings, or external sensor interfaces for residue or improper positioning.
Clean only surfaces intended for routine access.
Expected outcome: External sensing areas are clean and properly positioned. If cleaning or reseating clears the fault, continue to final verification.
7. Verify Correct Accessory Installation
If an external waste or fluid accessory was recently replaced, confirm that it is the correct item and is installed in the intended position.
Expected outcome: The correct accessory is securely installed. If an installation error was found and correction restores normal status, stop after functional verification.
8. Check for Related System Conditions
Confirm there are no concurrent power, door, communication, or readiness faults that could prevent a wash, drain, or fluid-management sequence from completing.
Expected outcome: No secondary external condition is preventing normal operation.
9. Perform an Approved Functional Check
After correcting the external cause, run only the normal operator-accessible function needed to verify the fault has cleared. Observe for recurrence, leakage, abnormal sound, or improper fluid movement.
Expected outcome: The system completes the applicable process without fault or leakage. If the fault returns, stop and escalate.
If the Problem Persists
External containers, tubing, connections, positioning, accessible sensing areas, and related system conditions have been ruled out. The remaining problem may involve an internal pump, valve, sensor, tubing path, drainage mechanism, controller, or configuration requiring service-level evaluation.
The affected equipment should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation.
- Evaluated using current BD documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel.
Use appropriate biohazard precautions when handling equipment that may contain contaminated liquid.
After repair, verify leak-free operation and complete required functional checks before return to service.
Clinical Use Tip
Any suspected biohazard leak should be contained and managed according to laboratory exposure-control procedures before technical troubleshooting continues.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory reported a recurring waste-system fault on equipment associated with the BACTEC FX workflow."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the external waste connection was not fully seated after the container had been serviced."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The connection was secured using the approved procedure, the area was inspected for leakage, normal operation was verified, and the system was returned to use."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact fluid or waste message
- Presence or absence of leakage
- Container level and condition
- Tubing routing
- Loose, kinked, or damaged connections
- Recent container change or cleaning
- Accessible sensor area condition
- Biohazard precautions taken
- Functional check result
- Final equipment status
Final Thought
Fluid-related faults require both patient-testing continuity and exposure control. Verify external containers, tubing, and connections before assuming an internal pump or valve problem, and stop troubleshooting whenever leakage or reliable fluid control cannot be assured.
That is successful troubleshooting.