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What This Guide Helps With
Use when specimens, racks, or carriers are not recognized, transported, or accepted correctly by the analyzer.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Specimen Integrity and Testing Continuity
Stop attempting to process affected specimens until the loading problem is understood. Preserve specimen identification and redirect urgent testing if needed.
Expected outcome: Specimens remain correctly identified and patient testing continues through an alternate validated workflow when necessary.
2. Confirm What Is Not Being Detected
Determine whether the problem affects one specimen, one rack or carrier, a particular loading position, or all samples. Record any normal-interface message associated with the failure.
Expected outcome: The issue is localized to a specimen, rack/carrier, loading position, or broader analyzer function.
3. Inspect the Specimen Container
Verify the correct container type is being used and that it is intact, properly capped or prepared according to laboratory workflow, and not visibly damaged or contaminated externally.
Expected outcome: The specimen container is suitable for the analyzer and free of obvious physical problems.
4. Inspect the Rack or Carrier
Check for cracks, deformation, contamination, damaged identification features, or improperly seated tubes. Confirm the specimen is positioned correctly and the rack/carrier is inserted in the proper orientation.
Expected outcome: The rack or carrier is intact, clean, correctly loaded, and properly positioned.
5. Check the Loading Area for Obstruction
Inspect accessible loading and transport areas for misplaced tubes, labels, debris, dried material, or other obstruction. Do not reach into moving mechanisms or defeat interlocks.
Expected outcome: The accessible sample path is clear with no external obstruction.
6. Compare With a Known-Good Rack or Carrier
When permitted, load a known-good rack/carrier with an appropriate non-patient test specimen or laboratory-approved material. If the known-good item works, compare the original rack/carrier for damage or identification problems.
Expected outcome: A successful known-good comparison isolates the issue to the original rack, carrier, or specimen setup. If corrected, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
7. Check Identification and Configuration Factors
Verify that specimen and rack identification information is readable and consistent with the laboratory workflow. Confirm no obvious operator-facing configuration or routing selection is preventing acceptance.
Expected outcome: Identification and normal workflow configuration support detection of the loaded sample.
8. Verify Normal Transport and Detection
Observe a safe test cycle using approved material. Confirm the rack or carrier is accepted, transported normally, and the specimen is recognized without repeated errors.
Expected outcome: The analyzer reliably detects and processes the rack/carrier. Troubleshooting can stop if the condition does not recur.
If the Problem Persists
Common specimen, rack, carrier, positioning, identification, and obstruction causes have been ruled out. The remaining issue may involve a transport sensor, mechanical drive, reader, internal controller, alignment condition, or service-level configuration problem.
Remove the analyzer from service if reliable specimen identification or transport cannot be assured. Label it Out of Service and arrange repair or bench/on-site evaluation using appropriate Beckman Coulter documentation and approved test equipment. Qualified personnel should perform any internal repair, alignment, or configuration changes.
Return the analyzer to service only after sample detection and transport are consistently verified.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Never manually force a rack or carrier through the sample path; preserve specimen identification and use an alternate validated analyzer if urgent testing is required.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory staff reported that one sample rack was repeatedly not detected by the DxC 700 AU."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the affected rack was damaged and not seating correctly in the loading position."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The damaged rack was removed from use, a known-good rack was tested, and normal sample detection and transport were verified."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether one or all racks are affected
- Specimen container type
- Rack or carrier condition
- Loading position involved
- Barcode or identification condition
- Obstruction or contamination observed
- Known-good rack comparison
- Transport behavior
- Any displayed message
- Final detection result
Final Thought
Protect specimen identity first, then work from the tube and rack outward through positioning, identification, and transport checks. Verify the condition before assuming an internal sensor or mechanical failure, and document the final result clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.