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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting DxU 840 Iris flow cell, imaging quality, debris, focus, or unclear urine microscopy image issues before repair escalation.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm the DxU 840 Iris is not actively processing patient specimens before pausing operation, inspecting sample areas, or initiating cleaning.
If patient testing is urgent, have laboratory staff use another validated analyzer or follow the approved downtime procedure.
Expected outcome: Patient testing is protected while image quality is evaluated.
Stop Reporting Questionable Results
Ask laboratory staff whether poor image quality affected any patient specimens.
Confirm whether results were released, flagged for review, repeated, or require manual microscopy per laboratory policy.
Expected outcome: Questionable urine microscopy results are not released without appropriate review.
Confirm the Reported Imaging Issue
Ask staff what they observed.
Check whether the issue involves:
- Blurry images
- Dark or low-contrast images
- Debris in the image field
- Streaking or bubbles
- Repeated image quality flags
- Poor particle recognition
- Excessive manual review flags
- Flow cell contamination message
- Inconsistent results compared with manual review
Expected outcome: The complaint is confirmed as an imaging or flow cell quality issue, not a barcode, LIS, aspiration, or QC workflow issue.
Check Current Analyzer Status and Error Messages
Review the analyzer and workstation for active alarms, fault messages, or maintenance prompts related to imaging, flow, focus, fluidics, or image quality.
Do not clear messages without documenting them first.
Expected outcome: Fault details are captured before troubleshooting changes the device state.
Verify Reagent, Diluent, and Wash Supply Status
Confirm required fluids are present, not expired, properly seated, and connected.
Low, empty, expired, or incorrectly installed fluids can affect sample flow, cleaning, and image clarity.
Expected outcome: Fluid supply issues are corrected. If imaging returns to normal, document the correction and stop.
Inspect Waste and Drain Conditions
Check that waste containers are not full and that drain tubing is not kinked, pinched, backed up, or improperly positioned.
Poor waste flow can contribute to fluid handling problems and abnormal flow cell conditions.
Expected outcome: Waste flow is unobstructed. If the issue clears after correcting waste handling, document and stop.
Check for Visible Leaks, Crystallization, or Residue
Visually inspect user-accessible tubing, fittings, sample areas, and fluid paths for leaks, dried urine, salt deposits, crystallization, or residue.
Do not disassemble internal fluidic assemblies.
Expected outcome: Obvious external contamination or leakage is identified for cleaning or escalation.
Confirm Samples Are Properly Mixed and Suitable for Testing
Ask staff whether affected samples were unusually cloudy, viscous, bloody, crystallized, old, or poorly mixed.
Poor sample condition can create debris, bubbles, or inconsistent particle imaging.
Expected outcome: The issue is separated from a specimen quality problem. If only isolated samples are affected, have staff repeat or manually review per lab policy.
Check Rack, Tube, and Sample Presentation
Confirm the correct sample tubes and racks are being used and that tubes are seated correctly.
Incorrect tube height, poor sample volume, or improper presentation can contribute to aspiration and flow issues that appear as image quality faults.
Expected outcome: Sample presentation is verified before assuming a flow cell or camera problem.
Run the Approved Cleaning or Rinse Routine
If available to Clinical Engineering or laboratory staff under local policy, initiate the analyzer’s approved user-level cleaning, rinse, or maintenance routine.
Do not perform undocumented cleaning methods or introduce unauthorized chemicals.
Expected outcome: Minor debris, residue, bubbles, or contamination are cleared. If image quality returns to normal, document the cleaning performed and stop.
Check for Bubble or Flow Pattern Symptoms
Ask staff whether the issue appeared after reagent replacement, maintenance, bottle changes, shutdown, or startup.
Air introduced into the fluid path can cause streaking, bubbles, or poor image fields.
Expected outcome: The issue is linked to a recent fluid change or startup event if applicable.
Repeat with a Known Acceptable Control or Test Material
Have laboratory staff run appropriate QC, control material, or a known acceptable test sample according to lab policy.
Clinical Engineering should not independently validate patient result accuracy without laboratory involvement.
Expected outcome: The analyzer either produces acceptable images/results or the imaging fault repeats under controlled conditions.
Compare Analyzer Results With Manual Review or Alternate Analyzer
If the lab reports misclassification or unclear images, ask whether manual microscopy or another validated analyzer confirms the concern.
Expected outcome: The problem is confirmed as an analyzer imaging issue rather than sample variability.
Review Recent Maintenance or Environmental Changes
Check whether the analyzer was recently moved, cleaned, serviced, had fluids replaced, experienced a power interruption, or had software/workstation changes.
Expected outcome: A recent change is identified that may explain the imaging fault.
Power Cycle Only When Safe
If no specimens are processing and results are protected, restart the analyzer and associated workstation only according to facility procedure.
Do not power cycle during active testing or pending result transmission.
Expected outcome: Temporary software or imaging communication faults clear. If the fault returns, continue escalation.
Do Not Attempt Internal Optical or Flow Cell Repair in the Clinical Area
Do not open internal optical assemblies, adjust cameras, alter focus, remove internal flow cell components, or perform board-level repair unless trained, authorized, and following approved service documentation.
Expected outcome: Patient safety, analyzer integrity, and service compliance are maintained.
If the Problem Persists
If poor image quality, flow cell contamination, debris, bubbles, or imaging faults continue after external checks, fluid supply verification, waste checks, sample review, and approved cleaning routines, common external causes have been ruled out.
The DxU 840 Iris should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair, vendor service, or bench evaluation
At this point, the issue may involve internal flow cell contamination, fluidic obstruction, camera/imaging hardware, illumination, focus, or internal alignment. Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot imaging or flow cell issues while patient specimens are actively running. Protect result integrity first, move testing to another validated method if needed, and involve the laboratory before repeating, releasing, or correcting patient results.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory reported repeated poor image quality and excessive review flags on the Beckman Coulter DxU 840 Iris during urine microscopy testing."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Verified fluids and waste connections were acceptable, but image quality faults continued after approved cleaning and repeat testing."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the DxU 840 Iris from service, labeled it Out of Service, documented observed imaging fault behavior, and escalated for bench/vendor evaluation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether patient specimens were affected
- Exact imaging or flow cell error message
- Whether images were blurry, dark, streaked, or debris-filled
- Whether bubbles were visible or suspected
- Reagent, diluent, wash, and waste status
- Lot numbers or expiration dates if related to QC or fluid replacement
- Whether approved cleaning/rinse was performed
- Whether QC or control material passed or failed
- Whether manual microscopy confirmed abnormal results
- Any recent maintenance, relocation, shutdown, or fluid replacement
- Final device status
Final Thought
Flow cell and imaging quality issues should be approached carefully because they can affect urine microscopy interpretation. Start with patient safety, result integrity, fluids, waste, sample quality, and approved cleaning before suspecting internal failure. Clear CCR documentation helps show what was checked, what was ruled out, and why escalation was appropriate.
That is successful troubleshooting.