On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting poor image quality, flow cell debris, imaging artifacts, unclear microscopy images, or questionable particle images on the DxU 850 Iris.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm the DxU 850 Iris is not actively processing patient specimens before pausing operation, opening user-accessible areas, inspecting tubing, or initiating cleaning.
If urine microscopy testing is urgent, have laboratory staff use another validated analyzer or follow the approved downtime process.
Expected outcome: Patient testing is protected while the imaging or flow cell issue is evaluated.
Stop Reporting Questionable Results
Ask laboratory staff whether any patient specimens were processed while poor image quality or flow cell-related errors were present.
Confirm whether affected results were flagged, manually reviewed, repeated, or held according to laboratory policy.
Expected outcome: Questionable urine microscopy results are not released without proper review.
Confirm the Reported Imaging Fault
Ask staff what they observed on the workstation or analyzer.
Check whether the issue involves:
- Blurry particle images
- Dark or low-contrast images
- Debris, streaking, or bubbles in image fields
- Repeated flow cell or imaging quality flags
- Excessive manual review flags
- Poor focus or inconsistent particle capture
- Results not matching visual review expectations
- Error occurring after a reagent, rinse, or waste change
Expected outcome: The issue is confirmed as image quality or flow cell related, not a barcode, LIS, rack handling, or specimen identification problem.
Check for Active Specimen or Sample Handling Issues
Confirm that the specimen tubes are properly mixed, not overfilled or underfilled, and are free of excessive sediment, clots, caps, labels, or debris that may interfere with aspiration.
Poorly prepared urine specimens can contribute to flow cell contamination, bubbles, or inconsistent image capture.
Expected outcome: The analyzer is not being blamed for a specimen preparation issue.
Inspect the Sample Area Externally
Look for spilled urine, dried residue, debris, damaged racks, misaligned tubes, or anything obstructing the sample path.
Do not perform deep disassembly.
Expected outcome: No obvious external contamination or obstruction is affecting specimen handling.
Verify Reagent, Rinse, and Wash Supplies
Check that required fluids are present, connected correctly, not expired if applicable, and not visibly contaminated.
Confirm caps, pickups, and external tubing connections are secure and not kinked or pinched.
Expected outcome: The analyzer has the required fluids to rinse and maintain image quality.
Check Waste Level and Drain Path
Confirm the waste container is not full and that waste tubing is not kinked, elevated improperly, disconnected, or restricted.
Poor waste flow can contribute to fluid handling problems and may affect the flow cell or imaging path.
Expected outcome: Waste can drain normally without backing up or interfering with fluid movement.
Look for Air Bubbles or Flow Irregularities
If visible through user-accessible tubing or fluid lines, check for air gaps, bubbles, or inconsistent fluid movement.
Do not disconnect internal tubing unless permitted by facility procedure and service documentation.
Expected outcome: Fluid movement appears stable and continuous.
Confirm Covers and Access Panels Are Properly Closed
Verify that all user-accessible covers, doors, and panels are fully closed and latched.
Some analyzers may pause operation, interrupt movement, or prevent fluid routines when covers are not fully seated.
Expected outcome: The analyzer is allowed to operate normally without cover or interlock-related interruptions.
Run the Appropriate User-Level Cleaning or Rinse Routine
Have trained laboratory staff or Clinical Engineering initiate the approved analyzer cleaning, rinse, or maintenance cycle available from the normal operator interface.
Do not bypass prompts or perform undocumented internal cleaning.
Expected outcome: Debris, bubbles, or residue in the fluid path may clear if the issue is contamination-related.
Recheck Image Quality After Cleaning
After the cleaning or rinse routine completes, process appropriate QC or non-patient verification material according to laboratory policy.
Review whether the images appear clear, properly focused, and free from excessive debris or artifacts.
Expected outcome: If images return to normal and QC or verification passes, document the issue and return the device to service per facility policy.
If the issue is resolved, stop troubleshooting.
Confirm the Fault Is Not Isolated to One Specimen
Ask staff whether the problem occurred on multiple specimens, one rack, one specimen type, or only after a specific sample.
A single abnormal urine specimen may create debris, sediment, or artifacts that do not represent analyzer failure.
Expected outcome: The issue is narrowed to specimen-related or analyzer-related behavior.
Check Recent Maintenance or Supply Changes
Ask whether reagents, rinse solution, waste container, tubing connections, filters, or other user-replaceable supplies were recently changed.
Incorrect installation or disturbed tubing can create flow or image quality problems.
Expected outcome: Any recent change is reviewed before assuming internal imaging failure.
Review Error Logs and On-Screen Messages
Record any flow cell, camera, image quality, focus, fluidics, rinse, aspiration, or analyzer status messages.
Do not clear logs before documenting the complaint.
Expected outcome: The service record includes useful fault history for escalation.
Power Cycle Only When Safe and Appropriate
If the analyzer is idle, no specimens are in process, and the lab agrees, perform a controlled shutdown and restart according to site procedure.
Do not power cycle during active specimen processing.
Expected outcome: Temporary software or initialization faults may clear. Persistent imaging or flow cell faults remain documented.
Perform Final Verification Before Return to Service
If the fault clears, confirm with laboratory staff that required QC, background checks, or verification testing passes before the device is used for patient specimens.
Expected outcome: The analyzer is only returned to service after acceptable image quality and lab-approved verification.
If the Problem Persists
If the flow cell or imaging quality fault continues after specimen handling, fluids, waste, external tubing, user-level cleaning, and restart checks have been completed, common external causes have been ruled out.
The issue may involve internal fluidics, optical alignment, camera/focus components, flow cell contamination, pump performance, internal tubing, valves, or analyzer calibration/service conditions.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair, vendor service, or bench evaluation
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. Continued testing on a urine analyzer with unresolved imaging quality concerns can risk inaccurate microscopy review or delayed result reporting.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot a flow cell or imaging quality fault while patient specimens are actively running. Have the lab secure specimens, move testing to another validated method if needed, and hold questionable results until repeat testing or manual review is completed per policy.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory reported repeated DxU 850 Iris flow cell/image quality faults with blurry particle images and excessive review flags during urine microscopy testing."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Verified fluids and waste were connected correctly, no external tubing kinks were found, and user-level cleaning was performed, but poor image quality persisted during verification."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the DxU 850 Iris from service, labeled it Out of Service, documented observed image quality behavior and error messages, and escalated for vendor/bench evaluation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether patient specimens were affected
- Whether results were held, repeated, or manually reviewed
- Exact on-screen flow cell or image quality message
- Whether issue affected one specimen or multiple specimens
- Image appearance: blurry, dark, streaked, bubbles, debris, low contrast
- Reagent, rinse, and wash supply status
- Waste container level and drain tubing condition
- Any recent reagent, waste, tubing, or maintenance changes
- Whether cleaning/rinse routine was performed
- QC or verification result after cleaning
- Final device status
Final Thought
Flow cell and imaging quality faults should be handled carefully because they directly affect urine particle visualization and result confidence. Clinical Engineering should protect patient results first, rule out external fluid, waste, specimen, and maintenance causes, then escalate when the fault remains. Clear CCR documentation helps the lab, repair team, and vendor understand what was checked and why the device was removed from service.
That is successful troubleshooting.