On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshoots wash, waste, and fluidics faults caused by supply depletion, full waste containers, tubing issues, leaks, blocked drainage, or external utilities.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Patient Testing and Assess for Leakage
Pause affected testing immediately when fluid handling is unreliable.
Inspect around the analyzer for:
- Liquid on the floor
- Chemical leakage
- Overflow
- Unusual odor
- Wet tubing or connections
- Evidence of uncontrolled fluid discharge
If active leakage creates an electrical, chemical, slip, or contamination hazard, isolate the analyzer and remove it from service.
Expected outcome: Immediate hazards are controlled and affected testing is redirected.
2. Confirm the Exact Fluidics Fault
Record:
- Exact analyzer message
- Whether the problem involves wash supply, system water, drain, waste, or another fluid pathway
- Whether it occurred during startup, maintenance, or testing
- Whether the fault clears and returns
Expected outcome: The affected external fluid function is identified before components are disturbed.
3. Check Accessible Supply Containers
Verify applicable external supplies are:
- Present
- Adequately filled
- Correctly connected
- Correctly seated
- Not visibly damaged or leaking
Confirm caps, pickup connections, and externally accessible tubing are positioned normally.
Expected outcome: Required fluids are available to the analyzer. If correcting an empty or poorly seated supply resolves the fault, proceed to verification.
4. Check Waste Containers and Drainage
Inspect accessible waste handling for:
- Full containers
- Improperly seated containers
- Kinked external drain tubing
- Blocked or disconnected accessible drain connections
- Evidence of backup or overflow
Use proper PPE and follow laboratory biohazard procedures.
Expected outcome: Waste can leave the analyzer normally without leakage or backup.
5. Inspect Accessible Tubing and Connections
Check only externally accessible fluid lines for:
- Kinks
- Compression
- Loose fittings
- Disconnection
- Visible leaks
- Pinching from nearby equipment
Do not open protected internal fluidics assemblies.
Expected outcome: Accessible tubing has a clear physical path and secure connections.
6. Check Facility Utilities When Applicable
If the analyzer depends on facility-provided water, drain, power, or other infrastructure, verify that the corresponding service is available.
Consider recent:
- Plumbing work
- Utility interruption
- Facilities maintenance
- Analyzer relocation
- Water shutdown
- Drain backup
Expected outcome: Required facility utilities are available and functioning.
7. Use the Normal Approved Recovery Sequence
After correcting the external cause, allow the analyzer to perform only its normal approved prime, wash, startup, or recovery process.
Watch for:
- Repeat alarms
- Leakage
- Abnormal fluid movement
- Failure to complete the sequence
Expected outcome: The analyzer completes its normal fluidics recovery without alarms or leaks.
8. Perform Final Verification
Confirm:
- No active wash or waste alarms
- No visible leakage
- Supplies and waste levels update appropriately
- Analyzer reaches ready status
- Required maintenance, calibration, or QC checks are completed before patient testing
Expected outcome: Fluid handling is stable and required laboratory verification is successful. Troubleshooting is complete.
9. Escalate Persistent Fluidics Faults
Stop external troubleshooting if:
- Leakage persists
- Known-good supplies do not restore operation
- Drainage repeatedly backs up
- Internal tubing or components appear involved
- Pumps, valves, pressure systems, or internal sensors are suspected
Expected outcome: The analyzer remains out of clinical service until qualified repair is completed.
If the Problem Persists
External supplies, waste handling, accessible tubing, drainage, and facility utilities have been checked. Remaining causes may involve internal pumps, valves, tubing, pressure or level sensors, fluid routing, wash mechanisms, or control systems.
The analyzer should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or qualified service evaluation
- Evaluated using Roche-approved documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel
After repair, verify leak-free operation, normal fluidics functions, and required calibration/QC before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting and escalate is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Treat any uncontrolled analyzer fluid leak as both a clinical-laboratory and equipment-safety issue until the source and fluid type are understood.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory staff reported the cobas pro stopped testing and displayed a waste-related fault."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the external waste container full and not allowing normal waste handling."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Laboratory staff emptied and correctly reseated the waste container using required PPE, Clinical Engineering verified normal fluidics operation with no leakage, and laboratory QC was acceptable."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact fluidics message
- Supply involved
- Fluid levels
- Waste level
- External tubing condition
- Drain condition
- Leakage location
- Facility utility status
- Recent plumbing or maintenance activity
- Recovery sequence result
- Calibration or QC performed
- Final analyzer status
Final Thought
Fluidics troubleshooting begins with safety, supplies, waste, tubing, and facility utilities. Verify normal leak-free operation before assuming internal failure, and escalate promptly when the fault extends beyond accessible external systems.
That is successful troubleshooting.