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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting Urisys 1100 strip tray movement errors caused by tray obstruction, improper insertion, contamination, strip issues, or external handling problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm the Urisys 1100 is not actively being used to report a patient urine result.
If patient testing is needed immediately, have staff use another validated analyzer or follow the laboratory’s approved backup procedure.
Expected outcome: No patient result is delayed or released from a device with an unresolved tray movement problem.
Verify the Reported Error
Ask staff when the strip tray movement error occurs.
Check whether it happens:
- At startup
- When the tray extends
- When the tray retracts
- After a strip is placed
- During the read cycle
- Intermittently after cleaning or heavy use
Expected outcome: The failure pattern is understood before assuming a mechanical fault.
Stop Testing and Remove the Strip
Remove any reagent strip from the tray if present.
Confirm with lab staff whether the sample needs to be repeated according to policy.
Expected outcome: No incomplete or questionable result is used.
Check the Strip Tray for Proper Seating
Inspect the strip tray and confirm it is fully inserted and aligned correctly.
Gently remove and reinstall the tray if it appears partially seated, crooked, or not moving freely.
Expected outcome: The tray sits squarely and can move without obvious resistance.
If reseating the tray resolves the error, return the analyzer to service only after a successful function check or QC per lab policy.
Inspect for Physical Obstruction
Look for dried urine, reagent strip fragments, paper, labels, tape, debris, or crystallized residue around the strip tray path.
Do not force the tray if it is stuck.
Expected outcome: The tray path is clear of visible obstruction.
Check for Contamination on the Tray
Inspect the strip tray surface and surrounding accessible area for dried sample, reagent buildup, sticky residue, or cleaning solution deposits.
Clean only the user-accessible tray area using facility-approved cleaning materials and Roche-compatible cleaning guidance.
Expected outcome: The tray is clean, dry, and able to move normally.
Verify the Correct Reagent Strip Is Being Used
Confirm staff are using the correct Roche-compatible urine test strips for the Urisys 1100.
Check that strips are not expired, curled, wet, swollen, or damaged.
Expected outcome: The strip fits correctly on the tray and does not interfere with tray travel.
Check Strip Placement Technique
Have staff demonstrate how the strip is placed on the tray.
Verify the strip is positioned flat, correctly oriented, and not hanging over the edge of the tray.
Expected outcome: The strip remains aligned during tray movement.
Why it matters: Misplaced or curled strips can drag, shift, or block tray motion.
Power Cycle the Analyzer
Turn the analyzer off using the normal power switch.
Wait briefly, then power it back on and allow the startup sequence to complete.
Expected outcome: The tray initializes without error.
If the tray movement error clears, perform QC or a facility-approved verification before returning the device to routine use.
Check the Power Supply and Outlet
Confirm the power adapter is firmly connected to the analyzer and wall outlet.
Test the outlet or move the analyzer to a known-good outlet if power behavior appears unstable.
Expected outcome: The analyzer receives stable power during tray movement.
Observe Tray Movement Without a Strip
Run the appropriate startup or test preparation sequence without placing a patient strip, if allowed by lab procedure.
Watch for hesitation, grinding, clicking, uneven movement, or failure to fully extend or retract.
Expected outcome: The tray moves smoothly through its expected travel path.
Check for Recent Cleaning, Spill, or Drop History
Ask staff whether the analyzer was recently cleaned, exposed to a spill, moved, dropped, or had the tray removed.
Expected outcome: Any handling-related cause is identified before escalation.
Do Not Force the Tray
If the tray is stuck, binding, or making abnormal mechanical noise, do not pull or push it by force.
Expected outcome: Further damage to the tray drive mechanism is avoided.
Repeat QC After Corrective Action
Once the tray moves normally, have the laboratory perform required QC or verification before patient testing resumes.
Expected outcome: Analyzer function is confirmed before clinical use.
If the Problem Persists
If the strip tray movement error continues after the tray has been reseated, cleaned, checked for obstruction, verified with proper strip placement, and power cycled, common external causes have been ruled out.
The issue may involve the tray drive mechanism, position sensing, motor control, or an internal mechanical fault.
The device should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. Do not continue repeated patient testing attempts on a urine analyzer with unresolved tray movement errors.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot tray movement problems while an active patient specimen is being processed. Move testing to another validated analyzer or approved backup method first, then troubleshoot only when patient result integrity is protected.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory staff reported that the Roche Urisys 1100 displayed a strip tray movement error during urine strip testing."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Strip tray was found partially seated with dried residue in the accessible tray path, preventing smooth tray travel."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Removed the analyzer from active testing, cleaned and reseated the strip tray, power cycled the unit, and returned it to service after successful QC verification by lab staff."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Whether the error occurred at startup or during testing
- Whether the strip tray extended, retracted, or stopped mid-cycle
- Tray removed and reseated
- Tray path inspected for debris or dried urine
- Strip type and expiration checked
- Strip placement verified with staff
- Power adapter and outlet checked
- Any grinding, clicking, binding, or unusual sound noted
- Whether the analyzer was recently cleaned, moved, spilled on, or dropped
- QC result after corrective action
- Final device status
Final Thought
A strip tray movement error should be approached logically: protect patient results first, check the visible tray path, confirm correct strip placement, verify power, and avoid forcing the mechanism. If the tray still fails after external causes are ruled out, remove the analyzer from service and escalate for repair. Clear CCR documentation helps show what was checked and why the final decision was appropriate.
That is successful troubleshooting.