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What This Guide Helps With
Use this guide for repeated aspiration, probe, or pipetting errors that prevent reliable sample, reagent, calibrator, or control handling.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Patient Samples and Stop Unreliable Testing
Stop affected testing if the analyzer cannot reliably aspirate samples or reagents.
Determine whether the condition affects:
- Patient samples
- Reagents
- Calibrators
- QC material
- One container type
- One position
- Multiple analyzer processes
Document the exact displayed condition and whether the event is intermittent or repeatable.
Expected outcome: The scope of the aspiration problem is established and affected patient testing is stopped. If an external cause is corrected and reliable aspiration is demonstrated, troubleshooting can stop.
2. Inspect the Affected Sample or Material
Inspect the involved tube, cup, or reagent container for:
- Low volume
- Incorrect container
- Improper seating
- Obstructing cap or closure
- Foam
- Visible bubbles
- Clot or particulate matter
- Damaged container
- Label interfering with positioning
Do not insert tools into patient specimens or otherwise compromise specimen integrity.
Expected outcome: The material is suitable for normal aspiration. If replacing or repositioning the container resolves the error, the issue is resolved.
3. Compare With a Known-Good Container or Material
Use appropriate laboratory-approved material to determine whether the error follows:
- One specimen
- One tube type
- One rack position
- One reagent
- The analyzer regardless of material
Expected outcome: The error is narrowed to the sample/material or to the analyzer. If a known-good substitute aspirates normally, address the external sample or container issue and stop troubleshooting after verification.
4. Inspect Accessible Probe Area
When the analyzer is in a safe state and access is permitted, visually inspect accessible probe or pipetting areas for:
- Visible residue
- Dried material
- Obstruction
- Bent or obviously damaged accessible component
- Evidence of collision
- Fluid leakage
Do not manually bend, straighten, realign, or disassemble probes.
Expected outcome: No visible external obstruction or damage is present. Visible probe damage requires immediate removal from service and escalation.
5. Verify Sample and Rack Positioning
Confirm sample racks, carriers, and containers are correctly seated and not placing tubes outside their expected aspiration position.
Check whether the error repeatedly occurs at one location.
Expected outcome: Samples are consistently positioned beneath the normal aspiration path. If correcting rack or tube placement resolves the error, troubleshooting can stop.
6. Check for Clot, Bubble, or Fluidic Conditions
Review whether the analyzer is also reporting:
- Clot-related events
- Air or bubble conditions
- Wash faults
- Fluidic errors
- Waste issues
A probe error may be secondary to another external fluid-handling condition.
Expected outcome: No unresolved fluidic prerequisite is interfering with aspiration. If correcting an external fluidic condition restores operation, proceed to functional verification.
7. Perform Approved External Cleaning if Indicated
If contamination is visible and routine operator/maintenance documentation permits external cleaning, perform only the approved accessible cleaning procedure.
Do not insert wires, probes, or unapproved tools into fluid pathways.
Expected outcome: Accessible contamination is removed and the analyzer resumes normal aspiration. If the error persists, do not continue invasive cleaning.
8. Verify With Nonpatient Material
Run appropriate nonpatient material through the affected path.
Observe whether:
- Aspiration begins normally
- No error recurs
- Sample volume appears adequate
- Processing completes
- Subsequent QC remains acceptable
Expected outcome: Reliable aspiration and processing are demonstrated. Troubleshooting can stop after required QC or readiness checks.
9. Escalate Recurrent Probe or Pipetting Faults
If the error occurs with known-good material and proper positioning, or visible probe damage is present, remove the analyzer from affected testing.
Do not attempt internal probe replacement, alignment, pipettor calibration, or internal tubing repair unless trained and authorized.
Expected outcome: The unresolved mechanical or fluidic problem is safely escalated.
If the Problem Persists
If sample volume, container condition, positioning, visible contamination, racks, reagents, and other external fluidic factors have been verified, common external causes have been ruled out.
Remaining possibilities include internal probe damage, pipettor positioning, pressure or aspiration sensing, tubing or valve problems, internal obstruction, or another service-level condition.
The analyzer should be:
- Removed from service
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair or qualified service evaluation
- Evaluated using Siemens Healthineers documentation and approved test equipment
- Repaired, aligned, or calibrated only by qualified personnel
After repair, verify aspiration performance, analyzer function, and required QC before patient testing resumes.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not keep rerunning irreplaceable patient specimens through an analyzer with repeated aspiration errors; preserve the sample and use an alternate validated method when needed.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory staff reported repeated aspiration errors while the Atellica IM 1600 attempted to process samples from one rack."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found one sample tube was not fully seated and was positioned incorrectly for normal probe access."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"The tube was correctly positioned, a nonpatient sample processed without aspiration error, and required analyzer verification was completed before return to use."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact probe or aspiration condition
- Material affected
- Sample volume and tube type
- Visible bubbles, clot, foam, or contamination
- Rack and carrier position
- Whether the issue followed the sample
- Probe area condition
- Known-good test result
- Related fluidic faults
- QC or verification after correction
- Final analyzer status
Final Thought
Probe and aspiration errors should first be traced through the sample, container, volume, positioning, and visible contamination. Avoid invasive probe work, protect patient specimens, and escalate repeatable mechanical or fluidic faults appropriately.
That is successful troubleshooting.