Siemens Healthineers CLINITEK Novus

Sample Probe Aspiration or Dispense Fault

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Asset Type

Urine Analyzer

Manufacturer

Siemens Healthineers

Model

CLINITEK Novus

What This Guide Helps With

Troubleshooting sample aspiration, dispense, probe, cup, rack, or fluid handling faults before escalating for repair.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Ensure Patient Safety First

Confirm the CLINITEK Novus is not actively processing patient specimens.

If testing is clinically needed, have laboratory staff use another validated analyzer or approved downtime process.

Expected outcome: No patient result is delayed, missed, or reported from an analyzer with unresolved sample handling concerns.

Verify the Reported Fault

Ask staff exactly what occurred during testing.

Confirm whether the issue involves:

Expected outcome: The failure is clearly tied to sample aspiration, dispense, probe movement, or specimen presentation.

Stop Testing and Protect Specimen Integrity

Confirm whether any patient samples were in process when the error occurred.

Ask the lab to verify whether affected results were completed, canceled, or need repeat testing according to laboratory policy.

Expected outcome: No questionable or incomplete result is released.

Check for Sample Cup or Rack Loading Issues

Verify the sample containers are correctly placed in the rack or sample area.

Confirm cups are seated fully, not tilted, cracked, overfilled, underfilled, or obstructing probe access.

Expected outcome: The probe has a clear path to the sample and the analyzer can access the specimen correctly.

Confirm Adequate Sample Volume

Have staff verify that the sample volume meets the analyzer and lab workflow requirements.

Low volume can cause aspiration errors even when the sample cup appears present.

Expected outcome: The analyzer has enough specimen available for aspiration and dispense.

Inspect for Clots, Foam, Bubbles, or Sediment

Check whether the sample contains heavy sediment, bubbles, foam, mucus, or visible clots.

These can interfere with liquid level detection, aspiration, or dispense accuracy.

Expected outcome: The sample condition is acceptable for automated urine analysis.

Check for Obstruction Around the Probe Area

With the analyzer idle and safe to access, inspect the visible probe path and sample area for:

Do not force the probe or manually reposition internal mechanisms.

Expected outcome: No visible obstruction is preventing normal probe travel or sample access.

Verify the Correct Consumables and Workflow Are Being Used

Confirm staff are using the correct sample containers, racks, reagent materials, and analyzer workflow for the CLINITEK Novus.

Incorrect containers or unsupported cup types can create probe alignment or aspiration problems.

Expected outcome: The analyzer setup matches the intended clinical workflow.

Check Waste, Wash, and Fluid Containers

Verify waste containers are not full and any required wash or system fluids are present, connected, and properly seated.

Aspiration and dispense faults may be related to fluidics readiness, not only the sample probe itself.

Expected outcome: The analyzer has proper fluid and waste conditions for normal probe operation.

Review Recent Maintenance or Cleaning

Ask whether routine cleaning, probe cleaning, reagent replacement, waste handling, or sample area maintenance was recently performed.

Confirm covers, containers, trays, and racks were returned to their correct positions afterward.

Expected outcome: The fault is not caused by incomplete reassembly or a maintenance-related setup issue.

Restart the Analyzer Only When Safe

If no sample is actively being processed, perform a normal shutdown and restart according to facility procedure.

Do not power-cycle during active testing or while the probe is moving.

Expected outcome: Temporary software or initialization issues clear and the probe completes startup checks normally.

Run an Appropriate Verification Check

After correcting any external issue, have qualified lab staff run the appropriate QC, check material, or non-patient verification process.

Do not return the analyzer to patient testing based only on the error clearing.

Expected outcome: The analyzer demonstrates acceptable sample handling and result performance before clinical use.

Observe for Repeat Failure

If the analyzer passes verification, monitor a controlled test sequence or staff-performed check.

Note whether the same fault returns with a specific rack, cup position, specimen type, or workflow step.

Expected outcome: The device either remains stable or the repeat pattern supports escalation.

Remove From Service if the Fault Repeats

If the probe repeatedly fails to aspirate, dispense, move correctly, detect liquid, or complete verification, stop troubleshooting.

Expected outcome: The analyzer is not used for patient testing when sample handling reliability is uncertain.

If the Problem Persists

If sample cups, racks, specimen volume, visible obstruction, waste/fluid containers, workflow setup, and restart checks have been ruled out, the issue is likely internal to the probe, fluidics, liquid detection, pump, valve, tubing, sensor, or motion system.

The CLINITEK Novus should be:

Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. A sample aspiration or dispense fault directly affects result reliability and should not be worked around.

Clinical Use Tip

Do not troubleshoot sample aspiration or dispense faults while active patient specimens are being processed. Move testing to another validated analyzer first, then investigate only when the sample path is safe and no patient result is at risk.

Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)

CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution

Complaint

What was reported by the clinical staff.

Example:
"Laboratory staff reported the CLINITEK Novus displayed a sample probe aspiration fault during urine sample processing."

Cause

What was observed during troubleshooting.

Example:
"Found low-volume sample cups and dried residue near the sample rack area that may have interfered with probe access."

Resolution

What action was taken.

Example:
"Cleaned the accessible sample area, verified proper cup loading and sample volume with staff, ran QC successfully, and returned the analyzer to service."

Helpful Details to Include (If Known)

Final Thought

Sample aspiration and dispense issues should be approached carefully because they can affect the accuracy and availability of patient results. Start with specimen presentation, cup loading, fluid levels, waste status, and visible obstructions before suspecting internal probe or fluidics failure. Clear documentation helps show what was checked, what was corrected, and why escalation was appropriate when the fault persisted.

That is successful troubleshooting.

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