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Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Wash, waste, or fluidics faults caused by empty containers, full waste, loose tubing, kinks, leaks, air, blockage, or external connection problems.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Patient Testing and Check for Leakage
Stop affected testing and inspect immediately for fluid leakage, overflowing waste, wet surfaces, unusual odor, or liquid near electrical components. Do not continue operating the analyzer if fluid presents an electrical or contamination hazard.
Expected outcome: The area is safe for further troubleshooting. Active leakage near electrical components requires immediate removal from service.
2. Record the Exact Fluidics Condition
Identify whether the reported issue involves wash solution, waste, drainage, fluid supply, air, pressure, or another observable fluidics condition. Record the displayed message before clearing anything.
Expected outcome: The affected fluid path is identified without assuming an internal component failure.
3. Check Supply Containers
Verify required wash, diluent, or other applicable external supply containers have adequate fluid and are installed correctly. Inspect containers for collapse, damage, leakage, or incorrect connection.
Expected outcome: Required supply fluids are available and connected correctly.
4. Check Waste Condition
Inspect the applicable external waste container or drain connection. Verify waste is not full, improperly positioned, disconnected, kinked, or obstructed.
Expected outcome: Waste can leave the analyzer through the intended external path without restriction.
5. Inspect Accessible Tubing
Check externally accessible tubing for kinks, pinching, disconnection, loose fittings, obvious air gaps, leakage, or compression from nearby equipment.
Expected outcome: External tubing is routed correctly and remains secure.
6. Check for External Obstruction or Misrouting
Confirm tubing has not been moved, trapped under equipment, connected to the wrong external container, or altered during cleaning, service, or room changes.
Expected outcome: Fluid pathways are connected and routed as intended.
7. Correct External Fluid Conditions
Refill or replace appropriate supplies, empty or reconnect waste as permitted, and correct external tubing issues. Use appropriate PPE and laboratory biohazard procedures when handling waste.
Expected outcome: The analyzer recognizes normal fluid availability and the fault clears through the standard operating process.
8. Perform an Approved Fluidics Recovery Process
If appropriate, perform only the normal operator-accessible recovery, wash, rinse, or restart procedure. Do not enter restricted service modes or manually actuate internal valves.
Expected outcome: The analyzer completes the normal fluidics process without repeated fault.
9. Perform Final Functional Verification
Run required analyzer checks or QC after the fluidics fault is corrected. Observe for leaks, abnormal sounds, repeated air, or waste backup.
Expected outcome: Fluidics remain stable, QC is acceptable, and the fault does not recur. Troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Fluidics Failure
If the fault returns with correct supplies, waste, and external tubing, stop external troubleshooting.
Expected outcome: The analyzer is removed from service and qualified service evaluation is initiated.
If the Problem Persists
Common supply, waste, tubing, routing, and external connection causes have been ruled out. The remaining problem may involve internal pumps, valves, pressure or level sensing, internal tubing, drainage hardware, or another service-level fluidics condition.
Remove the analyzer from service, label it Out of Service, and arrange repair or service evaluation using Sysmex documentation and approved test equipment. Internal fluidics disassembly or repair should be performed only by qualified personnel.
After service, confirm the analyzer is leak-free, completes normal wash and waste functions, and passes appropriate QC before returning it to clinical use. Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Treat analyzer waste as potentially biohazardous and use the facility's required PPE and spill-control procedures during troubleshooting.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Laboratory staff reported repeated waste-system faults that stopped sample processing."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the external waste tubing pinched behind the analyzer, restricting drainage."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Repositioned the tubing to remove the restriction, completed the normal fluidics cycle, and verified acceptable QC with no recurring waste fault."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Exact fluidics or waste message
- Supply container levels
- Waste container or drain condition
- Visible leakage
- Tubing routing and connection condition
- Presence of visible air
- Recent container or tubing changes
- Recovery process result
- QC result
- Final analyzer status
Final Thought
Fluidics faults should be approached from the outside inward: supplies, waste, tubing, routing, and leakage first. Stop when internal service becomes necessary, and verify both fluid integrity and analyzer performance afterward.
That is successful troubleshooting.