Section 7: Troubleshooting; Checklist For Quality Of Stained Blood Smears - Siemens Hematek Operating Manual

Section 7: Troubleshooting

The Hematek Slide Stainer is designed to give trouble-free operation when the directions
for operating and cleaning the instrument are followed. If a problem occurs, refer to
troubleshooting pointers in this section for help in solving the problem.

Checklist for Quality of Stained Blood Smears

When stained blood smears do not have the desired quality, the first tendency is to assume
the staining reagents or the stainer is at fault. Frequently, however, other factors are the
cause of the poorly stained blood smears. The following checklist can help isolate the
problem when you question the quality of stained blood smears.
Are the pump volumes properly adjusted? Improper settings may lead to poorly
stained blood smears.
Is the blood old or does it contain an incorrect anticoagulant? Use fresh blood
(less than 8 hours old), EDTA is the anticoagulant of choice.
Was the blood thoroughly mixed before making the smear?
Is the blood smear too thick, too thin, or spread unevenly?
Does the feathered edge of the smear end at least 1/8 inch from the end of the
slide?
Was the blood smear thoroughly dry before staining?
Are the slides clean? Even new slides are not necessarily clean.
Are the slides flat? Variable thickness of a given slide may cause uneven staining.
Have the Hematek Stain Pak containers been vented? Venting is necessary for
even delivery of the stain, buffer, and rinse reagents.
Has the reagent tubing on the Hematek Slide Stainer been primed before staining
the slides? Air bubbles in the tubing will cause poorly stained smears.
Has the platen been primed and wetted before running blood smears? Process two
to four blank slides across the platen to wet the platen surface before each run of
blood smears.
Is the stain tubing, cannula, nipples, or orifice plugged? Daily cleaning of the stain
tubing is recommended to prevent plugging.
Are the platen and grooves clean and free of residue? A dirty platen or grooves
will result in uneven, low-quality staining.
Is the microscope clean and adequately illuminated? A dirty microscope or
inadequate lighting may give the impression of a poorly stained blood smear.
Section 7: Troubleshooting, Page 7—3