Volume And Ratio Determination - Siemens Hematek Operating Manual

NOTE:
As the slide moves along, the buffer should pulse from the buffer orifice and move around
the two mixing grooves for complete mixing of the stain and buffer. Too much stain and/or
buffer will reduce the pulsing action, causing inconsistent staining across the slide. If
partial flooding occurs, it should quickly re-drain as the slide continues to move across the
grooves. Complete flooding of the second groove may indicate an excessive volume of
either the stain or buffer.
8. Adjust the rinse volume as follows:
a. Examine the slides under a microscope.
b. If adjustment is necessary, use the rinse control knob to make the correction.
c. If excess stain is left on the slide appearing as precipitation under the microscope,
d. If the staining is pale due to over washing, reduce the rinse volume.
NOTE:
Any change in the rinse setting may cause a slight color change due to the small amount of
methanol in the rinse.
9. Recheck the adjusted pump volumes:
a. Prime the platen with three priming slides.
b. Run at least three blood smears to ensure that the capillary spaces between the
NOTE:
Occasional small voids may occur on the slide after proper filling. These voids are
acceptable and will not adversely affect stain quality. Do not try to compensate for small
voids by increasing the stain volume. Doing so may upset the optimum stain-to-buffer
ratio and may affect the stain intensity.

Volume and Ratio Determination

Once adjustments have been made that appear visually to be giving appropriate slide
results, the pump volumes and stain-to-buffer ratio can be measured as follows:
1. Remove the waste tank and disconnect the underplaten tubing leading to the stain,
buffer, and rinse spouts on the platen.
2. Place the tubing ends into a beaker or other small container, and prime by using the
operating lever.
3. As soon as all three-pump tubes have been primed and are free of air, place the free
end of the stain and buffer tubes into separate 10 mL graduated cylinders. Place the
free end of the rinse tube into a 25 mL graduated cylinder.
4. Process 10 blank slides and record the volume of stain, buffer, and rinse solution
pumped into each cylinder. The following should be noted:
Section 6: Minor Replacements and Adjustments, Page 6—17
increase the rinse volume.
platen and slide fill completely with stain at the stain area and with stain-buffer
mixture just before the rinse area.