Abbott i-STAT 1 System Manual page 228

Procedure STEP
Note:
Transfer with Capillary Plain capillary tubes are recommended to transfer aqueous calibration verification
Tube
material from the ampule to the cartridge. When using a capillary tube (fresh
capillary tubes with sufficient fill capacity are recommended), fill from the bottom
of the ampule.
Avoid drawing solution from the surface by placing a finger over the far end of the
tube as it is inserted into the ampule.
Once the open end of the tube rests at the bottom of the ampule, uncover the other
end to allow filling by capillary action.
Plain syringes are recommended to transfer aqueous calibration verification material
Transfer with Syringe
from the ampule to the cartridge. When using a syringe (fresh 1 mL or 3 mL sterile
syringes with 16 - 20 gauge needles are recommended), slowly draw approximately
1mL of solution from the bottom of the ampule.
If air is trapped between the leading edge of the solution and the plunger, do not
invert the syringe to expel it; this will not affect solution near the front of the syringe.
If air bubbles are continually drawn into the syringe, or if a bubble is trapped near
the tip of the syringe, discard the ampule and syringe and use a fresh ampule and
syringe.
Expel one or two drops from the syringe before filling the cartridge.
Acceptable Criteria Target values (determined by testing multiple ampules of each level using multiple
lots of i-STAT cartridges with analyzers that have passed the Electronic Simulator
test) are printed on a Value Assignment Sheet posted on the APOC website at
www.pointofcare.abbott.
If the result is outside the range published in the Value Assignment Sheet, two
additional cartridge runs should be performed on this level and the three results
averaged and then compared to the Value Assignment Sheet range. If this average
value is still outside the acceptable range, troubleshooting may be required.
15-4
1 Immediately before use, shake the ampule vigorously for 5 to 10
seconds to equilibrate the liquid and gas phases. To shake, hold the
ampule at the tip and bottom with forefinger and thumb to minimize
increasing the temperature of the solution. If necessary, tap the tip
of the ampule to send solution back into the bottom section of the
ampule.
2 Protect fingers with gauze, tissue or glove, or use an ampule breaker
to snap off the tip of the ampule at the neck.
3 Immediately transfer the solution from the ampule into a plain capillary
tube or plain syringe, and then immediately transfer the solution into
a cartridge.
4 Immediately seal the cartridge and insert it into an analyzer – it is
important not to expose the solution to room air since this will alter
the results.
Since aqueous based solutions such as controls lack the buffering
capabilities of whole blood, the transfer process from ampule to cartridge
must be more expedient than with a patient sample.
Art: 714377-01O
ACTION
Rev. Date: 27-Jan-17