Consider Characteristics Of The Diluent; Viscosity; Active Life; Reactivity - Beckman Coulter LS 13 320 User Manual

Consider Characteristics of the Diluent

Viscosity:

1. Too high:
• Entraining of bubbles
• Inadequate sampling of particles due to slow movement of diluent
• Pump may work too hard
• Difficult to disperse sample in diluent properly
2. Too low may cause formation of explosive mixture of air and vapor

Active life:

1. Will the diluent absorb unwanted water?
2. Will the diluent allow growth of bacteria, yeast, etc. (may use preservatives)?

Reactivity:

1. Will the diluent degrade the instrument's polyethylene fill and waste tanks over time?
2. Will the diluent degrade the instrument's stainless steel fill and waste tanks over time?
3. Will the diluent degrade any wetted materials in the instrument?

Purity:

1. Is the diluent chemically pure?
2. Is the diluent free of interfering particles? (If not, filtering may be appropriate.)

Refractive Index:

Is the R.I. of the diluent the same or very close to that of the sample? If so, the instrument may not
be able to see the sample.

Color:

1. If the color of the diluent is similar to the color of the laser, the instrument may not be able to
see the sample.
2. If the color of the diluent causes the sample to be too opaque, the instrument may not be able
to see the sample.
PN B05577AC
B
Sample Handling
Diluent Selection
B-9