Decontaminating The System - BIO RAD ZE5 User Manual

Decontaminating the System

Note: Bio-Rad strongly recommends that your preventive maintenance program include
decontamination of the entire ZE5 Cell Analyzer fluidics system.
You can use the Decontamination wizard to completely decontaminate the system using 1% filtered
bleach solution (25 ml household bleach and 2.475 L filtered water). See
321 for details. Regular system decontamination is recommended to ensure that lines, bottles, and
valves are free of microbial growth.
Use the Decontamination wizard at least once every six months, or as often as necessary. Use this
wizard if there is a noticeably high background level of particles in the acquired data. The source
could be within the fluidics path. Bacteria or fungi can grow in the lines if samples are not handled
using basic cellular sterile techniques. The bulk fluidics can also contribute to contamination, despite
having internal filters built into the lines. To test for contamination, disconnect the waste bottle cap,
collect fluid in the waste input line, and culture it.
The wizard guides you through the necessary steps to complete the decontamination process, which
takes about 4 hr. When the process completes, the system is ready to run samples, although you can
run the QC process afterward.
Important: While decontamination is in process, the following functions are disabled:
n Returning to the Acquisition window
n
Viewing the optical filter configuration
n
In the Instrument tools:
o
Returning the sample probe to home position
o
Unclogging the sample line, probe, and flow cell
o Cleaning the sample line and probe
o
Pausing the sheath fluid and disabling the lasers
o Swapping QC beads
n
Opening the sample loader door
n
Running the QC process
n
Sending the run list to the local instrument
n
Shutting down the instrument
n Closing Everest software
The system displays a message indicating that decontamination is in progress.
Decontaminating the System
Cleaning Solutions on page
User Guide | 325