Dead Space Volume Requirements - Hologic Panther System Operator's Manual

Table 11. Panther System Volume Requirements (Continued)
Tube/Specimen Type
Swab Specimen Transport Tube –
Vaginal swab specimens
Cervical Specimen Collection and
Transport specimens
Multitest Swab Transport Tube
Primary Collection Tube – Plasma
or serum
Specimen Aliquot Tube (SAT) –
Plasma or serum
*An invalid rate of up to 5% may be seen with pipetting of the 6th replicate on the
Panther System.
**Pipetting volumes differ based on assay. Refer to the appropriate package insert
for minimum pipetting volumes.
Each control or calibrator tube can only be tested once. Attempts to pipette from the
sample tube beyond what is described here can lead to processing errors.
Processing a specimen with less than the minimum volume may result in errors. The
total specimen volume required in each specimen tube includes both the aspirated
volume and the dead volume.

Dead Space Volume Requirements

Dead space volume requirements must be taken into account. Dead space volume is
defined as the volume of sample in a tube that must be present in order for the
system to initiate pipetting.
Depending on the Aptima assay, sample tubes must have at least the required
sample pipetting volume of 400 μL, plus the dead space volume of 1300 μL; or
sample pipetting volume of 500 μL, plus the dead space volume of 700 μL. See the
appropriate Aptima package insert for more information.
Each primary collection tube sample must have at least the required sample pipetting
volume of 500 μL, plus the dead space volume of 700 μL. Each specimen aliquot
tube (SAT) sample must have at least the required sample pipetting volume of 500
®
Panther System Operator's Manual
AW-17791-001 Rev. 002 (EN)
Specifications and Requirements
Minimum Pipetting
Volume
400 μL
400 μL
400 μL
500 μL
500 μL
Replicates for
Testing
Up to 3
Up to 3
Up to 3
Not applicable
Not applicable
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