Checking Apex Sensitivity - Thermo Scientific APEX 500 Rx User Manual

Checking APEX Sensitivity

This section assumes you have installed the APEX 500 Rx in your production line, as
described above. The next step is to test the sensitivity of the APEX—that is, test its
ability to detect metallic contaminants—using the test spheres that are supplied with
your APEX. Three types of test sphere are supplied: ferrous, non-ferrous, and 316
stainless steel.
There are six steps to testing the sensitivity of the APEX, as follows.
 Establish a Baseline for Background Noise
See pages 101–103 in the main APEX User's Guide.
 Choosing the Correct Speed-Filter Settings for the Rx
See page 104 in the main APEX User's Guide.
 Do a Full Product Calibration
See pages 105–107 in the main APEX User's Guide.
 Calibrate the AuditCheck Function (if applicable)
If your APEX 500 Rx is equipped with the AuditCheck option (which allows the
APEX to detect small changes in sensitivity over time), you must calibrate the
AuditCheck function. See pages 206–213 in the main APEX User's Guide.
 Drop the Test Spheres Down the Input Chute with No Product Present
Make sure no product (tablets, caplets, capsules, or other product) is flowing
through the search head. Drop the three types of test sphere (ferrous, non-
ferrous, and stainless steel) down the input chute from 5–10 times to verify they
are rejected by the APEX.
 Drop the Test Spheres Down the Input Chute with Product Present
The final step is to start your product flowing through the search head. Then drop
the three types of test sphere down the chute from 5–10 times to verify they are
rejected.
Now that you have verified the APEX can detect contaminants in your product stream,
you are ready to put it into service as part of your critical quality-control program.
What to Do If the Test Spheres Are Not Rejected
If any of the test spheres are not rejected, the sensitivity of the APEX needs to be
adjusted. The most common cause of decreased sensitivity—as described above—is
using small input angles (<35°) and small vertical drops (<10 inches/254mm), which
reduce the product speed below the default setting of 300 feet per minute (91 meters
per minute).
This type of problem is usually solved by changing the product-speed setting, and is best
done by contacting one of Thermo Fisher Scientific's technical-support personnel (see
page 399 of the main APEX User's Guide). He or she will step you through the process,
because choosing optimum sensitivity settings depends on a number of factors including
product speed, detect level, search-head size, and so on.
Thermo Scientific—APEX 500 Rx User's Guide Page 21