ITC IRMA TruPoint Blood Analysis System - Manual (Page 34)

2.4
SAMPLE INJECTION
With each test, the cartridge automatically calibrates before the sample is
injected into the cartridge. Following calibration, the calibrant that is present
in the sample path must be completely displaced by the blood sample that is
being analyzed. The sample path is the area of the cartridge that houses the
sensors and must be completely filled with blood (see Figures 2-2 and 2-3).
Proper sample injection technique will ensure that the calibrant is completely
displaced, and that no air bubbles are introduced during the injection step. If
calibrant or bubbles are present in the sample path following the initial sample
injection from a syringe, the user can displace them by injecting additional
sample from the same syringe. This prevents sensor errors and sample loss.
INJECTING A SYRINGE SAMPLE
The following injection technique should be used for all syringe samples,
regardless of syringe size or sample volume:
1. Firmly attach the syringe to the cartridge luer injection port. If the syringe
does not have a luer lock tip, place the syringe tip in the injection port and
give the syringe a slight twist to firmly seat it in the port.
2. Place your fingers around the syringe so
that your thumb rests on top of the plunger
(Figure 2-1). Inject the sample by
depressing the syringe plunger in a single,
quick, controlled motion, similar to the
motion used to press a stopwatch button.
This initial injection should be done
forcefully enough to eject the calibrant
from the sample path (Figure 2-2).
Figure 2-1
3. Stop injecting when you feel the sample
eject the calibrant from the sample path.
If you can see the sample pushing the
calibrant out of the sample path, you are
injecting too slowly.
Figure 2-2
Note:
• Do not inject the entire syringe contents (i.e., do not push the syringe
plunger all the way down until it bottoms out) during the initial sample
injection. Doing so may hemolyze the sample.
4. Following initial sample injection, confirm that the sample path is
completely filled with sample, and that no bubbles or calibrant are
sample
path