BA200 ISE Module Maintenance

BAX00: ISE module maintenance
Processes for maintaining the ISE module and for solving problems related to it.
Step-by-step guide
1. Replace the electrodes.

If the electrodes are expired, replace them following the instructions of the user manual.
In case the electrodes are not expired and will be reused remember to do a maintenance
cycle before remove them. This cycle empties the liquid of the fluidic channel to ensure that
no traces of reagent remain when the electrodes are removed.
Once removed, dry the electrodes immediately to ensure no traces of the calibration
solution and/or salts are left on the contacts.
When calibrating the installation process, make sure there is no significant difference (>2
units) between them. If this should happen, the electrode membranes need more time to
reach their optimum operating level. It is not advisable to take measurements until this
difference disappears. The process can be accelerated circulating control serums, it means
making ISE determinations.
2. Check the fluid system.

• Check the reagent pack is not exhausted.
• Ensure the correct positioning of the connector to the reagent pack. Check the connector
is not slightly raised, thus preventing contact between the connector and the pack.
• Check the contact zone between the connector and the pack is clean.
• Check the fluid front in the Teflon tubes of CAL A and CAL B is not broken up. If the fluid
front is broken, this means that the pack is almost exhausted or that air is entering the fluid
circuit.
• Check to see whether the liquid moves through the tubes after the pumps have stopped.
This movement may indicate that air is entering at some point in the fluid system or
through its seal.
• Check the electrodes are properly positioned and that there are no fluid leaks.
• Check the O-rings are properly positioned between the electrodes.
• Check there are O-rings in each of the openings in the reagent pack.
• Check the locker of the electrodes is properly fixed.
• Check the peristaltic pumps are working fine.
• Perform the following calibrations: Peristaltic pump, air bubble detector and electrode
calibration. Check the results are within the margins.
3. Pass a nylon cord through the opening.

If the electrode probe is blocked, clean it with a cloth dampened with distilled water and if
it cannot be cleaned, pass a cord through to unblock the electrode probe. Take care not
damage the electrode membrane walls with the cord. Do not force the cord too much.
If the nylon cord is not still enough to unblock the probe, use the fine-tipped syringe
supplied in the accessory box.
If you cannot eliminate the obstruction caused by the saline solution in the reference
electrode, inmerse it in lukewarm water during fifteen minutes to dissolve the salts and try
to pass with the cord again.
If the obstruction is due to sample remains, perform the cleaning operation once the
obstruction has been removed.
After an obstruction, it is important to check the calibration results remain stable. Sample
remains could left in the membrane and could affect the result. In case the obstruction is
recurrent, use the cleaning solution more often.
4. In case of reuse the electrodes, clean the holes and metal contacts of the electrodes and
the ISE module with a cotton bud.
The electrodes have saline solutions with high concentrations inside them. Sometimes, the
remains of the calibration solution dry and leave invisible salt traces on the contacts or the
holes, which may cause short-circuiting or interfere with the readings.
Turn off the analyser and remove the electrodes, clean the metal contacts and membrane
hole of each electrode using a cloth dampened with distilled water. Ensure the area is
completely dry before reinstalling the electrodes.
5. Clean the cup to remove all sample remains.

Clean the cup with a cotton bud soaked in distilled water, to prevent the blocking of the
cup input in the ISE module.
6. Calibration acceptance margins.

The acceptance margins for calibrating the electrodes and for calibrating the peristaltic
pump are set out below:
The calibration results may be gradually reduced over time, as the electrodes aging. A
sudden change is not in keeping an expected behaviour. If this happens check the status of
all the ISE components (tubes, electrodes, reagent pack) before continuing the
measurements.
7. Noise and drift errors
Low slope are generally the result of a loss of sensitivity in an electrode over time, but it
could also be due to other causes. Noise errors indicate instability in the values of a
solution given during an analysis. Drift indicates that the analyser is not detecting stable
values between the measurements of the calibration solutions.
To solve the problem, first clean with the daily solution a couple of times to remove all
remains of accumulated proteins in the fluidic channel. If the problem still happening check
if the routine maintenance has been performed, such as replacing the reference electrode,
the O-ring, etc. If it still does not work, replace the faulty electrode and confirm the
problem has been solved. If not, the cause could be contamination by salts.
In all ion-specific electrodes, there is a possibility of the dried salt or damp providing an
electrical current leak route which could lead to errors, including “drift”, “noise” or incorrect
slope values. The electric signal coming from the ISE electrodes is very small and any
interference with these signals could give errors. While the instrument is working, tiny
quantities of the calibration solutions may filter through, leaving trails of damp or traces of
salt that may not be visible at first sight. Damp or traces of salt conduct electricity and may
lead to short circuits in the electrodes that interfere with the measuring.
To eliminate these short circuits that cause errors in the signal, remove the trails of damp or
traces of salt. The best way to eliminate them is to turn off ISE module, take all the
electrodes out of the analyser and clean each contact with a damp paper towel and then let
them dry. The next step is to remove all traces of damp or salt from the area where the
electrodes make contact with the ISE module with a damp paper towel. Dry the contacts
with a dry paper towel. When you are sure that all elements are dry, reinstall the electrodes
and try again.
Also check the electrode contacts. Make sure the contacts are clean. If they are dirty or
rusted, clean them gently with a pencil eraser (be careful not to remove the thin gold layer).
The contacts in the module are tightened with a spring. Check that the springs are
functioning correctly and that the contacts enter and emerge correctly.
Another potential source of “noise” errors is related to the fluidic channel. When the
peristaltic pump stops, the fluid also stops. The “noise” is generated when the solution
continues to move while the sample or calibrator is being measured. The error “noise in Cal
A” is generated when the ISE modules reads, while calibrator A is present. What really
happens is that the ISE module takes six readings in quick succession. Then the ISE module
calculates the mean of all six readings. If one of the readings has a difference of 0.7mV
above or below the mean, then it will indicate a “noise” error.
This may happens due to a small problem in the flow and Calibrator A moves when the
reading is taken. Check that all the electrodes are correctly placed and that the O-rings are
present. A quick test to check this is to dispense Cal A into the Sample cup and observe
whether the solution remains inside the cup. If it empties slowly, there is a small leak. Check
that the pump tubes have been replaced as part of the routine maintenance programme.
The noise may also be generated if the reference electrode has an age of more than six
months. Make sure that maintenance is performed when necessary.
Obviously, if an electrode is constantly generating noise errors, it must be replaced.
“Drift in Cal A” is generated after a sample analysis. After each sample analysis, it is placed
in front of the calibrator A electrodes and a reading is taken. Then the result obtained is
compared against the previous reading of calibrator A. If the difference exceeds the limit
established by the manufacturer, a “drift” error is obtained. To solve the problem, follow the
steps in the procedure indicated above for “noise” errors.
But in both cases, try to execute a cleaning and recalibration cycle as the first step.
If the problems still continuous, they are likely due to external factors, such as a faulty or
intermittent ground connection, magnetic field perturbations or the effects of other
instruments such as the electric motors of the refrigerators or centrifuges.
Technical Service Department
BioSystems S.A.
sat@biosystems.es
Tel: +34 93 311 00 00

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BAX00: ISE module maintenance

1. Replace the electrodes.

2. Check the fluid system.

3. Pass a nylon cord through the opening.

5. Clean the cup to remove all sample remains.

6. Calibration acceptance margins.

Technical Service Department

Tel: +34 93 311 00 00

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