To ensure instruments are running properly, Sapidyne recommends, at a minimum, one preventive maintenance visit per year and two visits per year if the instrument is in heavy use. During the visit, a Sapidyne representative will check the function of the instrument, calibrate components, and replace the plumbing.

Between maintenance visits, KinExA® users can take additional steps to keep instruments clean. If the instruments are left for long periods of time with 1X PBS or other buffers in the lines, salt crystals or contamination may occur. The following schedule should help hinder contamination or the formation of salt crystals when using KinExA instruments:

Daily

Use 0.02% Sodium Azide in running buffer, samples, labels, and particle reservoirs. While this will not completely eliminate the possibility of contamination, customers who use Sodium Azide regularly have far fewer problems with contamination.

Monthly

Change the buffer and sterilize the buffer containers monthly or more frequently when contamination is suspected.

Every 3 Months

Perform an Extreme Clean at least once every three months or when contamination is suspected. An Extreme Clean uses both bleach and a surfactant solution, KinExA Cleaning Solution (2T7010), to decontaminate and clean the instrument with a series of rinses. For extreme cleaning procedures, see KinExA 4000 Cleaning Guide (HG201).

Idle Instruments

• Idle for ~1 month: Periodically run rinses to avoid crystal formation in the plumbing lines.
• Idle for ~3 months: Remove the salt solution and fill the plumbing lines with a DI H₂O and 0.02% Sodium Azide solution.
• Idle for more than 3 months: Rinse with DI H₂O solution, then remove all liquid from lines by performing a Buffer Change while the Buffer Line is exposed to air.