Dako Autostainer - Manual (Page 97)

Dako Autostainer | User Guide 97
Section 17 | System Maintenance
It is recommended that the Dako Autostainer be cleaned after 150 slides have been processed on the
instrument. The cleaning procedure can be divided into a manual phase and an automated phase.
Manual cleaning consists of wiping down any areas exposed to reagents and buffer using deionized
(DI) water and a detergent. Organic solutions are not recommended for cleaning. The slide racks
should be removed after completion of the automated cleaning cycle and rinsed with deionized water.
The automated cleaning cycle entails running the cleaning protocol. The Dako Autostainer keeps
track of the number of staining runs performed. The instrument displays a maintenance message
listing the number of slides since the last cleaning cycle.
During the 20-minute, automated cleaning cycle the reagent probe will be incubated with cleaning
solutions to remove any build-up of chromogen. In addition, the wash head dispenses DI water on
each of the 48 slide positions to remove any buffer deposits or reagent residue remaining after the
staining run.
Automated Cleaning Cycle
1. Select the CLEAN button on the OPTIONS screen. The MAINTAINENCE screen displays
the number of slides completed since the last cleaning cycle.
2. Select the CLEAN button on the MAINTAINENCE screen. The Cleaning Instructions
window appears with instructions on how to prepare the instrument for a maintenance
run.
NOTE: The following reagents are required to perform a cleaning run:
ƒ DI Water
ƒ DAB-Away 1 solution
ƒ DAB-Away 2 solution
ƒ Decolorizing Agent solution
3. Prepare the cleaning reagents as instructed in the CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS window
and load into the indicated rack positions. (Positions “A8b” and “A7b” refer to positions A8
and A7 in the back rack.) Pour 100 mL of deionized water into sink and provide 3.5 L
deionized water in a water reservoir (The “01” hardware version of the Dako Autostainer
does not have a reservoir for deionized water). Select the OK button. The Autostainer
starts the cleaning run and the Run Log is displayed. When the run is completed the
MAINTENANCE screen appears. Select OK to return to the OPTIONS screen.
NOTE: Do not use bleach in the Dako Autostainer. Bleach may react with other
chemicals and create toxic fumes.