Maintenance and Cleaning

For instruments under service contracts, PMs (Preventative Maintenance) are scheduled by the customer. Please call Technical Support at 800.369.0333 to schedule the PM.

Daily Cleaning, Changing Out Sample Line

Daily cleaning steps can vary depending on what application you are using your cytometer to research. Below is a general cleaning guideline that should work for most uses. If you need support on applications like small particle, please reach out to Applications Support.

Daily Clean

Daily Clean should be performed during instrument startup and instrument shutdown to clean the sample line. After sampling an excessively large sample or a sample that can easily clog the sample probe, it is recommended to perform the Daily Clean procedure. Daily Clean can also be used to remove residual sample from previous tubes.

1. Open the CytExpert software and confirm that the instrument is connected and that it has already been initialized.
2. Select Daily Clean in the Cytometer menu.
3. Add 2 mL of FlowClean solution to an unused sample tube.
4. Add 3 mL of DI water to an unused sample tube.
5. Insert the sample tube with 2 mL of FlowClean solution into the sample holder and select Run. NOTE: The default cleaning time is 3 minutes.
6. Remove the Flow Clean tube.
7. Insert the sample tube with 3 mL of DI water into the sample holder and select Run to perform the second step of the cleaning process. NOTE: The default cleaning time is 5 minutes.
8. After the process has been completed, remove the sample tube and close the Daily Clean Window.

Daily Clean (with Plate Loader)

Daily Clean should be performed during instrument startup and instrument shutdown to clean the sample line. After sampling an excessively large sample or a sample that can easily clog the sample probe, it is recommended to perform the Daily Clean procedure. Daily Clean can also be used to remove residual sample from previous tubes.

1. Open the CytExpert software and confirm that the instrument is connected and that it has already been initialized. Refer to Logging Into the Software in CHAPTER 3, Daily Startup.
2. Select Daily Clean in the Cytometer menu. The Daily Clean window appears. The plate loader automatically ejects the plate holder stage.
3. Follow the on screen software prompts and select the desired wells for cleaning agent and deionized water. 
   IMPORTANT: You must select at least one cleaning solution well and one water well.
   1. Select the desired wells for the cleaning agent and select Set As Cleaning Agent Well.
   2. Select the desired wells for the deionized water and select Set As Deionized Water Well. NOTE: To deselect water wells, select the desired well and select Set As Empty Well.
   3. Select the Turn off cytometer after daily clean checkbox to automatically shutdown the cytometer after Daily Clean is finished. (CytoFLEX LX Only)
4. Select Start to start the cleaning procedure. The message Please confirm that the correct plate is placed properly and press OK appears. Select OK.
5. Select Close.

HELPFUL TIP: If you don’t use your CytoFLEX every day consider filling the cleaning solution bottle with a smaller amount of Contrad 70.