| CLIA |
| Is the Autoread considered CLIA waived? |
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Currently, all of the QBC Systems are moderately complex.
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| Controls and Diagnostics |
| How often do I have to run external controls on the QBC Autoread Plus? |
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Traditional quality controls consists of running at least two levels of external control material each day of patient testing.
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| My controls arrived warm (ice packs were melted); can I still use the controls? |
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The controls may work in the short term, but may be prone to early degradation.
If the controls are warm, a replacement set can be requested by calling QBC Technical Support at 866-265-1486.
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| Sample Collection and Analysis |
| What type of sample is required for QBC Autoread testing? |
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Whole blood samples collected from either a capillary fingerstick or a venous blood draw (EDTA purple top tube).
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| How much blood is required to test on the Autoread systems? |
The amount of blood is dependent upon the tube type being used:
- Accutube - 70µl
- Standard Capillary/EZ Prep Capillary - 60µl
- Standard Venous/EZ Prep Venous - 111µl
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| What tube types can be used with the QBC Autoread System? |
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Accutube, Standard Capillary, EZ Prep Capillary, Standard Venous, or EZ Prep Venous.
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| What collection method should be used for the different tube types? |
- Standard Capillary/EZ Prep Capillary - fingerstick collection
- Standard Venous/EZ Prep Venous - venous blood (EDTA tube)
- Accutube - fingerstick or venous blood (EDTA tube)
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| How long can a venous sample be stored prior to testing on the Autoread System? |
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This is dependent on each individual tube type.
Check the QBC Tube package insert for each specification.
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| Can a sample be processed more than once on the Autoread? |
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Yes, once centrifuged, the QBC tubes can be analyzed more than one time.
The tube must be stored in an upright position and is stable at room temperature for up to four hours.
QBC tubes should NOT be centrifuged more than one time.
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| How can I get results from my QBC Autoread into other external systems (e.g., EMR, LIS, etc.)? |
We recommend contacting Apex Healthware.
Apex Healthware is a developer of affordable HL7 interfaces and laboratory information systems.
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| Printing |
| What printers are compatible with the QBC Autoread Plus? |
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Brother HL-5240, Brother HL-5250DN & Brother HL-5340D.
Other printers may work with the systems if they use the Epson language (ESC/P2/LQ).
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| The Autoread ran the test but the results are not printing. Why? |
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Power off the printer and follow the instructions in the Operator's Manual for resetting the print format.
Power on the printer and test the cal rod or a sample.
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| Can I reprint the results on the QBC Autoread? |
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If the tube is still in the instrument, press the "Next" button.
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| Troubleshooting |
| What causes a "Sample Error 20" or "Buffy Coat Unreadable" errors? |
These errors are generally sample related.
Ensure that venous samples are well mixed prior to loading the QBC Tube.
Invert the venous tube 12-15 times prior to loading the tube or 5 minutes on a mechanical rotator.
For capillary samples, proper collection technique is extremely important.
Warming the finger, using a blade lancet, wiping off the first drop of blood, and refraining from excessive squeezing of the collection area will yield a good sample.
Certain illnesses and disease processes may contribute to these errors as well.
If an illness or disease is thought to be the cause of the error, the patient should be tested via another method.
Call QBC Technical Support for any questions.
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| I am seeing discrepancies between the results on the QBC and the results from the reference lab. Why? |
The results from two different CBC methodologies will rarely be exactly the same.
Confirm that the results are from the same sample.
If one set of results is from a capillary sample and the other set is from a venous sample, the results could vary significantly.
If the results vary between multiple capillary or multiple venous samples, it could be due to differences in the times of collections technique.
If the results are from the same venous sample, remix the venous tube at least 12-15 inversions prior to sampling.
Confirm that the test was performed within the acceptable time limit and that the venous sample was stored according to the manufactures recommendation.
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| Can I run veterinary samples on the Autoread? |
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It is not recommended to run animal samples on the instruments designed for human testing.
IDEXX has the QBC Veterinary instruments with the appropriate software and tubes for animal samples.
Contact IDEXX at 800-248-2483.
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