Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

AliTee — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 19:55:31 GMT

It may be that the rubber ringed cuff that your sealed ends rest against in the centrifuge has putty on it in the slots your tubes have rested against. The putty on the cuff pulls out the putty in your haematocrits, emptying the tubes. You may find cleaning the cuff stops the tubes from emptying.

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Sal the 1st — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:15:34 GMT

yes have definitely seen problems when the tube isnt wiped before sealing.

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

neecie — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:01:37 GMT

The main reason I have seen this happen is when the capillary tubes are not wiped before sealing. Blood gets into the cristoseal and the dried flakes of blood in the sealing plug cause the seal to fail. Another thing to check is the rubber/silicone seal in the centrifuge (that the end of the tube rests against) fits properly

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Sal the 1st — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:55:13 GMT

have you got a friendly practice locally that would run some of your tubes for you? - if it runs your tubes ok then it narrows it down to centrifuge if it doesn't its tubes and sealant

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

apache — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 13:39:48 GMT

[quote userid="64205" url="~/001/veterinary-nurse-clinical/small-animal/f/misc-clinical-discussions/32270/haematocrit-tubes-unsealing-in-the-centrifuge/177618#177618"] it still mostly ends up on the sides of the centrifuge and not in the tube [/quote]

How? Can you take a picture or two of the haematocrit tubes loaded in the centrifuge?

Generally the plugged side rests against the edge with something screwed down over the top preventing the tubes lifting. Not sure how it gets a chance to escape

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Vikkerson — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:21:38 GMT

We've had the centrifuge serviced a fee months ago so if imagine if there was problems with it, he would've picked up on that.

I've even tried filling the haematocrits 1/4 of the way with the putty and it still mostly ends up on the sides of the centrifuge and not in the tube

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Vikkerson — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:19:57 GMT

We keep the putty in a ziplock bag so I wouldn't imagine it's drying out. We've ordered a new one, just to see if maybe it was just too old but the same thing is happening.

I stick the tube in at a 90 degree angle, always dry it off before sticking it in the putty. We've only had the centrifuge serviced a few months ago so I'd assume he would have picked up on it if it was spinning too fast or too warm.

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Selena Carnell — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:28:41 GMT

Never encountered this problem i wonder if your centrifuge is spinning too fast.

try changing the critoseal drying outside of tube and double dipping .

RE: Haematocrit tubes unsealing in the centrifuge

Sal the 1st — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:21:13 GMT

dont store in the fridge - as you have found it makes it too hard to use. Have you had fresh cristoseal lately or is this what I usually come across in practice and pretty much dried out and fossilised?

Invest in a new tray and you have two options - either cover the putty bit of the tray with a strip of selotape or similar once it has been opened and then you can expose only the small area required and keep resealing and prevent dry out or use one of those snap tight plastic bags as close to the tray size as you can and make sure the putty tray goes inside the sealed bag when not in use. I prefer the selotape method as it keeps the putty fresher for longer

if your putty doesn't have enough oil/wax in it it just doesn't seal and one of the main reasons it wont have enough oil is that its claiming its pension (its old, its knackered and it needs a retirement do or a dignified burial)

Are you using a twisting motion and sticking the tube in at 90degree angle? Are you pressing the tube in far enough? are the end of your tubes wet with blood on the outer surface when you try to seal them or are you wiping them dry before attempting to seal?

I usually stick the tube in the sealant at 90 degree angle and twist and reduce the angle as I withdraw. Does your centrifuge need attention? is it running too fast or running warm which then softens the putty/wax and it falls out