Operation Instructions; General Notes; Sterilization And Decontamination Before Use; Insertion Of The Agar Strip - Merck Rcs Plus Bedienungsanleitung

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Operation Instructions

3.1 General Notes

The standard equipment of the RCS
microbial air sampler includes two rechargeable
batteries, one of which is already installed in
the instrument, and an infrared remote control.
For transport it is recommended that the rotor
is removed from the instrument and placed in
the appropriate compartment in the carrying
case. The case has one compartment for storage
of the agar strips. Prior to first use, the batter-
ies must be charged (see instructions for use of
the battery charger). Sterile gloves should be
worn when handling the Air Sampler and agar
strips to prevent contamination.
3.2 Sterilization and Decontamination
Before Use
If necessary, the rotor and the protection cap
can be autoclaved at 121°C for 20 minutes or
sterilized with dry heat at 180°C for 2 hours.
Alternatively, disinfection can be carried out
using commercial disinfectants (pH 5-8), how-
ever the rotor must not be allowed to come into
contact with alkaline solutions.
The housing is made of polycarbonate and
can be disinfected by spraying or wiping with
a solution of 70% ethanol or a disinfectant
harmless to polycarbonate.
To protect the motor and the electronic circuits,
avoid exposure to excessive amounts of mois-
ture, from immersion or over-use of sprays. The
instrument itself can not be autoclaved.

3.3 Insertion of the Agar Strip

®
Plus
To insert the agar strip, first remove the protec-
tion cap by rotating it in
a counter clockwise direc-
tion and then remove the
rotor from the magnetic
flange. Open the protec-
tive wrapper of the agar
strip by approximately
4 cm and remove the strip.
Slide the strip into the
rotor with the culture
medium facing inwards. The top of the agar
strip marked with the batch number and type
should be flushed with the guide plate of the
rotor. Then replace the rotor onto the magnetic
flange and replace the protection cap.
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