2021 Microscan Walkaway User Manual

MicroScan
WalkAway
Instrument Guide
For use with DxM WalkAway and WalkAway Plus instruments
For in vitro Diagnostic Use
9020-8071, Rev. AE
Copyrights
No part of this work covered by the copyrights herein may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means
(graphic, electronic, or mechanical; including photocopying, recording, typing, or information storage and retrieval
systems) without the written permission of the publisher.
Limitations and conditions

Software screen illustrations within this manual are representational only and may not exactly match the software.
Software screen illustrations are intended to identify the location of software screen elements and components. The
actual illustration and screen content might not be translated into all native languages.
The information in this guide was correct at the time of printing. However, Beckman Coulter continues to improve
products and reserves the right to change specifications, equipment, and maintenance procedures at any time without
notice. Because variance cannot be precluded entirely, we cannot guarantee full consistency. The information in this
publication is reviewed regularly and necessary corrections are included in subsequent editions.
Beckman Coulter has validated the provided instructions, reagents, instrument, software and customizable features for
this system to optimize product performance and meet product specifications. User-defined modifications are not
supported by Beckman Coulter as they may affect performance of the system and test results. It is the responsibility of
the user to validate any modifications made to these instructions, instruments, reagents or software provided by
Beckman Coulter.
If the system is used in a manner differently than specified by Beckman Coulter, the protection provided by the
equipment may be impaired. See the warning and hazard statements in this guide.
Trademarks
Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
2021-05
9020-8071, Rev. AE
Original instructions
Region: US, FMR, MR, JP
Made in USA Beckman Coulter Ireland Inc.

Beckman Coulter, Inc. Lismeehan
250 S. Kraemer Blvd. O’Callaghan’s Mills
Brea, CA 92821 USA Co. Clare, Ireland
www.beckmancoulter.com Tel: 353 (0) 65 6831100
Japan [MAH]
Beckman Coulter K.K.
TOC Ariake West Tower, 3-5-7 Ariake Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
[Contact]
Beckman Coulter K.K.
Customer call center
TEL :0120-566-730 or 03-6745-4704
2 © 2021 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. 9020-8071, Rev. AE

Revision history
This document applies to the listed MicroScan WalkAway Instrument versions. When a
subsequent update affects the information in this document, a new document will be released to
the Beckman Coulter website.
Current version
Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AE
Publishing date: 2021-05
Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

• DxM 1096 MicroScan WalkAway
• MicroScan WalkAway-40 Plus
See legacy LabPro Operator’s Guides for information about
WalkAway SI instruments.
Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)
Available languages: English and regionally supported languages
Summary of changes: Added topics in Preface for IVDR compliance.

Added indicators to identify the instrument type that is associated
with specific information.
This document part number (9020-8071) replaces the previous US,
FMR, and Japan English Reference 9020-8091.
9020-8071, Rev. AE WalkAway Instrument Guide 3

TOPIC USED IN: WA IG_EN w/IVDR
Previous versions
Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AD

Summary of changes: Minor corrections to align content with DxM WalkAway product
feature updates.
Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AC

Summary of changes: Minor corrections to align content with DxM WalkAway product
feature updates.
4
TOPIC USED IN: WA IG_EN w/IVDR
Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AB

Summary of changes: Minor corrections
Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AA

Summary of changes: New document.
Future document updates

For documentation updates, go to www.beckmancoulter.com. Hover over Support on the menu
bar to display menu options. Under Product Support, select Search for Technical Documents.
Search for technical documents and download the latest applicable version.
Search suggestion
Search by product name: WalkAway Instrument
Document category: Instrument IFU/Manual

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6
Contents
Revision history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Current version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Previous versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Future document updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1 Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Additional information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Intended purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Intended use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Clinical relevance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Warranty statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Expected lifetime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installation policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Preparation for use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Customer technical support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Customer technical support contact information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Resolving instrument or LabPro issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Locating system serial number and software version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Notice to user. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
MicroScan system safety overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Software safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Safety conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Electrical safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Biological safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Chemical safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Third-party instrument, device, or consumables safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Precautions and warnings for all instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Precautions and warnings for WalkAway instruments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Contents
Disposal of Microbiology instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2 System overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
WalkAway overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
How the WalkAway instrument processes panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Before you process panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
About panel processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
How WalkAway and LabPro software identify microorganisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
How WalkAway and LabPro software identify minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . . . . . . 30
How the WalkAway instrument processes specific panel types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
DxM WalkAway instrument components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Main system components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Exterior LED fluid status display panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
About reagent levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Exterior LED warning and troubleshooting states . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Interior LED reagent status indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
WalkAway Plus system components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Main system components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Status display and control panel buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Door/hatch sensors and interlocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
WalkAway optical systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Two optical systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
About colorimetric or fluorometric measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ID results processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
WalkAway fluorometric systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

About the fluorometric system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
How the fluorometer reads wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reference and offset reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Read matrix positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Well scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Value compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
WalkAway colorimetric systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

About the colorimetric systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
WalkAway panel positioning assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Carousel and tray towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Grabber assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
8 WalkAway Instrument Guide 9020-8071, Rev. AE

Contents
Panel detection system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
WalkAway bar code reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Reagent and oil dispense systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Reagent dispense system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
WalkAway Plus reagent drawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
WalkAway Plus reagent bottle adapter assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
DxM WalkAway reagent drawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
DxM WalkAway magnetic sensors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Oil dispense system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
WalkAway humidifier and heater assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Humidifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Peristaltic pump and water reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
WalkAway instrument waste system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
WalkAway internal computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

About WalkAway Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
WalkAway Status tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Load status tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Exceptions status tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Maintenance tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
About the WalkAway Bar Codes window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

How bar codes are used in LabPro software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
About the WalkAway Bar Codes window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
WalkAway instrument technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
3 Startup-Shutdown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Starting up the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Shutting down the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4 Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Processing panels in a WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Printing and applying bar codes to samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting up for bar code printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Viewing and filtering orders by exclusive code groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Contents
Testing the isolate information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Selecting a sort order for separator labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Printing bar code labels or the new WalkAway Orders Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Affixing bar code labels to MicroScan panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Reprinting bar code labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Requesting quick access to the instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Requesting WalkAway instrument access using LabPro Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Terminating access and locking the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
About moving panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Monitoring instrument and panel status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Determining panel status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

When to unload panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
WalkAway maintenance workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Daily maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Periodic maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Printing the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

About the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
When to print a report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Before you print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Printing the report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Calibrating the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Requesting maintenance access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Requesting maintenance access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Terminating maintenance access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
About allotted access time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Opening the incubator door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Contents
Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Removing the DxM WalkAway work tray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Monitoring the temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Temperature requirement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
When to check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Temperature stabilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Ensuring proper instrument temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Maintaining the water level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Reservoir capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Checking the water level for WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Adding water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Cleaning the air (fan) filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

When to clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Required materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Checking the air intake filter in the WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Cleaning the air intake filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Cleaning the reagent waste funnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Cleaning the reagent waste funnel in WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Maintaining the reagent waste bag or waste bottle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Replacing a waste bag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Emptying a waste bottle in a WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Decontaminating the WalkAway instrument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Maintaining optical components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Locations of optical components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Removing the front tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Replacing a tower spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Cleaning the reference disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cleaning the fluorometer shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Checking and cleaning the photodiode shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Contents

Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Checking the photodiode shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Cleaning the photodiode shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Checking the diffuser plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Cleaning the diffuser plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Maintaining the reagent dispense system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Reagent dispense system maintenance procedures for WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
About reagent bottles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Reagent bottle sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Using reagents in WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Removing a reagent bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Checking the reagent level in WalkAway Plus instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Checking the reagent level in DxM WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Removing reagent bottle and adapter in WalkAway Plus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Removing the reagent bottle and adapter in DxM WalkAway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Inspecting reagent bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Inspecting for rim damage and flatness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Inspecting bottle height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cleaning the reagent adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Removing and cleaning reagent bottle and adapter in the WalkAway Plus instrument . . . . . . . 161
Cleaning a reagent bottle and adapter in the DxM WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Replacing the draw straw assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Replacing the draw straw assembly in WalkAway Plus instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Replacing the draw straw assembly in DxM WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Replacing the reagent bottle adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

About the reagent adapter in the WalkAway Plus instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Replacing the reagent adapter in the WalkAway Plus instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Replacing the reagent adapter in the DxM WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Maintaining gaskets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

When to replace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Replacing or cleaning the WalkAway Plus reagent adapter gasket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

Contents
Replacing or cleaning the DxM WalkAway reagent adapter gasket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Replacing or cleaning a DxM WalkAway manifold gasket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Replacing reagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Refilling and replacing reagent bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Updating reagent lot numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Purge the reagent dispense lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Checking the reagent dispense lines and cleaning dispense tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Checking the reagent dispense lines in the WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Cleaning dispense tips in the WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Maintaining the oil dispense system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

When to maintain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Checking for leaks and bubbles in the oil dispense line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Checking the oil level in the WalkAway Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Checking the oil level in the DxM WalkAway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Adding or replacing oil in WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Purging the oil line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
6 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
QC diagnostic troubleshooting for the WalkAway instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
WalkAway instrument display issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
General WalkAway instrument issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209


1
Preface
This section includes these topics:
• About this guide (page 16)
• Intended purpose (page 17)
• Warranty statement (page 17)
• Expected lifetime (page 17)
• Installation policy (page 18)
• Preparation for use (page 18)
• Customer technical support (page 19)
• Notice to user (page 19)
• MicroScan system safety overview (page 20)
• Disposal of Microbiology instruments (page 24)

Preface
About this guide

This guide provides the following WalkAway information:
• Descriptions of the instrument components
• How the WalkAway reads and processes panels
• Loading, processing, and unloading panels
• Maintenance procedures
• Troubleshooting instrument and system errors
This guide does not include:
• Installation procedures
• Configuration or customization procedures
• Networking information
• Specific information about organisms
• Descriptions of alerts
Additional information
See the following guides for more information:
• MicroScan Instrument Safety Guide—provides information about MicroScan system safety,

including the current hazard symbol glossary, and other related information.
• LabPro Software Operator’s Guide—provides information about LabPro software functionality

and operation.
• LabPro Interface Implementation Guide—provides LabPro interface hardware requirements,

configuration procedures, and specifications for writing a reciprocal program to connect a
Laboratory Information System (LIS) to LabPro.
• MicroScan Organism Reference Guide—provides the current list of organisms and codes that
are available in LabPro software.
• You can also use the CLSI Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and
the appropriate MicroScan Panel Procedural Manuals for further reference.
• For additional information, contact Customer Technical Support or your Beckman Coulter
Representative or Distributor.

Preface
Intended purpose
Intended use
The MicroScan WalkAway instruments are intended to be used with a MicroScan data
management system as diagnostic tools for determining the microbial identification (ID) and
antimicrobial agent susceptibility (AST) patterns of microorganisms isolated from clinical
specimens, by trained laboratory personnel.
Clinical relevance
WalkAway instruments used in conjunction with ID/AST results, other laboratory results and/or
clinical indicators to refine the selection of therapy in symptomatic patients.
Warranty statement
The system is covered by and subject to the provisions of the warranty included in your
contractual agreement for the system or its reagents.
The customer is responsible for routine preventive maintenance procedures. Repairs arising from
the failure to perform these maintenance procedures at the indicated time intervals are made at
the discretion of Beckman Coulter, and at the customer’s expense.
Expected lifetime
The WalkAway instrument has been manufactured and marketed in the U.S. (since 1991) and
worldwide (since 2004). Based on historical usage and performance data, Beckman Coulter claims
that the service life of the product can be expected to exceed 7 years under the defined
laboratory conditions identified in the product labeling.
As long as the instrument follows the recommended preventive maintenance schedule, the
product will perform within the stated product claims.

Preface
Installation policy
An authorized field service engineer (FSE) will remove the instrument from the package, install
the equipment, and check the WalkAway and/or autoSCAN-4 instrument and the LabPro
computing system. Prior to installation, site survey and preparation procedures should be
completed by the FSE. Note that this system requires connection to and the use of LabPro
software. See the LabPro Software Operator’s Guide for minimum system requirements.
To maintain full warranty, a qualified FSE must be present in the event that laboratory personnel
attempt to remove any component from its shipping container.
If you need to move, un-install, or ship a WalkAway or autoSCAN-4 instrument, contact your field
service engineer for instructions.
See the Warranty statement in this guide for a description of the warranty policy.
For instructions on installing LabPro software updates, see the installation procedures included
with the update kit.
Preparation for use

An authorized field service engineer (FSE) will remove the instrument from the package, install
the equipment, prepare and connect any associated computers, networking appliances, and
confirm the functionality of the instrument, network (if applicable), and the LabPro computing
system.
You are not expected to perform any installation activities in preparation for use. Your presence
might be required in an advisory role during installation. Your preparation might include basic
system training, maintenance procedures, ordering materials (reagents and other consumables)
and becoming familiar with the available system documentation (for example, this document).
Note that to maintain full warranty, a qualified FSE must be present in the event that laboratory
personnel attempt to remove any component from its shipping container. If you need to move,
un-install, or ship a Microbiology instrument, contact your field service engineer for instructions.
See the Installation Policy and Warranty statement in this guide for a more information.

Preface
Customer technical support

This topic describes how to resolve different product issues.
Customer technical support contact information

If you are calling from the United States or Canada, call (800) 677-7226. If you are calling from
outside the United States or Canada, contact Beckman Coulter Customer Technical Support or
your Beckman Coulter representative.
Resolving instrument or LabPro issues

If a problem occurs with an instrument or the LabPro computing system, contact Customer
Technical Support or your Beckman Coulter representative and have the following information
available:
• Instrument serial number or System ID (SID) number or Instance number
• LabPro software and Windows operating system versions
• Type of LabPro computer
• The function you performed when the problem occurred
• Any error messages that displayed when the problem occurred
Locating system serial number and software version

To find the WalkAway instrument serial number:
On the LabPro Command Center, select Utilities > Configuration > WalkAway.
To find software versions:
On the LabPro Command Center, select Utilities > System > LabPro System Information.
Notice to user
Any serious incident that has occurred in relation to this software or device shall be reported to
the manufacturer and the appropriate U.S. and country authority (for IVD products) or
appropriate authority of the EU Member State (for IVDR products) in which the user and/or the
patient is established.

Preface
MicroScan system safety overview

This topic identifies operational hazards, safety warnings, cautions, and any requirements or
considerations associated with the safe and effective operation of MicroScan instruments and
systems. Note that hazard symbols appear on the instruments wherever a possible hazard is
present.
To prevent personal injury, damage to the instrument, or unexpected system performance,

observe all safety precautions and warnings when operating or maintaining MicroScan
instruments. Always wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as defined by your laboratory
policies when working with the instrument.
Follow all start up, shut down, maintenance and repair procedures as described in MicroScan
documentation.
IMPORTANT
For additional MicroScan instrument safety information, including the current hazard symbol
glossary, safety-related instrument components, compliance standards, and other related
information, see the MicroScan Instrument Safety Guide.
Software safety information

See software operator’s guides for safety, hazard, or warning descriptions that apply to specific
MicroScan software applications (for example, LabPro Operator’s Guide).
Safety conventions
The following table provides safety conventions that describe how symbols are used in system
and software documentation to indicate hazards and important or critical instructions.
See the “Key symbols for instruments and consumables” topic in the
MicroScan Instrument Safety Guide for descriptions of each symbol/icon.
Symbol used Safety convention description
WARNING
Warning statements indicate the risk of personal injury or loss of life if
operating procedures and practices are not strictly observed.
CAUTION
Caution statements alert you to a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, might result in minor or moderate personal injury or damage to the
equipment, data, or other property. It might also provide an alert against
unsafe practices.

Preface
Symbol used Safety convention description
CAUTION! POTENTIAL BIOHAZARD

The potential biohazard label indicates an area of the instrument that could
have been in contact with biohazardous materials. Do not handle the
contents or touch the area unless you are properly protected. Refer to your
applicable laboratory procedures.
SHOCK HAZARD
Indicates an area of the instrument that contains high voltage. Do not touch
unless a procedure specifically instructs you to do so.
LASER BEAM
Laser Beam warnings indicate a risk of exposure to laser beams.
PINCH HAZARD
Indicates an area of the instrument where you can be exposed to moving
parts. Be careful around these parts when performing diagnostic operations
and when performing maintenance operations with the top cover raised.
BURN HAZARD
Indicates a heated area of the instrument that could burn you. Be sure to
power off the instrument and let these areas cool before touching them or
performing diagnostic and maintenance operations around them.
STATIC SENSITIVITY
Indicates potential damage to electronic boards from electrostatic discharge.
DO NOT TOUCH
Indicates an area that might cause physical harm to the user or damage to
the instrument. View as a potential hazard.
IMPORTANT
No symbol
Indicates information that is important to begin or continue with a procedure,
used
or refers to key supportive information that might be important for optimal
system or software use. This does not indicate a hazard or safety risk.
No symbol NOTE
used
Indicates additional, supportive, but non-critical information.

Preface
Electrical safety
• Only operate MicroScan instruments as described in the Instrument Guides and Software
Operator’s Guides and pay attention to warning labels on the instruments.
• Use only tested and approved electrical supplies and receptacles.
• Do not modify electrical or power supply components.
• Do not remove covers or override interlocks when power is applied to the system.
Biological safety
Consider all materials that come in contact with patient samples as potential biohazards and treat
according to local biohazard handling and disposal procedures.
• Always follow universal, safe laboratory practices when handling specimens, plates, or any
surfaces or instruments that can contact biological specimens.
• Follow your local or regional regulations for disposing of biohazardous specimens or

consumables.
Chemical safety
• Info for USA only-California Proposition 65: This product may contain chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
• Observe all warnings and cautions on the reagent labels, the safety data sheets (SDS), and
hazard warnings in MicroScan guides when handling any chemicals or flammable liquid
materials.
• Do not substitute alternate cleaning fluids, or deviate from the recommended mixing
concentrations. If no cleaning fluid is specifically designated, use ethyl alcohol or isopropyl
alcohol.
• Do not use bleach cleaners to clean the instrument unless recommended by the regulatory
agency. The use of bleach cleaners might impact panel performance if it is not completely
removed from the decontaminated components.

Preface
Third-party instrument, device, or consumables safety
CAUTION
Make sure to read and understand all safety information and hazard warnings
supplied by third-party (non-Beckman Coulter) instrument, device, or consumable
manufacturers.
Your MicroScan instrument might be configured with other third-party instruments, devices, or
consumables as a part of a complete/integrated system. Beckman Coulter is not responsible for
any system hazards, hazard warnings, or unknown design issues that might be present in
instruments or devices supplied by other companies.
Precautions and warnings for all instruments

Follow these important precautions and warnings while operating MicroScan instruments.
Always wear PPE as defined by your laboratory policies when working with the instrument.
Before you Do this

Plug in the instrument main power Make sure the instrument has been turned off.
cord and associated equipment
Always connect the instrument and associated equipment to a 3-
wire grounded receptacle of the same voltage and current rating
specified on the data plate on the side of the instrument.
Handle any electronic component Ground yourself by touching something metal in the instrument
in the instrument prior to handling electrical components.
Shut down the instrument, wait 15 seconds, and then disconnect
the power cord from the wall to eliminate the risk of a severe
shock and to protect the system electronics.
Shut down the LabPro computer Exit the LabPro Command Center and Windows properly to
prevent data corruption.
Continue to work after a power If a power failure occurs, turn off the power switch on the
failure instrument and all LabPro components immediately.
After power is restored, start up the components. If the power
failed for an extended time, let the instrument warm up for one
hour before processing panels.

Preface
Precautions and warnings for WalkAway instruments

Follow these important precautions and warnings while operating the WalkAway instrument.
Before you Do this

Attempt to open the incubator Make sure the top area of the instrument is clear to prevent
door damage to the instrument.
Attempt to close the incubator For the WalkAway Plus instrument, take hold of the incubator door,
door using the recessed handle on the lower-right side of the door.
For the DxM WalkAway instrument, take hold of the incubator
door, using the recessed handle in the middle-right side of the
door. Keep your other hand clear of the door. Close the door
slowly.
Restart the WalkAway instrument Wait at least 10 to 15 seconds. Failure to do so might cause startup
after shut down errors.
Disposal of Microbiology instruments

The Instrument disposal process includes decontaminating, decommissioning, and e-waste
recycling or disposing of mechanical or electronic components. Decommissioning an instrument
is the permanent shutdown or deactivation an active Microbiology instrument.
Decontaminating, decommissioning, and disposing of Microbiology testing instruments

(for example, WalkAway or autoSCAN-4) is performed by Beckman Coulter field service
personnel. Beckman Coulter personnel follows approved internal service procedures. Note that
bench-top instruments (for example, Turbidity Meter or RENOK) that have reached end-of-life,
can be decontaminated and disposed by the customer according to laboratory, local, and
regional e-waste regulations.
Instruments must be decontaminated first. This minimizes the risk of bio-hazards to the
environment and to the personnel performing the decommissioning process. See the
“Decontamination” topic in this document for more information.
After decontamination and decommission, the instrument is prepared and shipped to the
appropriate Beckman Coulter facility or approved vendor facility in accordance with Beckman
Coulter service procedures. Note that decontamination certificate is included with the
decommissioned instrument.
E-Waste disposal of decontaminated and decommissioned Microbiology instruments is

performed at the appropriate Beckman Coulter facility or approved vendor, where instrument
materials and components are recycled or disposed according to local and regional regulations
and requirements.

2
System overview
• WalkAway overview (page 26)
• How the WalkAway instrument processes panels (page 27)
• DxM WalkAway instrument components (page 31)
• WalkAway Plus system components (page 38)
• Status display and control panel buttons (page 40)
• Door/hatch sensors and interlocks (page 41)
• WalkAway optical systems (page 42)
• WalkAway fluorometric systems (page 43)
• WalkAway colorimetric systems (page 47)
• WalkAway panel positioning assemblies (page 49)
• WalkAway bar code reader (page 51)
• Reagent and oil dispense systems (page 52)
• WalkAway humidifier and heater assembly (page 59)
• WalkAway instrument waste system (page 60)
• WalkAway internal computer (page 61)
• About WalkAway Monitor (page 62)
• About the WalkAway Bar Codes window (page 69)
• WalkAway instrument technical specifications (page 71)

System overview
WalkAway overview
Both the WalkAway Plus and DxM WalkAway instruments are microbiological incubators and
panel-reading devices that interface with LabPro software to identify organisms and determine
antimicrobic susceptibilities.
These instruments can simultaneously process conventional, rapid, and specialty panels on a
single, automated platform. These instruments directly identify minimum inhibitory
concentrations (MICs). This allows for a higher incidence of detecting emerging resistance
without reliance on historical data or virtual MICs.
WalkAway instruments are independent testing devices that require minimal operator
intervention during normal operation. Operators only need to load and unload the inoculated
panels, replace reagents, add sterile de-ionized water, and perform general maintenance and
cleaning as needed.
WalkAway instruments have a tower mechanism that holds inoculated panels (mitrotiter trays)
and automatically scans the panel bar codes, schedules incubation times and panel reads, and
adds reagents as needed. A reagent dispense system dispenses a controlled amount of reagents
and oil into the appropriate MicroScan panel wells.
WalkAway instruments use colorimetric and fluorometric optical systems to read panels by
measuring color changes, fluorescence changes, or the degree of turbidity in the panel wells.
You can use LabPro software to:
• communicate with the WalkAway instrument.
• evaluate system performance.
• customize, manage, and analyze data.
• generate reports.
See the LabPro Software Operator’s Guide for more information.

System overview
How the WalkAway instrument processes panels

This topic describes the steps you must complete before you process panels on the
WalkAway instruments.
Before you process panels

Before panels can be processed in the WalkAway instrument, you must complete the
following actions:
Transmit a panel order from the LIS to LabPro software, or enter the order directly in
LabPro software.

Affix a bar code label to each panel.

Inoculate the panels with microorganisms from a clinical specimen.
See the appropriate MicroScan Panel Instructions for Use for inoculation and setup instruc-
tions for specific panels.

Load the panels into the WalkAway instrument, close the access door, and then lock the
door.

The WalkAway instrument bar code scanner scans each panel tower to identify each panel
that is loaded into the instrument.
The LabPro WalkAway Monitor displays the identified panels in the WalkAway Status and
Load Status tabs.

Process panels.

System overview
About panel processing

The WalkAway instrument processes panels in the following way:
The instrument dispenses oil into underlined panel biochemical wells.

The instrument incubates the panels at 35° C for 2 to 42 hours, depending on the panel
type, organism type, and processing results.

The instrument reads each panel between 20 minutes and 2 hours and 45 minutes after
loading (depending on panel type). This initial reading is used as a reference point to which
the later readings are compared.

At the scheduled time (depending on the panel type), the instrument dispenses reagents
into the appropriate biochemical wells and incubates the panels for an additional time
period—approximately 5 to 20 minutes (depending on panel type).

The WalkAway instrument measures the panels using the colorimetric system or the
fluorometric system (depending on panel type).
See How the WalkAway instrument processes specific panel types (page 30) for more
information.
The WalkAway instrument measures a series of biochemicals in the panels for color chang-
es, increases in turbidity or changes in fluorescence after incubation.

The WalkAway instrument compares each processed test well value with a threshold value.
This value is a fixed number representing a certain percentage of relative absorbency or
fluorescence that corresponds to clinically significant growth.
See How WalkAway and LabPro software identify microorganisms (page 29) and
How WalkAway and LabPro software identify minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)
(page 30) for more information.

System overview
As the WalkAway instrument processes panels, results are passed to LabPro software for
calculation and analysis. You can resolve exceptions and alerts, monitor and edit these re-
sults, and request various reports.

Unload completed panels from the instrument.
WARNING
The used panels are a biohazard. Dispose of used panels as indicated in the panel
procedure manual. Use your laboratory’s safe biohazard waste disposal
procedures—including any PPE—for contact with and disposal of these materials.
How WalkAway and LabPro software identify microorganisms

To identify microorganisms, the WalkAway instrument measures a series of biochemicals
designed for the speciation of most medically significant bacteria. The panels contain
identification media consisting of substrates and/or growth inhibitors that, depending on the
species of bacteria present, exhibit color changes, increases in turbidity or changes in
fluorescence after incubation.

System overview
How WalkAway and LabPro software identify minimum inhibitory

concentrations (MICs)
To identify MICs for a microorganism, the panel wells contain specific concentrations of
antimicrobics. The turbidity is low or non-existent in wells where the antimicrobic has inhibited
growth.
The WalkAway instrument compares each test well reading with a threshold value. This value is a
fixed number representing a certain percentage of relative absorbency that corresponds to
clinically significant growth.
How the WalkAway instrument processes specific panel types

Dried Overnight and Rapid Chromogenic panels
The colorimetric system guides light from an interference filter through optical fiber channels
and then through the 96 wells of each panel. Light sensitive photodiodes detect the amount of
light passed through each well and generate a corresponding electronic signal for each well.
The resident computer in the WalkAway instrument compares these signals to stored control
values and sends the data to LabPro for calculation and analysis.
Rapid Fluorogenic panels

The fluorometric system reads the level of fluorescence in the 96 wells of each panel. This system
electrically quantifies the results and transmits the signals in the same manner as the colorimetric
system.

System overview
DxM WalkAway instrument components
This topic applies to the following instruments:
 DxM WalkAway  WalkAway Plus
This topic describes the main components of DxM WalkAway instruments.
Operating the DxM WalkAway instrument requires close coordination with LabPro software.
From initial instrument startup, you must use LabPro software to perform instrument
maintenance, load and unload panels, and monitor panel processing on the DxM WalkAway
instrument.
Main system components

The following illustration shows the main system components of the DxM WalkAway instrument,
which is available in two models: the DxM 1096 WalkAway, which holds 96 panels and the
DxM 1040 WalkAway, which holds 40 panels.

System overview
Provides access to the interior of the instrument for service,

(1) Incubator door
maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.
Provides access to the instrument towers for loading and

unloading panels. You can access one tower at a time and
(2) Panel access door load panels into the tower that faces the panel access door.
If you want to load panels into more than one tower, you
can rotate the towers.
Provides access to the reagent adapters and reagent bottles,

reagent dispense head, waste funnel, and waste bag or
(3) Reagent drawer bottle.
The dispense drawer also provides access to the system
water and the oil for the automated oil dispense system.
Displays the reagent, waste, oil, and water level status, and
(4) LED fluid status display panel
the error states.
Used to hold panels, reagents, and other items when using

(5) Work tray
the instrument.
Serves as a staging area for samples during loading or

(6) Fan filter cover
unloading. Remove this cover to access the fan filter.
(7) Control panel Includes the Status Display and control panel buttons.
Power switch (side of Powers the system on or off. The indicator light turns green
(8) instrument) when the power switch is on.
The following illustration shows the reagent dispense system, water reservoir, oil bottle, and
internal fluid level indicators (with the reagent drawer extended).

System overview
Exterior LED fluid status display panel

The exterior LED fluid status display panel on the front of the DxM WalkAway instrument displays
the reagent, waste, oil, and water status.
Displays current status of each reagent:

• Green LEDs displayed—reagent level is sufficient.
• Yellow LEDs displayed—reagent is low.
• Flashing red/yellow LEDs displayed—reagent is VERY low.
(1) Reagent status indicators Refill the reagent immediately.
• Only red LEDs displayed—reagent is depleted and reagent
dispense is disabled.
See Exterior LED fluid status display panel (page 33) for
information about other LED display states.
The waste bottle LED is green when waste level is low and yellow
(2) Waste level indicator
when you need to check waste level.
The oil LED is green when oil level is sufficient and yellow when
(3) Oil level indicator
you need to check oil level.
The water level LED is green when water level is sufficient.

When the water level LED is yellow, add water to maintain
humidity, which reduces evaporation. The system continues to
(4) Water level indicator process panels even when the indicator is yellow. However, note
that if the humidity runs out of range, it might produce incorrect
panel results. If LED is red, an audible alarm sounds, and the
humidifier shuts off until more water is added.
The exterior LED reagent level display panel shows the approximate reagent levels and also
indicates if a reagent is not in use or if the reagent cannot be dispensed because the reagent
adapter lever is not fully engaged (not in full horizontal position). It can also show various
reagent system troubleshooting and warning states.

System overview
About reagent levels

Each of the top three green bars on the LED fluid status display panel represent approximately
25% of reagent capacity, and each yellow bar is approximately 5% of reagent capacity.
The following illustration shows how the system displays the different reagent levels.
(1) >75% (8) <5% but not empty*
(2) 50% to 75% (9) Reagent is depleted or no reagent**
(3) 25% to 50% (10) No reagent bottle is present
(4) 20% to 25% (11) Volume is unknown
(5) 15% to 20% (12) Volume is unknown/ auto-purge is scheduled
(6) 10% to 15% (13) Reagent currently dispensing
(7) 5% to 10% (14) Blank bottle is present
*At 5% capacity, the LED flashes red/yellow and an audible alert sounds. Refill the reagent
immediately.
**When a reagent is depleted, an audible alert sounds. Refill the reagent immediately.

System overview
Exterior LED warning and troubleshooting states

The following illustration shows the exterior LED warning and troubleshooting states.
Hardware failure—the instrument detects valve or valve circuitry problem and disables the
reagent dispense system, or a problem with the fan or the pressure regulator.
If the reagent system fan fails, the LED fluid status display panel alternately flashes the hardware
(1) failure error indicator LED pattern and the previous state.
See the “Hardware failure” topic in General WalkAway instrument issues (page 209) for more
information.
Reagent adapter lever is not fully engaged. A possible leak between the top of the bottle and
(2) the gasket when the adapter is not fully seated on the bottle rim. Reagent dispense is disabled.
Indicates a possible reagent bottle leak.
(3) Dispense occurred from a blank bottle.
Reagent drawer is closed with the reagent adapter lever not fully engaged or a reagent bottle is
(4) missing.
Reagent bottle opened or the Reagent drawer is opened when the reagent dispense system is
(5) pressurized.
(6) Reagent bottle is empty and the reagent valve was disabled.

System overview
About audible alerts for error and reagent states
The DxM WalkAway instrument sounds an audible alert if any of the following error or
reagent states occur:
– An air leak has been detected in the system.

– Reagent dispense has been requested from a station that has a blank cap.
– A hardware failure has occurred.
– A bottle was removed from a reagent station, and reagent drawer was closed.
– Reagent level is at 5% capacity or less.
– Reagent is depleted.
To silence the audible alarm during instrument operation, request access to the WalkAway,
and then open the reagent drawer.
A field service engineer can disable these audible alerts. However, the alerts cannot be
enabled or disabled individually—either ALL of the audible alerts will be enabled or ALL of
them will be disabled. Contact Customer Technical Support for more information.
Interior LED reagent status indicators

When the DxM WalkAway reagent drawer is open, each reagent adapter lever is illuminated by
two LEDs that indicate the current reagent level. These LEDs use the same color scheme
(red, green, yellow, blue) as the corresponding indicators on the exterior fluid-level display.
For example, if the exterior LED reagent level display indicates that a reagent is 25% full
(five yellow LEDs), the corresponding reagent adapter in the reagent drawer displays two yellow
LEDs in the adapter lever. The following figure shows the interior LED reagent status indicators.

System overview
Note that when a reagent is not in use, the exterior fluid status display LEDs associated with the
reagent do not illuminate. The LEDs on the reagent adapter lever for the reagent bottle are blue.
The following table explains the different states for the internal LED indicators.
Interior LED color Description

Green Reagent level is sufficient.
Yellow Reagent level is low.
Flashing Red/Yellow Reagent level is VERY low. Refill the reagent immediately.
Red Reagent is depleted and reagent dispense is disabled. Refill the reagent
immediately.
Blue Reagent adapter lever is not fully engaged, bottle/adapter is not in station, or
reagent level is unknown.
MORE INFORMATION
• Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 90) • Removing a reagent bottle (page 151)
• Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument • Maintaining the oil dispense system (page 194)
(page 96)

System overview
WalkAway Plus system components
 DxM WalkAway  WalkAway Plus
This topic describes the main components of WalkAway Plus instruments.
Operating the WalkAway Plus instrument requires close coordination with LabPro software.
From initial instrument startup, you must use LabPro software to perform instrument
maintenance, load and unload panels, and monitor panel processing on the WalkAway Plus
instrument.
Main system components

This topic describes the main system components of the WalkAway Plus instrument.

System overview
Provides access to the interior of the instrument for service,

(1) Incubator door
maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.
Provides access to the instrument towers for loading and

unloading panels. You can access one tower at a time and
(2) Panel access door load panels into the tower that faces the panel access door.
If you want to load panels into more than one tower, you can
rotate the towers.
Provides access to the reagent dispense head, waste funnel,

and waste bag or bottle.
(3) Reagent drawer
The dispense drawer also provides access to the system water
and the oil for the automated oil dispense system.
Illuminates if the reagent, oil, or water reservoir levels are low

(4) Fluid indicator
or if the waste bottle is full.
Holds panels, reagents, and other items when using the

(5) Work tray
instrument.
Serves as a staging area for samples during loading or

(6) Fan filter cover
unloading. Remove this cover to access the fan filter.
(7) Front control panel Includes the Status Display and control panel buttons.
Power switch (side of Powers the system on or off. The indicator light turns green
(8) instrument) when the power switch is on.
The following illustration shows access to the reagent dispense system, water reservoir, oil bottle,
and fluid level indicators.

System overview
MORE INFORMATION
• Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 90) • Removing a reagent bottle (page 151)
• Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument (page 96) • Maintaining the oil dispense system
• Requesting maintenance access (page 107) (page 194)
• Maintaining the water level (page 114)
Status display and control panel buttons
 DxM WalkAway  WalkAway Plus
The instrument front control panel status display provides the following instrument information:
Display message Description

Time Current time
Temperature Current measured instrument interior temperature
Dispense pressure Current measured reagent dispense pressure
Tower # The tower number that is accessible from the panel access door
Instrument error messages These messages describe specific alert actions, jams, or
component errors.
The instrument front control panel includes the following controls:
Button Name Description

Tower rotation - Rotates the carousel to the next tower in a clockwise direction
forward (for example, Tower 1, Tower 2, Tower 3).
Alarm Off Turns off the instrument alarm.
Quick access Unlocks the instrument doors for three minutes to load or
unload panels.
Locks unlocked doors when you press it again.
Tower rotation - reverse Rotates the carousel to the previous tower in a

counterclockwise direction (for example, Tower 8, Tower 7,
Tower 6).

System overview
Door/hatch sensors and interlocks
Access doors and incubator doors are equipped with sensors and interlocks to prevent you from
opening the doors when the instrument mechanisms are moving or when the instrument is
processing panels.
When the doors are locked, you must request maintenance access in the LabPro WalkAway
Monitor or press the Quick Access button on the control panel.
The reagent drawer is interlocked. When you want to remove a reagent bottle, you must request
maintenance access to the instrument to ensure that the system is not pressurized.
MORE INFORMATION
• Status display and control panel buttons (page 40) • Opening the incubator door (page 109)
• Requesting maintenance access (page 107)

System overview
WalkAway optical systems
Two optical systems

The WalkAway instrument uses two optical systems under computer control to detect bacterial
growth or to identify bacteria in the wells of MicroScan panels.
• The colorimetric system measures the intensity of light transmitted through each well.
This measurement is inversely proportional to the concentration of bacteria in that well.
Selected wells also contain biochemical substrates that exhibit a color change in the presence
of certain bacteria.
• The fluorometric system measures the intensity of the fluorescence in each well.
Selected wells contain biochemical substrates that fluoresce when certain bacteria are
present.
About colorimetric or fluorometric measurement

A colorimetric or fluorometric measurement yields information about the solution in a well in a
panel. The optical information generates a corresponding electrical signal (voltage) which is then
converted to digital data and stored. The digital information is used by the central processing
unit (CPU) control circuitry.
After the instrument optically reads the entire panel and stores the measured values
(final read minus initial read), each test well measurement is compared with a threshold value.
The threshold is a fixed number that represents a certain percentage of relative absorbance that
corresponds to clinically significant growth. The resulting measurement determines the MIC or
qualitative susceptibility of each antimicrobic.
ID results processing
The instrument computer also processes this data to provide information for use as a reference
by the physician when determining patient therapy.
For identification, the electrical signals corresponding to light intensity passing through or
fluorescencing from, each biochemical well are converted to a series of digital values indicating
that a change did or did not occur.
These values are also stored and compared to the fixed data. Based on the results
(either positive or negative) from each of the biochemical wells, the computer calculates a
biotype number that reflects these results and identifies the unknown organism.

System overview
WalkAway fluorometric systems
This topic describes the WalkAway instrument fluorometric systems.
About the fluorometric system

The fluorometric system consists of the following components:
• Tungsten-halogen lamp
• 365nm excitation filter
• Optical system to focus the excitation and emission
• 450nm-emission filter
• Photomultiplier tube
The photomultiplier tube generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the emission,
which is converted to digital information for processing by the CPU.

System overview
How the fluorometer reads wells

The fluorometric system scans wells in a panel and provides a quantitative measure of the
amount of fluorescence in each well.
To scan each well, the system completes the following actions:
The fluorometer moves to the left of the row containing the well.

The fluorometer passes over the row.

When the fluorometer reaches the read window for the well, the integrator is cleared and
opened, and starts accumulating the signal from the fluorometer.

The integrator closes when the fluorometer reaches the end of the read window.

The signal in the integrator is proportional to the fluorescence from the well.

This process repeats for each well to be read from the row.

After the fluorometer stops, it moves to the beginning of the next row to scan.
The process repeats.

System overview
Reference and offset reading

Photomultiplier tube (PMT) gain is highly dependent on its temperature. The base temperature of
the PMT is the same as the incubator temperature. The fluorometer's halogen light source is
located near the PMT. This can affect the PMT temperature by causing it to slowly increase over a
typical instrument read cycle. To compensate for this difference in the gain of the PMT, the
instrument takes a dark and reference measurement before each panel is read.
To establish dark and reference measurements, the instrument performs the following actions:
The instrument takes dark measurements when nothing is positioned under the
fluorometer.

The instrument takes reference measurements using a glass disk mounted in the grabber
mechanism. When the grabber moves to retrieve a panel from the tower, it stops
(when the disk is under the fluorometer's optical path), and takes a measurement.

Each well reading is adjusted by subtracting the dark read and multiplying by the ratio of
an ideal reference read to the actual reference read.
Read matrix positioning

To properly position the panel, the locator well on the panel is scanned and identified.
The locator well is located at a specific position for each fluorescent panel type.
The location of this well identifies the panel type.
During instrument calibration, the instrument performs the following actions:
Based on the position of the last scanned locator well, the instrument takes a set of static
readings as the fluorometer moves in small increments over the well (between each
reading).

The position of the half power points are determined and averaged to determine the
center of the well in the transverse axis direction.

System overview
The fluorometer is then positioned at the determined center and the process is repeated
for the grabber axis.

The difference between the measured well center and the stored well center is used to off-
set the location of the upper left well on the panel, reducing panel positioning errors.
Well scanning
During well scanning, the instrument performs the following actions:
The first row to be read is positioned in the fluorometer's optical path.

The fluorometer is positioned to the side of the panel and starts moving across the row of
wells.

When the fluorometer reaches the read window for the first well, a counter is cleared and
the signal from the fluorometer is accumulated until the fluorometer reaches the end of
the read window.

This process is repeated until all wells have been read. The panel advances to the next row
and the process repeats until the instrument reads all rows.
Value compensation
The value read for each well is compensated for short and long term drift as well as
instrument-to-instrument variability.
MORE INFORMATION
• Read matrix positioning (page 45) • Value compensation (page 46)
• Well scanning (page 46) • Reference and offset reading (page 45)

System overview
WalkAway colorimetric systems
This topic describes the WalkAway instrument colorimetric systems.
About the colorimetric systems
The colorimetric system consists of the following components:
• A tungsten-halogen lamp that provides a stable, broadband white light source.
• The collimation lenses, which concentrate the light emitted from the tungsten-halogen light
source into a parallel beam.
• A Hot Mirror blocks the infrared spectrum before passing through the lenses.
• Glass interference filters are arranged on a rotating wheel, called the color wheel.
The color wheel enables selection of any one filter of a specific wavelength (color) of light at
a time. The filters have extremely stable optical properties.
• The fiber-optics bundle in the WalkAway instrument consists of 12 separate optical fiber
channels. The light coming from an interference filter is guided up to each of the well
locations of a MicroScan panel simultaneously through the fibers.

System overview
• The photo sensor A/D board converts the light energy emitted from each well of the panel
under test to a usable electrical signal.
There are 12 photodiodes on the circuit board in the WalkAway instrument, one for each row
of wells on the panel. The WalkAway instrument reads one row at a time.
• When a panel is read using the light that passed through the interference filter, the
photodiode produces a current (signal) relative to the amount of light reaching it.
The electrical signals pass from the photosensor A/D board in a serial manner.
High-speed multiplexing circuitry selects photodiodes individually.

System overview
WalkAway panel positioning assemblies
This topic describes the WalkAway instrument mechanical components that position panels for
processing.
Carousel and tray towers

The carousel is a circular mechanical platform that rotates around a vertical axis assembly.
Eight tray towers attach to the carousel.
(1) Tower (2) Carousel platform
Sensors are located in the front left inner face of the carousel. These sensors constantly monitor
the carousel position.

System overview
Grabber assembly
The grabber assembly is located in the center of the read head assembly. The grabber positions
panels at the colorimetric or fluorometric read station or under the reagent dispense head,
depending on the operation being performed.
The following illustration shows the panel grabber (extended).
The grabber consists of the following components:
• Drive motor
• Drive belt
• Lead screw
• Grabber plate
• Optical sensor
Panel detection system

The panel detection system detects panels in the tower as the grabber pulls the panel out of a
tower. If the panel is not detected or is in the wrong position, the instrument attempts to pick up
the panel again. If the second attempt fails, the missing panel is flagged in the LabPro software
and displayed in the WalkAway Monitor, and the grabber moves to process the next panel.

System overview
WalkAway bar code reader
The WalkAway bar code reader is mounted in the chamber on the rear, left side of the vertical axis
assembly (facing the towers).
As the carousel rotates the towers in front of the bar code reader, the reader scans the bar code
label that is affixed to each panel. The bar code includes patient identification, panel type, and
specimen information.
If you open the panel access door to load panels, the bar code reader only scans the panels in the
accessed tower. If you open the incubator door, the bar code reader scans all panels in all towers.

System overview
Reagent and oil dispense systems

This topic describes how the WalkAway instrument dispenses reagents and oil into the wells of
panels.
Reagent dispense system
The reagent dispense system dispenses the appropriate amount of specific reagents into the
wells of the panels.
The WalkAway Plus instrument has an LED located outside of the reagent drawer that illuminates
if any of the reagent, oil, or water reservoir levels are low or if the waste bottle is full.
The DxM instrument has a LED fluid status display panel located on the front of the reagent
drawer that displays the reagent levels and status of the oil, water and waste levels.
See Exterior LED fluid status display panel (page 33) for more information.
The reagent dispense system consists of the following components:
• Reagent bottles
• Reagent bottle adapters
• Solenoids
• Dispense lines and tips
• Waste funnel
• Water tank
• Oil bottle
• Waste bag or waste bottle

System overview
WalkAway Plus reagent drawer
(1) Reagent level indicator Illuminates if any of the reagent levels are low.
Waste/oil/water level
(2) Illuminates if the waste, oil or water levels need to be checked.
indicators
This is where you fill the water reservoir with sterile distilled or
(3) Water reservoir fill
sterile deionized water.
Illuminates if any of the reagent, oil, or water reservoir levels are

(4) Fluid indicator
low or if the waste bottle is full.
The reagents are placed in the individual reagent adapter assemblies located inside the dispense
drawer. The following illustrations show the WalkAway Plus reagent dispense bottle and adapter.

System overview
WalkAway Plus reagent bottle adapter assembly
(1) Level sense alert LED (6) Adapter gasket
(2) Lever (7) Adapter
(3) Bottle (8) Level sense probe
(4) 30 mL bottle adapter ring (9) Draw straw
(5) Base (10) Draw straw filter

System overview
DxM WalkAway reagent drawer
Displays current reagent status.

(1) Reagent status indicator See Interior LED reagent status indicators (page 36) for more
information.
The waste bottle LED is green when waste level is low and yellow
(2) Waste level indicator
when you need to check waste level.
The oil LED is green when oil level is sufficient and yellow when you
(3) Oil level indicator
need to check oil level.
The water level LED is green when water level is sufficient. When
the water level LED is yellow, add water to maintain humidity, which
reduces evaporation. The system continues to process panels even
(4) Water level indicator when the indicator is yellow. However, note that if the humidity runs
out of range, it might produce incorrect panel results. If LED is red,
an audible alarm sounds, and the humidifier shuts off until more
water is added.
This is where you fill the water reservoir with sterile distilled or
(5) Water reservoir fill
sterile deionized water.

System overview
DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter assembly
The DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter has a draw straw assembly that might be equipped
with a filter or a T-joint modified connector at the end of the draw straw.
(1) Lever (6) Adapter
(2) Magnet for sensor (7) Adapter gasket

System overview
(3) Compressed air port (8) Draw straw
(4) Reagent fluid port (9) Draw straw filter
(5) 30 mL bottle (10) T- joint modified connector
DxM WalkAway magnetic sensors
DxM WalkAway reagent adapter levers contain small, magnetic sensors.
The magnet configuration on the levers determines reagent bottle size and if an adapter is a
blank cap. These gray blank caps are used as placeholders when a reagent is not in use. They are
attached to empty bottles and cannot dispense reagents.
Blank cap adapters are represented by two blue lights under the lever in the reagent drawer, and
the corresponding reagent location on the exterior fluid status display does not illuminate.
See Exterior LED warning and troubleshooting states (page 35) for more information.
The following illustration shows reagent adapters (lever up) from the rear.
Magnetic sensor configuration
(1) Magnet on right side of lever 30 mL bottle
(2) Magnet on left side of lever 60 mL bottle
“Blank cap”—bottle does not contain a reagent and

(3) Magnets on right and left sides of lever
is not in use. Reagent dispense is disabled.

System overview
Oil dispense system
The automated oil dispense system distributes a controlled amount of MicroScan oil to
underlined wells on appropriate panel types during panel processing.
The oil dispense system is located to the right of the reagent drawer and uses the reagent
dispense head. The oil dispense system consists of the oil bottle, dispense line, and oil syringe.

System overview
WalkAway humidifier and heater assembly
The WalkAway humidifier assembly, located below the card cage assembly, maintains the
incubator temperature and humidity within established limits required for optimum growth of
organisms. The heater/humidifier are physically attached, yet operate independently under
software control.
Humidifier
The humidifier assembly contains the following components:
• Water reservoir
• Heater humidifier
• A peristaltic pump that delivers water from a tank in the drawer to the humidifier
Peristaltic pump and water reservoir

When more humidity is needed, a controller activates the peristaltic pump, which delivers water
from the water reservoir tank in the reagent drawer to the heater humidifier. Water in the heater
humidifier evaporates to steam, which travels to the incubator. When the humidity level is
sufficient, the peristaltic pump stops pumping water to the heater humidifier.
Heater
The heater, which is attached to the top of the humidifier, consists of a heater duct, a circulation
fan, two heating elements and two thermal switches. If the air temperature within the heater duct
exceeds 140º F, the thermal switches open and shut down the heater to protect the instrument
from overheating.
The incubator temperature must remain at 35º C ±1º C. The humidifier is set to maintain 30%
humidity. However, 25% to 70% humidity is acceptable.
Humidity is necessary to prevent panels from drying out; therefore, out-of-range humidity is
underlined on the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report.

System overview
WalkAway instrument waste system
WalkAway instruments have a reagent waste system, which includes a waste bag or waste bottle
that is used to collect reagent waste from the reagent dispense system. Your system contains a
waste bag or bottle.
The following illustration shows access to the reagent dispense head, waste funnel, and waste
bottle (behind the reagent drawer).
MORE INFORMATION
• Replacing a waste bag (page 3) • Emptying a waste bottle in a WalkAway instrument (page 5)

System overview
WalkAway internal computer
The WalkAway instrument contains an internal computer that consists of a master central
processing unit (CPU), CPU support, and random access memory (RAM). The master CPU
controls the environment and scheduling, CPU support controls the motor functions, and the
instrument stores raw panel data.
Note that the LabPro computer also stores the panel data for raw and processed panel data
reports.

System overview
About WalkAway Monitor
This topic describes WalkAway Monitor, tabs, and features. This topic only applies to LabPro
systems that are connected to a WalkAway instrument.
The WalkAway Monitor alerts you to all changes in instrument and panel status by displaying
check status indicators, un-reviewed critical alerts, time-critical exceptions, and communication
failures. The WalkAway Monitor should remain open during operation.
The following table describes the key features and components of this window.
WalkAway Monitor
WalkAway Selection Center
Provides access to panel and instrument information for multiple WalkAway instruments.
(1)
Each selector button corresponds to a configured WalkAway instrument and displays the
instrument name and status, panel processing, and communication problems.
WalkAway Status tab

The slot status grid displays icons that indicate the current processing status and the tower/slot
(2) location for each panel processing in one selected instrument. Select a panel icon to display
panel processing error conditions (8), panel information (9), and ID to WalkAway (10)
information.

System overview
WalkAway Monitor
Load Status tab
(3) Displays panel information for all WalkAway instruments attached to the LabPro system
(or LabPro Network).
Exception Status tab

(4)
Provides information for resolving panel exceptions and alert messages.
Maintenance tab
(5)
Displays reagent lot information and tools to perform WalkAway instrument maintenance.
WalkAway status map

(6) Displays panel processing status for all loaded panels.
Double-click any panel icon to display the panel details in the Panel Information tab.
Access request controls

(7) Provides preset maintenance access sessions. Click Access to request maintenance, and then
click a maintenance duration button.
Error conditions box

(8)
The Error conditions box displays any error conditions for the current panel processing.
Panel Information tab

(9) Displays the details for a panel that you select in the WalkAway status map. Panel exceptions
are displayed in the Exceptions box at the bottom of this tab.
ID to WalkAway tab
(10) Enables you to manually identify a panel if the barcode reader cannot read the barcode (for
example, barcode is damaged or the panel was not loaded properly).
WalkAway option buttons

• Legend
• Upload panel
(11)
• Unread list
• Print
• Troubleshoot

System overview
WalkAway Status tab

Displays a panel graphic and tower/slot location for each panel processing in one instrument
(for the instrument you select in the WalkAway Selection Center).
Use this tab to display status and errors in the following ways:
Messages Alert
Instrument problem or panel Displays a red WalkAway instrument icon and a Check Status
alert/exception messages message on the instrument selector button.
This alert requires immediate attention.
Informational (for example, Does not trigger a Check Status message. However, you can quickly
Oxidase required) identify panels with alert or exception messages and a Check Status
symbol.
These messages do not require immediate action.
Communication failure between Displays a black WalkAway instrument icon and a WalkAway Offline
a configured WalkAway message on the on the instrument selector button.
instrument and a LabPro
A send or receive timeout message and a Data may not be current
computer
message displays in the Error Conditions box on the WalkAway
Status tab.
You should check the WalkAway Selection Center and WalkAway Monitor periodically to
identify and resolve errors promptly.

System overview
Load status tab

Click this tab to display panel information for all WalkAway instruments attached to the
LabPro system (or LabPro Network). Panel load status information is presented in table format
(rows and columns) and includes all LabPro table filtering, sorting, and printing features.
Each row of the table lists the following information:
• Status (icon) • Associated ATCC (American Type Culture

Collection) culture
• All connected WalkAway Instruments
• Panel type
• Tower slot location
• Source
• Specimen/lot number
• Next read
• Isolate
• Status description of the current processing
activity
If you filter the data, reports include only the filtered data as displayed in the table. If you do not
filter the table data, reports include data for all WalkAway instruments.
• You can double-click any row in a table to open the

Results (or QC Results) Summary and Edit window edit test results for a panel.
• You can right-click a row and select an option to reorder, delete, or abandon a panel,
or preview and print reports.

System overview
Exceptions status tab

Click this tab to display only panels that have panel processing exceptions. Select a status icon to
resolve panel exceptions and alert messages.
Data is presented in table format (rows and columns) and includes all LabPro table filtering,
sorting, and printing features.

System overview
Maintenance tab
Click the Maintenance tab to display and edit reagent and reagent lot information, monitor
WalkAway instrument dispense pressure, and select WalkAway commands to perform WalkAway
instrument maintenance tasks.

System overview
The following table describes the key features and components of this window.
WalkAway Monitor - Maintenance tab

Reagents box
This box displays the reagent lot information table.
• Reagent
In-use reagents are displayed by WalkAway bottle number.
• Purge
Select one or more check boxes to purge specific reagents. Purging only occurs when
(1) you click the Purge selected reagents in the WalkAway Commands box.
Note that Purge check boxes are read-only when the reagent is mineral oil.
• Lot
Displays current reagent lot information.
• Add
Click to display the Lot Information - Reagent list window. Use this window to add
new reagent lot information.
Access request controls

(2) Provides preset maintenance access sessions. Click Access to request maintenance, and
then click a maintenance duration button.
WalkAway Dispense Pressure box

(3) This box displays the current WalkAway instrument reagent dispense pressure and displays
the normal/expected range as a reference.
WalkAway Commands box

This box includes the following options for performing WalkAway instrument maintenance
tasks:
• Position instrument for shield cleaning
• Position instrument for reference cleaning
(4) • Pressurize dispense system
• Depressurize dispense system
• Purge selected reagents
• Purge Oil
Note that you must request maintenance access before you perform any instrument
cleaning or reagent replacement activities

System overview
About the WalkAway Bar Codes window
The WalkAway Bar Codes window displays the test group orders for WalkAway processing.
Use this window to create and print bar codes for each panel. Patient panel orders always display
before QC panels. QC panels appear in blue text.
How bar codes are used in LabPro software

When LabPro software receives new WalkAway panel orders, each panel appears in the
WalkAway Bar Codes window.
When the panel orders are complete (all required isolate information has been received or
entered), you can print bar code labels and affix them to the panels during panel setup.
After loading the panels into the instrument, the barcode scanner reads each barcode to identify
the specimen/lot, isolate, and panel type.
If a patient order is transmitted from the LIS without an isolate or test group, you must enter the
isolate or test group manually in the Patient Order Entry window.
About the WalkAway Bar Codes window

System overview
WalkAway Bar Codes window

Data menu
(1) Click this menu item to select Print, Reprint, Update status, Refresh, Previous, Next, and
Close options. These options are also provided on the toolbar.
This toolbar includes these tools:

• Print
Click this option on the toolbar to print the bar codes that are listed in the Bar codes table.
• Reprint
Click this option on the toolbar to reprint the most recently printed bar code label.
• Refresh
(2)
Click this option on the toolbar to refresh the Bar codes list.
• Previous selection, Next selection
Click this option on the toolbar to move to the previous or next item in the Bar codes list.
• Delete
Select an item in the Bar codes list, and then click this option on the toolbar to delete the
item.
Bar codes
(3) Displays the current list of bar codes to be printed.
Patient Isolate Detail box

Displays Isolate, Organism, Family and Additional Test information for the selected specimen in
the Bar codes list.
(4) The Test Group/Status table displays the test group and processing status for the selected
specimen in the Bar codes list.
The QC Isolate Detail box displays QC Isolate, Received date, and QC strain information for the
selected specimen in the Bar codes list.

System overview
WalkAway instrument technical specifications
*Applies to all WalkAway instruments unless otherwise noted.
The following information applies only to WalkAway Plus and DxM WalkAway instruments and
not to the LabPro computer system or printers.
Physical
Dimensions WalkAway-40 Plus and DxM 1040 WalkAway:
29" H X 38.5" W X 34" D (74 cm X 98 cm X 86 cm)
WalkAway-96 Plus and DxM 1096 WalkAway:
37" H X 38.5" W X 34" D (94 cm X 98 cm X 86 cm)
Weight WalkAway-40 Plus: 364 lbs (166 kg)

DxM 1040 WalkAway: 376 lbs. (171 kg)
WalkAway-96 Plus: 398 lbs. (181 kg)
DxM 1096 WalkAway: 410 lbs. (186 kg)
Color WalkAway-40 Plus and WalkAway-96 Plus: two-tone gray

DxM 1040 WalkAway and DxM 1096 WalkAway: white with gray
trim
Interface connector RJ45 carrying RS232 protocol
Power requirements
Removable Power Cord • 3-conductor, 14 AWG Shielded (100/120V), NEMA Type 5-
15P/IEC 60320 type C14 (included - US and Japan only)
• 3-conductor, 16 AWG Shielded (220/230/240V)
(optional - outside US and Japan)
Line voltage 100V/120V/220V/230V/240V AC selected by internal jumpers
Line frequency 50/60 Hz 5%
Line current 9A (Nominal) 11A (Maximum) for 100/120 VAC operation; 4.5A
(Nominal) 5.5A (Maximum) for 220/230/240 VAC operation
Power loss protection Circuitry provided to ensure fail-safe operation.

Power interruption does not result in a hazard.
System automatically restarts.
Heat generation 3400 BTU/hr

System overview
Required Laboratory Environmental Conditions

Temperature (operating) 15° to 27° C (59° to 80.6° F)
Humidity 30 to 80% RH (no condensation)
Safety Requirements
Instrument safety information and See the MicroScan Instrument Safety Guide for current safety
Safety compliance standards information. See the Beckman Coulter website for safety
compliance certificates.
Overcurrent Protection
Fusing Primary fuses F1 and F2, IEC (5 x 20 mm size) time lag/slow blow
type, 250V rated, 12A (100/120V)/6.3A (220/230/240V)
Light Source
Lamp specifications (All WalkAway • Tungsten-Halogen Lamp, 50W, 12V
systems) • Tungsten-Halogen Lamp, T2-½, 15W, 10.5V
Performance
Panel Capacity WalkAway-40 Plus and DxM 1040 WalkAway:
40 MicroScan panels with 96 wells each of any type compatible
with the incubator environment—up to 8 panel towers with 5
panels each
WalkAway-96 Plus and DxM 1096 WalkAway:
96 MicroScan panels with 96 wells each of any type compatible
with the incubator environment—up to 8 panel towers with 12
panels each
Incubation Temperature Stability ±1° C
Reagent Type Capacity 10 reagents total
Reagent Dispense Volume (µl) 15 to 90, depending on reagent dispensed and panel type
Oil Dispense Volume (µl) 60 to 150
Panel Types Accommodated All currently manufactured 96-well panels

NOTE: All WalkAway instruments cannot process panels whose
MIC wells have been supplemented with HTM broth.
Operator interface
Operator Interface Front panel controls and PC keyboard, monitor, mouse, and
LabPro software
Display 2-line, 20-character alphanumeric vacuum fluorescent display

System overview
Temperature Control
Set by computer at 35° C ±1° C
Bar code
Code 39
External water specifications

• Recommended use of Millipore® AFS-8 system
• Pressure must be 3 to 20 PSI with a maximum rate of 8 liters
per hour


3
Startup-Shutdown
• Starting up the WalkAway instrument (page 76)
• Shutting down the WalkAway instrument (page 77)

Startup-Shutdown
Starting up the WalkAway instrument
This topic describes how to start up the WalkAway instrument and LabPro software.
Procedure
To start up the WalkAway instrument:
1. Press the power switch on the side panel of the WalkAway instrument. When power is on, the
power indicator light turns green.
During startup, the WalkAway performs a system calibration and scans the barcodes for any
panels it detects in the panel towers. Startup takes approximately 90 seconds.
2. Turn on the LabPro computer and monitor.
3. Start LabPro software.
4. Turn on the report printer. For paper loading instructions, see your printer manual.
You can get a printer manual by going to the manufacturer’s website and searching by
printer model number.
5. Turn on the barcode printer. For label loading instructions, see the barcode printer manual,
which is included with your WalkAway instrument.
6. Perform the necessary instrument maintenance.
CAUTION
Allow the instrument to warm up for at least 1 hour before processing panels.

Startup-Shutdown
Shutting down the WalkAway instrument
To shutdown the WalkAway instrument:
1. Make sure the WalkAway instrument is not currently reading panels or adding reagents to
panels. Listen for the typical mechanical sounds that accompany these processes.
2. Press the power switch on the side of the instrument.
When the power goes off, the green indicator light turns off.
CAUTION
If you are shutting down the WalkAway instrument briefly, wait at least 15 seconds
before starting up the instrument again.


4
Workflow
• Processing panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 80)
• Printing and applying bar codes to samples (page 82)
• Reprinting bar code labels (page 86)
• Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument (page 87)
• Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 90)
• Monitoring instrument and panel status (page 93)
• Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument (page 96)

Workflow
Processing panels in a WalkAway instrument
This topic describes a typical workflow for processing panels in a WalkAway instrument using
LabPro software.
NOTE:
See the LabPro Operator’s Guide for more information about LabPro software.
Enter patient orders into the LIS, or manually enter patient or QC orders in LabPro
software.

Print and apply bar code labels to panels.
See: Printing and applying bar codes to samples (page 82)

Inoculate panels.

Request/receive access to the WalkAway instrument.
See: Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument (page 87)

Load panels into the WalkAway and terminate access.
See: Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 90)

Identify panels (read bar codes) and respond to any bar code read errors.

Workflow
Monitor panel status.

See: Monitoring instrument and panel status (page 93)

Read/process panels and resolve any unread panels.

Request/receive access to the WalkAway instrument.
See: Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument (page 87)

Unload panels and terminate access.
See: Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument (page 96)

Resolve any exceptions or alerts in LabPro software.

Accept results, or abandon, delete, or reorder panels in LabPro software.

Save accepted results in LabPro software.

Print reports and/or transmit panel results to the LIS.

Workflow
Printing and applying bar codes to samples
This topic describes how to:
• Display orders that are part of an exclusive code group.
• Confirm that isolate information is complete for each order.
• Select a sort order to view data in a different order or to print bar code labels in groups based
on the sort order selected.
• Print a separator label to identify each set of printed bar code labels within the selected sort
order.
Setting up for bar code printing

LabPro software only prints bar code labels for the orders you display. You can customize tables
on the WalkAway Bar Codes and Reprint Bar Codes windows to:
• Include specific columns of information.
For example, you can include exclusive Source and Character code groups.
• Use column filters to show a subset of the available WalkAway orders.
For example, you can filter data in the Source Group column by workbench or filter data in
the Bench Groups column by patient last names within a specified range of characters, such
as A-H.
• Specify a printing order.
For example, you can sort by panel type. LabPro software starts printing bar code labels for
the first panel type, then the second panel type, etc.
• Print separator labels to quickly identify the bar code labels for each category within the
selected sort order.
For example, select an ascending sort order in the Panel Type column, and then select the
panel type filters. LabPro software prints a separator label and set of bar code labels for each
selected panel type.

Workflow
Viewing and filtering orders by exclusive code groups

To view and filter orders by exclusive code groups:
1. Make sure the exclusive source, ward, or character code groups you want to use to filter
column data exist in the Code Groups table.
2. On the LabPro Command Center, click WalkAway Bar Codes.
The Ø symbol next to a panel indicates that additional isolate information is required.
3. In the WalkAway Bar Codes window, unhide the column or columns associated with the
exclusive code group (for example, Source Group, Ward Group, and Bench Group
columns).
4. In the code group column header, click the Filter arrow and then select one or more check
boxes to filter the data in that column.
To sort orders by patient last name, in the Bench Group column, select character ranges (for
example, A-H).
5. Select filters in other columns if needed.
Testing the isolate information

The symbol Ø next to a panel indicates that additional isolate information is required. If the Ø
column does not contain Ø symbols, skip this procedure.
To confirm that isolate information is complete (tested):
1. Click the Sort arrow in the Ø column heading to show all orders that need isolate
information.
2. Click the first incomplete panel to select it and then look at the boxes in the Patient Isolate
Detail area to determine where to enter additional isolate information.
3. If Required displays in a box, type the appropriate information in the box, or click the lookup
button and then double-click an item in the table.
4. Repeat step 2 and step 3 for each incomplete panel on the WalkAway Bar Codes window.
You can click Previous or Next to select the panels in backward or forward sequence.
You can click Refresh at any time to add any recently downloaded panels.
You can right-click the panel, and then click Clear or Delete to clear or delete a panel.
Note that you cannot clear Rapid Fluorogenic panels.

Workflow
Selecting a sort order for separator labels

To select a sort order for separator labels:
1. In the WalkAway Bar Codes window, click the column header to display the Sort arrow.
2. Click the Sort arrow to change the sort order.
Printing bar code labels or the new WalkAway Orders Report

To print bar code labels or the New WalkAway Orders Report:
1. In the WalkAway Bar Codes window, filter and sort data until you see the set of orders for
which you need bar code labels.
• To select a sort order for separator labels, click a column header to display the Sort arrow,
and click the Sort arrow.
Note that you cannot print separator labels when the selected sort order is:
Specimen/Lot #, Isolate, Collect Date, Received Date, or QC.
2. Click Print.
3. In the Print dialog box, complete any of the following actions:
To Do this
Print bar code labels for all panels Click Bar Codes > Print.
shown on the WalkAway Bar
Codes window
Print separator labels Select the Print Separator bar codes check box and then
click Print.
LabPro software prints a descriptive label and one set of bar
code labels for each category displayed in the selected sort
order column.
Print the New WalkAway Orders Click New WalkAway Orders Report and then click Print.
Report
Test the alignment of a bar code on Click the Alignment Bar Code and then click Print.
a label
The bar code printer prints one bar code label.
If necessary, adjust the bar code labels in the printer and print
another alignment label until the bar code is aligned on the
label.
4. Click Close to return to the WalkAway Bar Codes window. Orders remaining on the
WalkAway Bar Codes window are new or need additional isolate information.

Workflow
Affixing bar code labels to MicroScan panels

Affix the bar code labels before inoculating the panels.
To affix bar code labels to MicroScan panels:
1. Hold the panel with the MicroScan logo on the right side facing you.
2. Affix the bar code label securely to the long side of the panel facing you and the MicroScan
logo. Make sure the label is upright and the bar code is centered to the panel.
Note that the MicroScan logo is on the top of the panel.
CAUTION
Do not extend the bar code label beyond the top edge of the panel. If any part of
the label extends over the top of the panel, the WalkAway instrument might jam.
3. Repeat this procedure for all panels to be processed in a WalkAway instrument.

Workflow
Reprinting bar code labels
This topic describes how to reprint bar code labels that were damaged or printed incorrectly.
LabPro software reprints bar code labels for selected specimens only and does not reprint all
specimens displayed on the Reprint Bar Codes table. However, you can customize columns, select
a sort order, and use filters to display a subset of the available information on the Reprint Bar
Codes window.
Procedure
To reprint bar code labels:
1. In the WalkAway Bar Codes window, click Reprint Bar Codes.
2. Do the following as needed:
To Do this
Sort the panels differently Click the Specimen/Lot #, Panel Type, or Print Date column
header to select the sort order.
Or
Right-click anywhere in the list and then click Sort.
Patient panels always appear before QC panels.
Print an alignment bar code label Click Align.

The bar code printer prints one bar code label. If necessary,
adjust the bar code labels in the printer and then print another
alignment label until the bar code is aligned on the label.
3. Reprint bar code labels as needed.
To reprint Do this
One bar code label Click the appropriate panel and then click Print.
Multiple bar code labels Press Ctrl + click on each panel and then click Print.
Bar code labels for all panels on the Right-click anywhere in the list and then click
Reprint Bar Codes dialog box Select All > Print.
4. When finished, click Close.

Workflow
LabPro software removes a panel from the Reprint Bar Codes dialog box when the
WalkAway instrument begins processing the panel or if the panel is abandoned.
Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument
Before you can load or unload panels, you must request access to avoid interrupting scheduled
activities.
If the instrument is performing time-critical activities, LabPro does not grant access immediately.
You can wait for access or cancel the request.
• Use the Quick Access procedure if you need no more than three minutes to load or unload a
small batch of panels.
• If you need to perform maintenance procedures, request access using the LabPro
Maintenance tab.
Requesting quick access to the instrument

Quick Access is not available while the WalkAway instrument scans bar code labels. If the system
is unlocked for more than the allotted time, an alarm sounds. If you need more time, you should
request access using the LabPro Maintenance tab.
To request Quick Access to a WalkAway instrument:
1. On the front panel of the WalkAway instrument, press the Quick Access button
(lock symbol).
• If Quick Access is not granted immediately, the instrument doors do not unlock and the
LED light at the right of the panel access door remains red. The instrument status displays

Workflow
Unable to Access at This Time. Wait a few minutes and then retry Quick Access or request
access through LabPro software.
• If Quick Access is granted, the instrument doors unlock and the LED light turns green.
The WalkAway Monitor instrument status displays the message ACCESS TIME
UNKNOWN. This means that you can access the instrument until you choose to lock the
doors again. The instrument, however, beeps after about 2 1/2 minutes to indicate that
one or any of the doors are not locked.
2. When the instrument doors unlock, open the panel access door on the front of the WalkAway
instrument.
3. Load or unload panels.
Requesting WalkAway instrument access using LabPro Software

To request instrument access using LabPro:
1. On the WalkAway Monitor, click the WalkAway Status, Load Status, or Exception Status
tab. Do not click the Maintenance tab.
2. Under Access, click the number of minutes required for access (1, 5, 15, or 30) and then click
Access.
• If access is not granted, the instrument doors do not unlock and the LED light at the right
of the panel access door remains red. The Access area displays a message and counts
down the time you must wait for access. After the time counts down to zero, the
instrument doors unlock. If you decide not to wait, click Cancel.
• If you requested 30 minutes and access was not granted, try a shorter time interval
(for example, 5 or 15 minutes).
• If access is granted, the instrument doors unlock and the LED light turns green.
The Access area in the LabPro Maintenance tab displays a message and counts down the
time available for access.
3. When the instrument doors unlock, open the panel access door on the front of the WalkAway
instrument.
4. Load or unload panels.

Workflow
Terminating access and locking the door

To terminate access and lock the door, complete one of the following actions:
• Press the Quick Access button on the front control panel.
• In the WalkAway Monitor, click Lock Door.
If you do not terminate access to the WalkAway instrument before the allotted time expires,
the WalkAway Monitor displays the ACCESS OVERTIME message in the Access area.
Quickly close any opened instrument doors and then press the Quick Access button or click
Lock Door to terminate access.
If you terminate access without closing all instrument doors, the front panel display on the
WalkAway displays the message PLEASE CLOSE THE DOORS with an audible alarm.
Close any door that is open and then press the Quick Access button or click Lock Door to
terminate access.

Workflow
Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument
This topic describes how to load panels into a WalkAway instrument.
NOTE
Use this procedure when using a WalkAway instrument with LabPro software.
See the LabPro Software Operator’s Guide for more information about LabPro software.
See Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument (page 96) for more information about
unloading processed panels.
Before you begin

Make sure that access to the instrument is granted.
Procedure
To load panels into a WalkAway instrument chamber:
1. On the WalkAway instrument control panel, confirm that the tower facing the panel access
door has empty or available slots.
If necessary, close the panel access door, press the Tower Rotation Forward button or the
Tower Rotation Reverse button to position a tower with empty or available slots. When you
press a rotation button, the doors lock, the towers rotate, and then the doors unlock.
2. When the instrument doors unlock, open the panel access door.

Workflow
3. Check the red LED light at the right of each tower slot.
If Then
The red light is blinking The slot contains a completed, aborted, or abandoned panel.
You can unload the panel from this slot.
The red light is ON (solid) The slot is empty
The red light is OFF The slot contains a panel in process.
WARNING
If you open the panel access door and the LED status lights next to the tower
slots are flashing at a very fast rate, the door sensor might have failed to detect
that the door is open. Close the door, turn off the instrument, wait at least 15
seconds, and then turn on the instrument again. If the lights are still flashing,
contact Customer Technical Support.
4. Hold a panel with the tray lid so the bar code label is facing away from you.
5. Carefully and evenly insert the panel into a tower slot, aligning the lid with the tower slot
cut-outs.
6. Gently slide the panel and lid forward until the lid drops into place.

Workflow
CAUTION
Make sure the lid drops into place. A panel jam occurs if the lid is not properly
seated in the tower slot.
7. Repeat this procedure for each panel to be loaded into a WalkAway instrument. You might
need to open and close the panel access door and rotate the towers several times.
8. When you are finished loading panels, press the Quick Access button on the instrument
control panel or click Lock Door on the WalkAway Monitor to close and lock the door and
terminate access.
If you do not terminate access to the WalkAway instrument before the allotted time expires,
the WalkAway Monitor displays the ACCESS OVERTIME message in the Access area.
Close and lock any opened instrument doors to terminate access.
About moving panels

If a panel has a valid bar code and is not set up in LabPro software to have an ID to the WalkAway,
you can move such a panel in process to another slot in the same tower, or a different tower
within the same WalkAway instrument (for example, you want a tower to contain only panels still
being processed). You should move the panel before terminating instrument access.
If you remove the panel from a tower slot and do not replace it before terminating access, LabPro
software displays a Panel missing exception. You can resolve the exception by placing the panel
into any tower slot.
IMPORTANT
Do not move a panel that has only an ID to the WalkAway. Doing so results in Bar Code errors,
which must be resolved manually to continue to read the panels.

Workflow
Monitoring instrument and panel status
This topic describes how to monitor instrument and panel status using the WalkAway Monitor.
NOTE
See the LabPro Software Operator’s Guide for more information about LabPro software.
The WalkAway Monitor should remain open during operation. Check the WalkAway Selection
Center and WalkAway Monitor periodically to identify and resolve errors promptly.
Determining panel status

You can use panel graphic colors and symbols on the WalkAway Status, Load Status, and
Exception Status tabs to quickly identify panel status and panel processing errors, alerts, and
exceptions.
To determine panel status:
1. In the WalkAway Monitor, click the WalkAway Status, Load Status, or Exception Status
tab.
2. Choose one of the following options:
To Do this
Display the panels in one Click the WalkAway instrument selector button at the top of the
instrument on the WalkAway WalkAway Monitor that displays the instrument name and
Status tab serial number.
QC panel details display in blue type.
Display details for a specific Click the panel tower/slot location to display patient
panel demographics, panel details, alerts, and exception messages on
the Panel Information tab.

Workflow
To Do this
Display panels in all instruments 1. Click the Load Status or Exception Status tab.
2. Make sure the Status and Exceptions columns are displayed.
3. Select filters in the WalkAway column to show specific
Display specific panels in 1. Click the Load Status or Exception Status tab.
selected instruments 2. Make sure the Status and Exceptions columns are displayed.
3. Select filters in the WalkAway column to show specific
4. (Optional) Select a sort order and other column filters to
display a specific set of information.
3. Use the following color codes to:
• identify panels that require action.

• identify panels that you can remove from the instrument.
You can click Legend in the WalkAway Monitor to display a legend of panel graphic colors
and symbols.

Workflow
Panel processing status Actions required
(1) No Data No action is necessary.
No action is necessary.
(2) Hold You can review, edit, and store partial results
and continue WalkAway processing for all
panels.
You can unload the panel from the instrument

Complete with Exceptions or at any time. Use the Exception Status tab to
(3) Aborted identify and resolve exceptions, including
those for aborted panels.
Unload the panel from the instrument at any

(4) Complete without Exceptions
time.
Unload the panel from the instrument at any

(5) Abandoned by User
time.
Panel processing exception Description

Instrument cannot read bar code on panel for one of
the following reasons:
• Bar code print quality is poor or bar code is not
Bar Code Read Error bold enough.
(6)
• Bar code might have been applied improperly.
• No bar code was applied to panel.
• Bar code reader is not functioning properly.
Panel processing exceptions or alert messages (based

on alert rules) need to be resolved.
(7) Exceptions or Alerts Exist Depending on the exception, resolve the exception or
alert immediately or when the panel has finished
processing.
One of the following conditions exist and the error

requires your immediate attention:
• A WalkAway panel has results that meet the
(8) Unreviewed Critical Alerts Exist conditions defined by an alert rule with a Critical
priority.
• A panel interpretation changed after it was printed
on a Chartable Report or transmitted to a IS.
A Very Rare Biotype, Low Probability ID, or Indole

Required exception exists and must be resolved
(9) Time-Critical Exceptions Exist immediately to continue panel processing.
This error applies only for Synergy panels.
(10) Manually Identified This error was manually identified by the operator.

Workflow
If a panel graphic is yellow (Hold) or red (Complete with exceptions or aborted) and includes
any of the error symbols, the following occurs in the WalkAway Monitor:
• Alerts or exceptions that require immediate action display a red WalkAway instrument
icon and a Check Status message on the WalkAway Selector button.
• Symbols appear on panel graphics, an error displays in the Error conditions box,
and exception messages appear in the Exceptions box.
4. Double-click a panel graphic (or anywhere in a row) to display results in the
Results Summary and Edit dialog box.
Unloading panels from the WalkAway instrument
This topic describes how to unload panels from the WalkAway instrument.
NOTE
See the LabPro Software Operator’s Guide for more information about the LabPro software.
See Loading panels in a WalkAway instrument (page 90) for more information about loading
panels.
When to unload panels

A panel can be unloaded if the panel status is Complete with or without exceptions, Aborted with
or without stored data, or Abandoned. The blinking red LED light at the right of each tower slot
indicates which panels are ready to unload.
Procedure
To unload panels:
1. Make sure that instrument access is granted.
2. When the instrument doors unlock, open the panel access door.
3. Check the red LED light at the right of each tower slot.

Workflow
If Then
The red light is blinking The slot contains a completed, aborted, or abandoned panel.
You can unload the panel from this slot.
The red light is ON (solid) The slot is empty.
The red light is OFF The slot contains a panel in process.
WARNING
that the door is open.
Close the door, turn off the instrument, wait at least 15 seconds, and then turn
the instrument on again. If the lights are still flashing, contact Customer Technical
Support.
4. Carefully and evenly grasp the panel and panel cover from a tower slot with a blinking
red light.
5. Gently pull the panel and lid toward you until they are completely removed from the
tower slot.
6. Repeat this procedure to remove each complete or abandoned panel in the instrument.
Note that you might have to open and close the panel access door and rotate the towers
several times.
7. When you are finished unloading panels, close and lock the door to terminate access.


5
Maintenance
• WalkAway maintenance workflow (page 101)
• Printing the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report (page 105)
• Requesting maintenance access (page 107)
• Opening the incubator door (page 109)
• Removing the DxM WalkAway work tray (page 112)
• Monitoring the temperature (page 113)
• Maintaining the water level (page 114)
• Cleaning the air (fan) filter (page 116)
• Cleaning the reagent waste funnel (page 120)
• Maintaining the reagent waste bag or waste bottle (page 123)
• Decontaminating the WalkAway instrument (page 129)
• Maintaining optical components (page 130)
• Removing the front tower (page 132)
• Replacing a tower spring (page 134)
• Cleaning the reference disk (page 136)
• Cleaning the fluorometer shield (page 138)
• Checking and cleaning the photodiode shield (page 141)
• Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate (page 144)
• Maintaining the reagent dispense system (page 147)
• About reagent bottles (page 149)

Maintenance
• Removing a reagent bottle (page 151)
• Inspecting reagent bottles (page 158)
• Cleaning the reagent adapter (page 161)
• Replacing the draw straw assembly (page 171)
• Replacing the reagent bottle adapter (page 175)
• Maintaining gaskets (page 180)
• Replacing reagents (page 186)
• Updating reagent lot numbers (page 189)
• Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190)
• Checking the reagent dispense lines and cleaning dispense tips (page 191)
• Maintaining the oil dispense system (page 194)

Maintenance
WalkAway maintenance workflow
This topic lists daily and periodic WalkAway instrument maintenance tasks.
You must request maintenance access before you begin maintenance procedures.
See Requesting maintenance access (page 107) for more information.
Always wear PPE as defined by your laboratory policies when working with the instrument.
Daily maintenance
Complete daily maintenance procedures in the following sequence.
CAUTION
Do not perform any maintenance procedures while panels are being read. If you
perform maintenance tasks after the initial read and before the final read, the panel
results might be inaccurate.

Maintenance
Print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report.

Check the instrument temperature.

Check the water LED indicator and fill, if necessary.

Check the LED indicators for reagent and fluid levels and replace or refill, if necessary.

Check the reagent dispense pressure and purge dispense lines if necessary.

Check the reagent dispense lines and clean dispense tips.

Clean the reagent waste funnel.

Inspect the waste bottle/bag and replace if necessary.

Check the oil level.

Check the oil level indicator and replace or refill the oil bottle, if necessary.

Purge the oil line if necessary.

Maintenance
Clean the reference disk and fluorometer shield.

Check the photodiode shield and diffuser plate and clean if necessary.

Clear the unread panel list.
CAUTION
If the WalkAway instrument has been idle for three or more days, you must purge the
oil line and the reagent lines to ensure that oil and reagents are properly dispensed
into the panels.
Periodic maintenance
Perform the following maintenance tasks each week:
Clean the photodiode shield.

Clean the diffuser plate.

Optimize the database.

Restart the LabPro computer (optional).

Maintenance
Perform the following maintenance tasks each month:
Check and clean air intake filter.

Replace reagent manifold gaskets.

Restart the LabPro computer.

Maintenance
Printing the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report
*Applies to all WalkAway instruments unless otherwise noted.
This topic describes the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report, how to interpret the report data, and
how to print it.
About the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report

The WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report provides internal diagnostic checks, a maintenance
checklist, colorimetric and fluorometric calibration values, and environmental status.
The report provides a result (OK or Failed) for each diagnostic test and underlines calibration or
environmental values that are out of specification. The panel detection system is functioning
properly when the status is Enabled and not functioning properly when the status is Disabled.
The internal diagnostic checks reflect the most recently available status. All colorimeter,
fluorometer, and environmental status information appear on the lower half of the report.
This information is based on the last instrument calibration.
When to print a report

Print a WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report at least daily to verify and document that the
instrument is working properly before evaluating patient specimens.
You should document any corrective measure(s) you perform for each failed result.
Before you print

If you are reprinting the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report after troubleshooting the instrument,
turn off the instrument, wait at least 15 seconds and then turn it on again to force calibration.
This action updates the information on the report. Do not print the QC Diagnostics Report until
all bar codes have been read and calibration is complete.
If you have two configured WalkAway instruments, select the appropriate instrument in the
LabPro WalkAway Monitor.
To select an instrument, in the LabPro WalkAway Monitor, in the WalkAway Selection Center,
click the instrument name.

Maintenance
Printing the report

Printing the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report does not initiate calibration. The report shows only
the instrument status from the previous calibration.
To print a WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report:
1. In the LabPro WalkAway Monitor, click Print > QC Diagnostics Report, and then complete
one of the following actions:
• Click Print Preview to view the report before you print.

• Click Print to print the report.
2. Review the report.
If the report identifies any problems, perform the appropriate maintenance and corrective
actions, calibrate the instrument again, and reprint the report.
Calibrating the WalkAway instrument

The WalkAway instrument automatically calibrates at start up and prior to reading panels if it has
not calibrated in the previous hour.
Calibration also occurs:
• after an emergency halt or a colorimetric or fluorometric system failure.
• when you manually shut down and start up the instrument during maintenance or
troubleshooting.
The calibration values should remain fairly stable from day to day (±10%). Fluctuations could
indicate a dirty shield or diffuser plate, or a component failure.
To calibrate the WalkAway instrument:
1. Shut down the instrument and then wait at least 15 seconds.
2. Restart the instrument.
When the instrument is shut down, the WalkAway Monitor displays Check status and a
communication error. When the instrument is restarted, the instrument status is Busy and all
other WalkAway Monitor functions are unavailable until the instrument has finished
scanning the towers and calibrating.
MORE INFORMATION
General WalkAway instrument issues (page 209)

Maintenance
Requesting maintenance access
This topic describes how to request access to the WalkAway instrument for maintenance.
If the instrument is performing time-critical activities, LabPro software does not grant access
immediately. You can wait for access or cancel the request. When access is granted, the
instrument doors (panel access door, incubator door, and reagent drawer) unlock. Note that the
incubator door is sometimes called the service hatch in some technical literature.
Before you begin

Before performing daily maintenance on the instrument, print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics
Report to identify any special maintenance requirements.
Requesting maintenance access

To request maintenance access:
1. In the LabPro WalkAway Monitor, click the Maintenance tab.
If you have two configured WalkAway instruments, select the appropriate instrument in the
LabPro WalkAway Monitor.
To select an instrument, in the LabPro WalkAway Monitor, in the WalkAway Selection

Center, click the instrument name.
2. In the Access area, click the number of minutes required for access (1, 5, 15, or 30) and then
click Access.
If access is granted:
• The instrument doors unlock and the LED light at the right of the panel access door turns
green.
• The Access area displays a message and counts down the number of minutes and
seconds available for access.
• The WalkAway Monitor instrument status displays the message Accessed.
If access is not granted:
• The instrument doors do not unlock and the LED light at the right of the panel access
door remains amber.
• The Access area displays a message and counts down the number of minutes and
seconds that you must wait for access. Click Cancel to cancel the access request.
• After the time counts down to zero, the instrument doors unlock.

Maintenance
3. When access is granted and the instrument doors unlock, open the appropriate instrument
doors on the WalkAway instrument.
WARNING
that the door is open. Close all instrument doors, turn off the instrument, wait
at least 15 seconds, and then turn on the instrument again. If the lights continue
to flash when the panel door is open, contact Customer Technical Support
4. When finished with maintenance, close and lock the doors to terminate access.
Terminating maintenance access

To lock the doors and terminate maintenance access, complete one of the following actions:
• Press the Quick Access button on the front control panel.
• In the WalkAway Monitor, click Lock Door.

Maintenance
About allotted access time

If you do not terminate access to the WalkAway instrument before the allotted time expires, the
WalkAway Monitor Access area displays the message ACCESS OVERTIME. Close any opened
instrument doors, and then lock the doors to terminate access.
If you terminate access without closing all instrument doors, the front panel display on the
WalkAway displays the message PLEASE CLOSE THE DOORS with an audible alarm. Close any
door that is open, and then press the Quick Access button or click Lock Door to terminate
access.
Opening the incubator door
This topic describes how to open the WalkAway instrument incubator door to access the
instrument interior components and perform maintenance tasks.
Procedure
To open the incubator door:
1. Request maintenance access to the instrument.

2. When access is granted and the instrument doors unlock, open the incubator door.
3. On the WalkAway Plus, pull the recessed handle on the lower-right corner of the incubator
door to open the door.

Maintenance
On the DxM WalkAway, pull the recessed handle on the middle-right area of the incubator
door to open the door.

Maintenance
4. When finished with maintenance, close and lock the doors to terminate access.
See Terminating maintenance access (page 108) for more information.

Maintenance
Removing the DxM WalkAway work tray
This topic describes how to remove the work tray in the DxM WalkAway instrument.
To remove the work tray:
1. Pull out the work tray until it is fully extended.
2. Pull both release levers located underneath the front right and left areas of the work tray and
then pull out the work tray.

Maintenance
Monitoring the temperature
The WalkAway instrument displays the internal temperature on the control panel and on an
external thermometer located on the top left corner of the instrument.
Temperature requirement
The instrument temperature must be 35° C ±1° C. The internal temperature displayed on the
control panel and the external thermometer readings must be within ±0.5° C of each other.
When to check
Check the temperature each day, but do not check until the temperature stabilizes.
Temperature stabilization
Allow the instrument temperature to stabilize for one hour after start up or after closing the
incubator door and 30 minutes after closing the panel access door.
Ensuring proper instrument temperature

To ensure proper instrument temperature:
Check the temperature reading on the instrument control panel and on the external
thermometer. The external thermometer is located on the top, left side of the instrument.
A temperature reading that is too high could be the result of a high ambient temperature.
It could also occur if the instrument panel access or incubator door are open for an extended
period of time and the instrument heater is trying to equilibrate.
• If the instrument temperature is too high, ensure that the ambient temperature is less
than 81° F (27° C) and make sure the panel access door has been closed for 30 minutes or
the incubator door has been closed for an hour.
Allow the system to equilibrate for at least an hour and then check the temperature again.
If the temperature is still too high, contact Customer Technical Support immediately.
• If the instrument temperature is too low, make sure the panel access door is closed for at
least 30 minutes, then check the temperature again. If the instrument temperature is still
too low, contact Customer Technical Support.
• If the control panel and external temperature readings are not within ±0.5° C, contact
Customer Technical Support.

Maintenance
Maintaining the water level
This topic describes how to check and refill the sterile distilled or sterile deionized water for the
instrument. Water is used to maintain proper humidity in the instrument chamber.
If you observe a water level low message on the instrument display or out of control humidity
measurements on your daily diagnostics report, you should check the water level before
proceeding to other troubleshooting steps.
Note that water refill procedures are different for WalkAway Plus and DxM WalkAway
instruments.
WARNING
Always wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a laboratory coat when handling
reagents and the reagent dispense system.
Clean up any reagent spills in accordance with the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and
local/state/federal/international waste guidelines.
Reservoir capacity
The water reservoir holds approximately five liters of sterile distilled or sterile deionized water.
The low-level LED indicator illuminates if the water level drops below approximately two liters.
The audible alarm sounds if the water level drops below approximately one liter.
Checking the water level for WalkAway instruments
WARNING
Do not use regular tap water or saline solution to fill the water reservoir. Use only
sterile distilled or sterile deionized water to fill the reservoir.
To check the water level for WalkAway instruments:
1. Request maintenance access to the WalkAway instrument.

2. Check the water level to maintain the humidity in the instrument. The system continues to
process panels even when the humidity is low. However, if the humidity runs out of range, it
might produce incorrect panel results.

Maintenance
• For the WalkAway Plus:

When the LED on the front of the instrument is illuminated, check the water level indicator
inside the reagent drawer. If the interior water level indicator is illuminated, add water.
• For the DxM WalkAway:

When the water level LED is yellow on both the exterior fluid status display panel and the
interior water level indicator, add water to maintain the humidity, which reduces
evaporation.
If the LED on the exterior fluid status display panel is red and when the interior water level
indicator is red, an audible alarm sounds, and the humidifier automatically shuts off until
you add more water.
Adding water
To add water to a WalkAway instrument:
1. Open the reagent drawer.
2. Lift the reagent drawer lid, and locate the water reservoir.
3. Remove the red water fill cap.
4. Refill the water reservoir.
• For the WalkAway Plus:

Pour sterile distilled or sterile deionized water in the fill area until the water level indicator
turns OFF. Pour the water slowly so you do not overfill the reservoir.
• For the DxM WalkAway:

Pour sterile distilled or sterile deionized water in the fill area. The LED on the exterior
status display panel displays a solid green as you fill water, which indicates the water is
sufficient but the water tank might not be full. Continue to fill water until the interior
water level LED flashes red/green. This indicates the water level has reached the maximum
level. Do not overfill the reservoir.

Maintenance
Cleaning the air (fan) filter
This topic describes how to clean the air (fan) filter for WalkAway instruments. This filter is
located at the front of the instrument, under the small panel platform.
When to clean
To keep the air filter clean and in good condition, clean the air filter at least once a month.
Maintenance access is not required to check and clean the air filter.
Required materials
This procedure requires hot water and mild detergent.
Checking the air intake filter in the WalkAway instruments

To check the air intake filter:
1. Locate the air filter cover on the lower-right front of the instrument.
2. Grasp the filter cover and pull it out and away from the front of the instrument.

Maintenance
3. Remove the filter.
4. Examine the filter for discoloration by holding the filter in front of a light.
• If the filter is dirty (not transparent), clean it.

• If the filter appears clogged, order and install a new filter.

Maintenance
Cleaning the air intake filter

To clean the air intake filter:
1. Check the airflow indicator arrows on the sides of the filter for the direction of airflow.
2. Force a mixture of hot water and mild detergent through the filter in the opposite direction
of the air flow.
3. Rinse the filter in the opposite direction of the air flow.
4. Completely dry the filter.
5. Insert the filter into its original position. The airflow arrows around the perimeter of the filter
must point down.

Maintenance
6. Replace the filter cover.

Maintenance
Cleaning the reagent waste funnel
This topic describes how to clean the reagent funnel in WalkAway instruments.
Required materials
• Squirt bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol
• Lint-free cloths
Cleaning the reagent waste funnel in WalkAway instruments

To clean the reagent waste funnel:
1. Lift the dispense head from the waste funnel and then examine the dispense head for
crystallization.
2. Clean the dispense tips with a lint-free cloth soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol and then
examine the waste funnel for residue or crystallization.
3. Clean the waste funnel using a lint-free cloth soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
4. Reseat the dispense head firmly into the waste funnel, making sure that the alignment pin is
seated in the alignment hole on top of the waste funnel.

Maintenance
5. Ensure that the dispense head tubing is seated properly and is not tangled. The following
illustration shows the WalkAway Plus dispense head tubes.

Maintenance
The DxM WalkAway instrument has a cover that conceals the dispense head tubing.
The following illustrations shows the dispense head tubing cover.
See Checking the reagent dispense lines and cleaning dispense tips (page 191) for more
information.

Maintenance
Maintaining the reagent waste bag or waste bottle
This topic describes how to check and replace a reagent waste bag, or remove, empty, and
replace a waste bottle. Waste bags and waste bottles collect reagent waste from the reagent
dispense system. Your system might have one or the other installed.
WARNING
Wear a laboratory coat, gloves, and protective eye wear to remove the reagent waste
bag. Though not a biologic hazard, the contents of this bag are caustic and must be
disposed of according to local regulations.
Replacing a waste bag

If your instrument uses waste bags, there is no level sensing mechanism. Inspect the level in the
bag daily.
To replace the reagent waste bag:
1. After you clean the waste funnel, examine the waste bag. Dispose of the bag when the fluid
level reaches the Max Fill line. Do not allow it to overfill.
2. Remove the full waste bag.

Maintenance
A. Remove the reagent dispense head from the waste funnel. Wipe any remaining reagent
residue from reagent tubes in the dispense head with a lint-free cloth soaked in 70%
isopropyl alcohol.
B. Lift the waste bag off of the waste bag hooks.
C. Remove the waste funnel assembly from the waste bag.

D. Clean the waste funnel assembly with a lint-free cloth soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol.
E. Place a yellow cap on the waste bag and then dispose of the bag according to your
laboratory procedures.
Note that the contents of this bag are considered chemical waste.

Maintenance
3. Install the new bag onto the waste bag hooks.
4. Place the reagent dispense head funnel assembly into the new waste bag.
Emptying a waste bottle in a WalkAway instrument

Waste bottles include a waste level sense probe that detects when the waste bottle is full.
When the bottle is full in the WalkAway Plus, the fluid indicator LED (on the outside of reagent
drawer) and the Waste LED (inside the reagent drawer) illuminate.
When the waste bottle needs to be checked in the DxM WalkAway, the waste level indicator on
the outside of the instrument is yellow.
See Exterior LED fluid status display panel (page 33) for more information.
The following illustration shows the location of the waste bottle.

Maintenance
(1) Dispense head (5) Reagent dispense drawer lid
(2) Waste funnel (6) Alignment pin
(3) Waste level sense probe (7) Alignment hole
(4) Waste bottle (8) Funnel clip
To empty and replace the waste bottle:
1. Lift the dispense head off of the waste funnel and then carefully set aside the dispense head.
Wipe any remaining reagent residue from reagent tubes in dispense head with a lint-free
cloth soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol.
2. Remove the waste level sense probe from the bottle and then set the probe to the side.
3. Plug the open waste level sense hole on the bottle with the provided yellow cap.
4. Place a gloved finger or thumb inside the waste funnel, and carefully release the funnel/
waste bottle assembly from the holding clip by pushing the funnel/waste bottle assembly
away from the drawer.

Maintenance
(1) Funnel
(2) Funnel clip
5. Remove the funnel from the full waste bottle and then plug the open hole on the bottle with
the provided yellow cap for disposal.

Maintenance
6. Dispose of the liquid waste according to your laboratory chemical waste disposal policy.
7. Insert the funnel into a new waste bottle, sit the waste bottle on the platform, and then install
the funnel in the funnel holder clip.
8. Reinstall the waste level sense probe in the waste bottle.
CAUTION
Make sure that the level sense probe assembly is properly placed back in the
waste bottle. Failure to replace the level sense probe results in not detecting the
fluid level in the waste bottle. This can cause the reagent waste bottle to overfill.
9. Reinstall the dispense head in the funnel. Verify that the alignment pin is in the alignment
hole and the dispense head is seated properly.

Maintenance
CAUTION
Before closing the reagent dispense door, replace the reagent dispense drawer
lid if it was removed. Without this lid, excessive light enters the instrument,
interfering with the fluorometric panel reads.
If you are finished with maintenance, lock the doors to terminate access.
Decontaminating the WalkAway instrument
This topic describes how to clean and decontaminate the internal components of the
WalkAway instrument after a panel failure or accidental spill.
If the system hardware unexpectedly fails, a panel handling failure might occur. A panel handling
failure can cause panel contents to spill into the internal components of the system.
You must clean up any spill or splash as quickly as possible to prevent damage to the internal
components of the WalkAway instrument that are not designed for prolonged contact with the
reagents.
Procedure
To decontaminate the instrument:
1. Perform all of the WalkAway instrument optics system cleaning steps.
2. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol as required to thoroughly clean and decontaminate any surface
contacted by the panel contents.
3. Inspect the grabber plate and optics components to ensure the spill has not reached
locations that are not typically cleaned using the optical component maintenance
procedures.
4. If necessary, remove the towers from the system and clean them separately on a nearby
bench, using a lint-free cloth soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
5. If you cannot adequately clean the spill, contact Customer Technical Support for resolution.

Maintenance
Maintaining optical components
This topic describes how to remove and clean optical components in the WalkAway instrument.
The reference disk and shields are integral parts of the WalkAway optical systems and require
careful handling to ensure the instrument reads panels correctly.
You need to remove the front tower of the WalkAway instrument to access the reference disk and
shields.
If your lab does not process fluorogenic panels in the WalkAway instrument, you can disable the
fluorometer to eliminate the need for daily maintenance on the reference disk and fluorometer
shield.
Locations of optical components

The following illustration shows the locations of each component referenced in this topic.

Maintenance
(1) Fluorometer (4) Reference disk
(2) Photodiode shield (5) Fluorometer shield
(3) Diffuser plate
Procedures
Perform the following tasks in sequence.
Requesting maintenance access (page 107)

Opening the incubator door (page 109)

Removing the front tower (page 132)

Cleaning the reference disk (page 136)

Cleaning the fluorometer shield (page 138)

Checking and cleaning the photodiode shield (page 141)

Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate (page 144)

Cleaning the air (fan) filter (page 116)
MORE INFORMATION
See Decontaminating the WalkAway instrument (page 129) for more information about cleaning and
decontaminating the internal components of the WalkAway instrument after a panel failure or accidental spill.

Maintenance
Removing the front tower
Remove the front tower of the WalkAway instrument (the tower facing the panel access door) to
provide access to the reference disk and shields.
WARNING
Before you open the incubator door, make sure the top of the instrument is clear.
Failure to do so can damage the WalkAway instrument.
Procedure
To remove the front tower:
1. Request maintenance access.

2. Open the incubator door.
See Opening the incubator door (page 109) for more information.
3. Completely loosen the saw-tooth hold-down wheel securing the tower to the carousel by
turning the wheel to the left.
4. Lift the front tower up and out of the instrument.

Maintenance
(1) Tower (3) Carousel
(2) Hold-down wheel
If all the towers are not routinely used to process panels, you can permanently remove one
tower to facilitate cleaning the shields and reference disk.
After maintenance access is granted, press the Tower Rotation Forward or Tower Rotation
Reverse button on the front control panel to position the empty carousel slot behind the
panel access door.
5. Open the incubator door, and then remove the front tower.

Maintenance
Replacing a tower spring
This section describes how to replace a tower spring. There is a left and right tower spring.
Verify that you are replacing the correct one.
See the following figure and table. Contact Customer Technical Support for part numbers for the
left and right tower springs.
(1) Left tower spring
(2) Right tower spring
Each spring has an open loop and a closed loop. See the following figure and table.
(1) Open loop
(2) Closed loop

Maintenance
Before replacing a tower spring, make sure you are wearing PPE according to your laboratory
policies.
To replace a tower spring:

See Opening the incubator door (page 109) for more information.
3. Completely loosen the saw-tooth hold-down wheel securing the tower to the carousel.
4. Lift the front tower up and out of the instrument.
See Removing the front tower (page 132) for more information.
5. Note the orientation and placement of the tower spring before you replace it.
6. Use needle nose pliers to grip the open loop in the old spring and pull the spring away from
the side of the tower.
7. To install the new tower spring, first verify that you are using the correct left or right tower
spring.
8. Use needle nose pliers to grip the middle of the new spring. Insert the closed loop end of the
tower spring in place and then insert the open circular loop in place.

Maintenance
9. Ensure that the tower spring is flat against the side of the tower.
Cleaning the reference disk
This topic describes how to clean the reference disk.
CAUTION
Cleaning the reference disk between readings can affect results. If possible, clean the
reference disk after the panels are completed or before the initial read.
Procedure
To clean the reference disk:
1. After removing the front tower, make sure all instrument doors are closed.
2. On the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, click Position Instrument for Reference
Cleaning. The doors lock and the instrument positions the read head and grabber plate for
easy access to the reference disk.
3. When the doors unlock, open the incubator door and locate the reference disk.
The reference disk is a glass disk recessed into the grabber plate, toward the rear on the left
side.

Maintenance
If the open tower position is not correct when you open the panel access door, close the door
and press a tower rotation button to position the open tower. The doors temporarily lock as
the carousel rotates into a new position.
4. Clean only the top of the disk using a lint-free applicator wrapped in lens paper and dipped
in lens cleaner.
Only a small amount of cleaner is required. Lightly rub the surface of the disk in a circular
motion.
5. Immediately dry the disk surface using a dry cotton-tipped applicator wrapped in lens paper.
CAUTION
Do not use alcohol to clean the reference disk. Do not allow lens cleaner to dry
on the disk. Always wipe the disk surface dry.
6. Close the panel access door. Continue to the next procedure to clean the fluorometer shield.
If you are finished with maintenance, replace the front tower, close the incubator door, and
lock the doors to terminate access.
7. Wait 30 minutes for the instrument chamber temperature to stabilize before you print the QC
Diagnostics Report. If the incubator door was used to access the instrument chamber, wait 60
minutes before you print the QC Diagnostics Report.
MORE INFORMATION
Printing the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report (page 105)

Maintenance
Cleaning the fluorometer shield
This topic describes how to clean the fluorometer shield.
Procedure
To clean the fluorometer shield:
1. With the front tower removed, make sure all instrument doors are closed.
2. On the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, click Position Instrument for Shield
Cleaning. The doors lock and the instrument positions the read head for easy access to the
shields.
3. When the doors unlock, open the incubator door and locate the fluorometer shield on the
fluorometer.
4. Grasp the right bottom tab on the fluorometer shield and then pull gently until it fully
withdraws. Note that the end of the shield curves upward—remember this position when you
are ready to reinstall the shield.

Maintenance
5. Clean both sides of the shield using lens cleaner and lens paper only.
6. Make sure the shield is completely dry.
CAUTION
Do not use alcohol to clean the fluorometer shield. Do not allow lens cleaner to
dry on the shield. Always wipe the shield surface dry. Reinstall the fluorometer
shield correctly to prevent the instrument from misreading fluorescent panels.
7. Replace the fluorometer shield in its original position and make sure it clicks into place so the
shield does not fall out during instrument operation.

Maintenance
(1) Fluorometer shield (inserted)
(2) Fluorometer shield (before insertion)
8. Keep the incubator door open and then continue to the next procedure to check and clean
the photodiode shield.

Maintenance
Checking and cleaning the photodiode shield
This topic describes how to check and clean the photodiode shield in the WalkAway instrument.
If you have just cleaned the fluorometer shield, go directly to step 4 to check and clean the
photodiode shield. You do not have to request separate maintenance access.
CAUTION
Cleaning the photodiode shield between readings can affect results. If possible, clean
the photodiode shield after the panels are completed or before the initial read.
Handle the shield only by the edges.
Required materials
• Dry lens paper or lint-free tissue
• Lens cleaning solution or 70% isopropyl alcohol
Before you begin

Remove the front tower.
Checking the photodiode shield

To check the photodiode shield:
Cleaning.
3. When the doors unlock, open the panel access door.
4. Locate the photodiode shield. This acrylic plate is located beneath the photodiodes.

Maintenance
• If you are performing a daily check, visually inspect the shield without removing it.
Wipe the lower surface using dry lens paper or a lint-free cloth to remove any dust.
• If you are performing a weekly check, remove it for cleaning.
Cleaning the photodiode shield

To clean the photodiode shield:
1. Rotate the right side of the shield forward and slide the shield to the right to remove it.

Maintenance
2. Clean the shield using lens cleaner and lens paper.
Note that minor scratches on the shield surface do not affect instrument performance.
If you observe large scratches or other damage, you must replace the photodiode shield.
3. Completely dry the shield and then place it back into the instrument.
4. Keep the panel access door open and then continue to the next procedure to check and
clean the diffuser plate. See Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate (page 144) for more
information.

Maintenance
Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate
This topic describes how to check and clean the diffuser plate in the WalkAway instrument.
If you have cleaned the photodiode shield, go directly to step 4 to clean the diffuser plate.
You do not have to request separate maintenance access.
Checking the diffuser plate

To check the diffuser plate:
Cleaning.
3. When the doors unlock, open the panel access door.
4. Locate the diffuser plate above the fiber optic ends.

Maintenance
(1) Diffuser plate
(2) Label
• If you are performing a daily check, visually inspect the shield without removing it.
Wipe the upper surface using dry lens paper or lint-free tissue to remove any dust.
• If you are performing a weekly check, remove the plate for cleaning.
Cleaning the diffuser plate

To clean the diffuser plate:
1. Pull the plate back until it releases from the block.
2. Clean the plate using lens paper and lens cleaner or 70% isopropyl alcohol.
3. Completely dry the shield and place it back into the instrument.
4. With the frosted side down, the label inscription facing up, and the notch on the left, place
the diffuser plate back into the instrument.
Make sure the diffuser plate is resting flat and is not lifted at its right edge. Incorrect
positioning of the diffuser plate might cause incorrect panel readings.

Maintenance

Maintenance
Maintaining the reagent dispense system
This topic describes how to maintain the reagent dispense system. The reagent dispense system
consists of the following components:
• Reagent bottles
• Reagent bottle adapters
• Solenoids
• Dispense lines and tips
• Waste funnel
• Waste bag
WARNING
Always wear protective eye wear, gloves, and a laboratory coat when handling
reagents and the reagent dispense system. Clean up any reagent spills in accordance
with the SDS and local/state/federal waste guidelines.

Maintenance
Reagent dispense system maintenance procedures for WalkAway

instruments
Reagent dispense maintenance includes several procedures. You should perform all reagent
dispense maintenance procedures in sequence every day. You do not have to request
maintenance access to check reagent levels.
Removing a reagent bottle (page 151)

Inspecting reagent bottles (page 158)

Cleaning the reagent adapter (page 161)

Replacing the reagent bottle adapter (page 175)

Maintaining gaskets (page 180)

Cleaning the reagent waste funnel (page 120)

Maintaining the reagent waste bag or waste bottle (page 123)

Replacing reagents (page 186)

Updating reagent lot numbers (page 189)

Maintenance
About reagent bottles
This topic describes reagent bottles and how to use reagents with the WalkAway instruments.
Reagent bottle sizes

WalkAway instruments include 10 reagent bottles in either 30 mL or 60 mL bottle size or a
combination of both 30 mL and 60 mL bottle sizes. You can refill the 30 mL or 60 mL bottles
using the 250 mL bulk size reagents, or replace 30 mL bottles with pre-filled reagent
replacements. Note that some reagents are available only as 30 mL replacement bottles.
Pre-filled 60 mL reagent replacement bottles are not available.
IMPORTANT
In WalkAway Plus instruments, it is recommended to keep the bottles that are provided with
the instrument to use as replacements. Some pre-filled bottles have a limitation of inadequate
sealing when installed on the instrument.
Using reagents in WalkAway instruments

Depending on the panel types used in your laboratory, some of the 10 reagent bottles might not
be used. Any unused bottles must remain in position to maintain the system dispense pressure.

Maintenance
The following table describes what to do if you are only using a reagent occasionally or are not
using one or more reagents in a WalkAway instrument.
If Then
You are using a reagent on an Fill an empty reagent bottle with water and then insert it in place
occasional basis only of the infrequently used reagent.
This ensures that the level sensing circuit is not giving a false low
on an infrequently used reagent.
Note that leaving water in the instrument for long periods of time
can cause unwanted growth of bacteria, fungi, and mold.
You are not using one or more The reagent bottles should remain empty. Contact your service
reagents personnel to disable the level sensing circuit for these unused
reagent positions.
IMPORTANT
DxM WalkAway instruments are shipped with blank cap adapters, which are attached to empty
bottles when a reagent is not used. See DxM WalkAway magnetic sensors (page 57) for more
information about blank cap adapters.
Before you install a pre-filled 30 mL reagent bottle, inspect reagent bottles for damage or size
differences before filling and reinstalling them into the WalkAway instrument. This helps to
prevent potential pressure leaks. See Inspecting reagent bottles (page 158) for more information.

Maintenance
Removing a reagent bottle

This topic describes how to check the level of a reagent bottle and remove a reagent bottle
before you clean the reagent adapter and refill and reinstall the bottles.
WARNING
Make sure the reagent dispense pressure is 0.0 PSI. If the dispense system is
pressurized, on the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, click the De-pressurize
dispense system button. If this button is not available, the system is not pressurized.
Always wear protective eyewear (face shield recommended), gloves, and a laboratory
coat when handling reagents and the reagent dispense system.
Required materials
Lint-free cloths soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Checking the reagent level in WalkAway Plus instruments
To check the reagent level:
2. Open the reagent drawer, lift the reagent drawer lid, and then locate the reagent bottles.
The LEDs on bottle adapters illuminate if less than approximately 25% of the reagent is
remaining. If a reagent level LED is illuminated, refill or replace the reagent bottle.

Maintenance
Checking the reagent level in DxM WalkAway instruments
To check reagent levels in the DxM WalkAway, first view the exterior LED fluid status display panel
on the outside of the reagent drawer. See Exterior LED fluid status display panel (page 33) for
more information. If a reagent is at 5% capacity or less or if it is depleted, an audible alarm
sounds.
If a reagent is low, check the interior LED reagent status indicator for that reagent.
To check the interior LED reagent status indicators:
2. Open the reagent drawer, lift the reagent drawer lid, and then locate the reagent bottles.
When a bottle adapter lever illuminates yellow, you must check the reagent.
If a bottle adapter lever flashes yellow/red, there is 5% or less of the reagent remaining.
If an adapter lever illuminates red, the reagent is depleted. If there is 5% or less of the reagent
left or the reagent is depleted, you must refill or replace the reagent bottle immediately.
See Interior LED reagent status indicators (page 36) for more information

Maintenance
Removing reagent bottle and adapter in WalkAway Plus
To remove the reagent bottle and adapter:
1. Open the reagent drawer and then lift the reagent drawer lid.
2. Lift the reagent adapter lever to its full vertical position to release the reagent bottle and
adapter. Wait a few seconds before removing the adapter from the bottle to prevent reagent
spills on the reagent drawer surface.
3. While lifting the adapter straight up from the bottle, place two fingers on the bottle to
ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.

Maintenance
CAUTION
To avoid a reagent splash, hold the reagent bottle and pull the adapter assembly
upward until the tubing is out of the bottle. When removing the adapter from
the bottle, use a lint-free cloth to prevent any reagent remaining in the draw
straw from dripping on the analyzer.
4. Set the reagent adapter on a lint-free cloth.
5. Lift the reagent bottle out of the reagent holder.
6. Clean the reagent adapter, if necessary. See Cleaning the reagent adapter (page 161) for
more information.

Maintenance
Removing the reagent bottle and adapter in DxM WalkAway
To remove the reagent bottle and adapter:
2. Lift the reagent adapter lever to its full vertical position to release the reagent adapter and
bottle. Make sure the dispense head is properly seated in the waste funnel to drain any
remaining reagent in the tube to the waste funnel. Wait a few seconds before removing the
adapter from the bottle to prevent reagent spills on the manifold.
3. Pull out the reagent assembly attached to the lever and the reagent bottle. Note that there
are no tubes connected to the reagent assembly.
4. Set the reagent adapter and bottle on a lint-free cloth.

Maintenance
5. Hold the bottle and unscrew the reagent bottle from the reagent adapter. Place the reagent
bottle and reagent adapter on a lint-free cloth. Do not use the lever to unscrew the bottle as
it might break the lever.
NOTE:
The DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter has a draw straw assembly that might be
equipped with a filter or a T-connector at the end of the draw straw.
The following illustration shows an example of a draw straw assembly with a filter at its end.

Maintenance
more information.
7. Refill the reagent if necessary. See Replacing reagents (page 186) for more information.
Screw the bottle back into the adapter and then place the adapter and bottle back into the
reagent station.
8. Place two fingers on the reagent adapter and lower the reagent adapter lever to its full
horizontal position to lock the reagent adapter to the manifold.
9. Close the reagent drawer.
The system automatically purges the next time it is pressurized. See Purge the reagent
dispense lines (page 190) for more information.

Maintenance
Inspecting reagent bottles
This topic describes how to inspect reagent bottles for damage or size differences before filling
and reinstalling them into the WalkAway instrument. This helps to prevent potential pressure
leaks.
Inspecting for rim damage and flatness

To inspect reagent bottles for damage:
1. Inspect the bottle rim for damage prior to placing the bottle on the instrument.
Check for imperfections (i.e., chips, cracks, or other irregularities) that can cause air leaks and
impact performance.
2. Discard any bottles with damaged rims.
3. Inspect the rim flatness as follows:
A. For an empty bottle, place the bottle rim-down on a flat surface. The bottle should sit
squarely without any tilt and should not wobble when lightly touched.

Maintenance
B. For a pre-filled bottle, use a tray lid to check for rim flatness. Verify that the lid sits flush
across the top of the bottle. With a gloved finger, press down on the tray lid directly over
the bottle opening to verify flatness.
Inspecting bottle height

In addition to the rim sealing surface, a bottle height variance might affect the ability to make a
tight seal. You can compare reagent bottle heights with another properly sealed reagent bottle
from the reagent dispense system (ideally, the bottle that was shipped with the instrument).
To compare bottle height:
1. Place two bottles on a flat surface.
2. Place the tray lid across both bottles and, using a gloved finger, gently press directly over the
opening of each bottle.

Maintenance
If one bottle is shorter than the other, the tray lid tilts. If this occurs, place the taller bottle on
the instrument.

Maintenance
Cleaning the reagent adapter

This topic describes how to clean the reagent adapter before reinstalling it. The reagent bottle,
reagent adapter and reagent gasket must be cleaned of all dried reagent. If reagents build up on
the bottle, adapter, or gasket, the dried precipitate reduces the ability to create a stable pressure
seal and accurately detect fluid levels.
The process for cleaning the WalkAway Plus is different than the cleaning process for the DxM
WalkAway. Both cleaning processes are included in this section.
Required materials
Lint-free wipes soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol and lint-free towels.
Removing and cleaning reagent bottle and adapter in the

WalkAway Plus instrument
WARNING
Always use lint-free towels and/or wipes when cleaning the reagent system
components. Using towels or wipes that contain lint can damage solenoid valves and
cause excessive amounts of reagents to be released into the waste bag or bottle.
Always wear protective eyewear (face shield recommended), gloves, and a laboratory coat when
handling reagents and the reagent dispense system.
To remove and clean the reagent bottle and adapter:
1. Acquire the required materials.
See Required materials (page 161) for more information.

2. Get Maintenance Access.
After maintenance access is granted, open the reagent drawer.

3. The LED located on top of each bottle adapter illuminates if the bottle has less than
approximately 25% of reagent remaining. If a reagent level LED is illuminated, refill or replace
the reagent bottle.
4. Select the indicated reagent adapter and lift the lever to its full vertical position to release the
reagent bottle and adapter.

Maintenance
5. While lifting the adapter straight up from the bottle, place two fingers on the bottle to
ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.
CAUTION
To avoid a reagent splash, hold the reagent bottle and pull the adapter assembly
upward until the tubing is out of the bottle. When removing the adapter from the
bottle, use a lint-free paper towel to prevent any reagent remaining in the draw
straw from dripping on the analyzer or place the adapter in a spare/extra empty
reagent bottle. Ensure that the adapter assembly is not inverted (turned upside
down), during the cleaning process.
WARNING
Do not remove or bend the level sense probe when removing and/or cleaning
the reagent bottle and/or adapter. The probe is fragile and can break easily.
6. If cleaning, use a lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol to wipe off the remaining
reagent on the draw straw, level sense probe, and adapter. Thoroughly clean the adapter
gasket, adapter, and level sense probe with a lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl
alcohol.
WARNING
If the adapter contains a draw straw with a filter, DO NOT attempt to clean the
I
draw straw filter. If the filter mesh is torn, crystallized reagent or contaminants
can enter the solenoid valve and severely damage it. If the draw straw filter
contains excessive residue or build-up and needs to be replaced,
see Replacing the draw straw assembly (page 171) for more information.

Maintenance
7. Inspect the adapter for buildup of dried reagent.
If there is significant buildup, remove the gasket from the assembly and verify that the
adapter is completely clean. Buildup of dried reagent negatively affects the ability to properly
sense reagent levels. Clean the adapter using lint-free cloths and 70% isopropyl alcohol, if
necessary.
Check the adapter gasket. See Maintaining gaskets (page 180) for more information on how
to remove and replace gaskets.
WARNING
Potassium hydroxide (VP1) can cause crystallization and create a salt bridge from
the bottle, across the adapter gasket and to the level sense probe, which can
cause erroneous level sensing. Check all reagent adapters, gaskets and bottles
weekly and clean as necessary.

Maintenance
8. Set the adapter aside on a lint-free cloth or place the adapter in a spare/extra reagent bottle
while continuing to replace the reagent.
9. Remove the reagent bottle from the system and set it aside.
10. Inspect the rim of the bottle, and remove any dried reagent with a lint free wipe soaked with
70% isopropyl alcohol.
See Inspecting for rim damage and flatness (page 158) for more information.
11. Inspect the reagent bottle for precipitate or particles in the reagent. If you see precipitate or
particles in the reagent bottle, empty and clean the bottle.
12. Refill or replace the reagent, and place the bottle in the correct reagent station in the reagent
drawer. See Refilling and replacing reagent bottles (page 186) for more information.
IMPORTANT
Always verify the reagent lot number prior to filling a bottle. Avoid mixing reagents of
different lot numbers. If using a new reagent lot, dispose of the remaining reagent in
accordance with local policies. Clean with alcohol and dry the bottle, or rinse the bottle
with the new reagent lot before filling the bottle with the new reagent lot. Update the
reagent lot number in the Maintenance tab.
CAUTION
When refilling a bottle, do not fill above the shoulder of the bottle.
Peptidase must be at room temperature so the crystals go back into the solution.
Alpha Naphthol must be reconstituted per the reagent box label instructions.
Using other types of alcohol can cause erroneous instrument reagent
level-sensing and/or incorrect panel identification results. Alpha Naphthol
must be fully dissolved prior to installation.

Maintenance
13. Reinstall the adapter on top of the bottle, and hold the adapter flat while lowering the lever
to the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in
the base holder.
CAUTION
Do not force the bottle adapter lever to the down position. Gently push until the
mechanical stop is reached. Attempting to push the lever past the mechanical
stop could potentially damage the reagent adapter.
14. Repeat steps 3 to 13 for all reagent bottles that need to be cleaned.
15. From the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, check the reagent dispense pressure and
purge the reagent dispense lines.
See Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190) for more information.
16. If a reagent runs empty and a valve runs dry, the solenoid and lines can be purged with
30 mL to 60 mL of 70% isopropyl alcohol and then purged with sterile distilled or sterile
deionized water. This can break up any reagent deposits. If you note that the valve is not
purging normally, contact Customer Technical Support.
CAUTION
If a specific reagent will not be used for more than three days, remove the
reagent from the system and flush the line with alcohol, followed by sterile
distilled or sterile deionized water. This prevents the reagents from remaining
static in the lines and solenoids for extended periods of time.
Cleaning a reagent bottle and adapter in the DxM WalkAway

instrument
WARNING
components. Using towels or wipes that contain lint can damage solenoid valves.

Maintenance
To remove and clean the reagent bottle and adapter:
1. Acquire the required materials.
See Required materials (page 161) for more information.

2. Get Maintenance Access.

3. Open the reagent drawer. When the reagent drawer is open, the LEDs indicate the status of
all reagents.
See Interior LED reagent status indicators (page 36) for more information.
4. Select a reagent, lift the lever to its full vertical position to release the reagent bottle and
adapter. Wait a few seconds before removing the adapter from the bottle to prevent reagent
spills on the manifold gaskets.
5. Take the bottle and adapter to a location where any accidental spills can be easily managed.
Hold the bottle and unscrew the reagent bottle from the reagent adapter. Do not use the
lever to unscrew the bottle as it might break the lever.
CAUTION
After unscrewing the bottle from the reagent adapter, DO NOT place the bottle
and/or adapter inside the reagent drawer. Reagent spills can damage the
instrument.

Maintenance
CAUTION
When removing the bottle from the reagent adapter, some reagent might drip
from the draw straw. Use a lint-free towel to collect any reagent that drips from
the draw straw.
6. Clean reagent adapter components.
The DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter has a draw straw assembly that might be
equipped with a filter or a T- joint modified connector at the end of the draw straw.
The following illustration shows an example of a draw straw assembly with a filter at its end.
(1) Compressed air sealing surface (4) Filter (or T- joint modified connector)
(2) Reagent fluid sealing surface (5) Threads
(3) Draw straw (6) Gasket
• Inspect the areas in the reagent adapter and if necessary, use a lint-free wipe soaked with
70% isopropyl alcohol to carefully clean any component that contains residue or build-up
(except the draw straw filter). DO NOT place anything inside the compressed air hole or
reagent fluid hole when cleaning them.

Maintenance
WARNING
If the adapter contains a draw straw with a filter, DO NOT attempt to clean
the draw straw filter. If the filter mesh is torn, crystallized reagent or
contaminants can enter the solenoid valve and severely damage it. If the draw
straw filter contains excessive residue or build-up and needs to be replaced,
see Replacing the draw straw assembly (page 171) for more information.
• If the gasket is damaged, see Maintaining gaskets (page 180) for more information on
replacing a gasket.
7. Inspect the rim of the bottle and remove any dried reagent with a lint-free wipe soaked with
70% isopropyl alcohol.
See Inspecting for rim damage and flatness (page 158) for more information.
8. Inspect the reagent bottle for precipitate or particles in the reagent. If you see precipitate or
particles in the reagent bottle, empty and clean the bottle.
9. Refill or replace the reagent bottle.
IMPORTANT
Always verify the reagent lot number prior to filling a bottle. It is recommended that you
avoid mixing reagents of different lot numbers. If using a new reagent lot, dispose of the
remaining reagent in accordance with local policies. Clean with alcohol and dry the bottle,
or rinse the bottle with the new reagent lot before filling the bottle with the new reagent
lot. Update the reagent lot number in the Maintenance tab.

Maintenance
CAUTION
Using other types of alcohol can cause erroneous instrument reagent level-
sensing and/or incorrect panel identification results. Alpha Naphthol must be
fully dissolved prior to installation.
10. Hold the bottle and screw the bottle into the reagent adapter. Do not use the adapter lever
to loosen or tighten the bottle from the adapter. This might break the lever.
11. In the reagent drawer, inspect the manifold gaskets for residue build-up or damage.
If necessary, use a lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean the compressed
air hole and/or reagent fluid hole on the manifold.
(1) Reagent fluid hole on manifold
(2) Compressed air hole on manifold
(3) Reagent bottle base (lower area)
You can also remove the gaskets and clean them more thoroughly, if necessary. If the
manifold gasket is deteriorated and must be replaced or you must thoroughly clean the
gasket, follow the steps in Replacing or cleaning a DxM WalkAway manifold gasket
(page 184).
If a reagent has spilled into the reagent bottle base, you must clean the reagent bottles and
the lower area of the reagent bottle base with a lint-free wipe. The previous illustration shows
the location of the manifold gaskets and the reagent bottle base.
12. Make sure the adapter lever is in the full vertical position, and place the reagent adapter and
bottle back into the correct reagent station in the reagent drawer.

Maintenance
13. Lower the reagent adapter lever to its full horizontal position to lock the reagent adapter to
the manifold. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.
14. Repeat steps 4 to 13 for all reagent bottles that you need to refill or clean.
16. The system automatically purges the reagent stations that were refilled or cleaned the next
time it is pressurized. See Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190) for more information.
CAUTION
If a specific reagent will not be used for more than three days, remove the
reagent from the system and flush the line with alcohol, followed by sterile
distilled or sterile deionized water. This prevents the reagents from remaining
static in the lines and valves for extended periods of time.
MORE INFORMATION
• Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190) • Replacing reagents (page 186)

Maintenance
Replacing the draw straw assembly
This section describes how to replace the draw straw assembly (for systems that include a filter at
the end) in WalkAway instruments. Replace the draw straw assembly if the draw straw filter is
damaged or clogged. Sometimes, the adapter fitting in the draw straw assembly might not come
out of the bottle adapter along with the draw straw. In such cases, you can replace only the draw
straw and the filter.
In WalkAway Plus instruments, the length of the draw straw is the same for both the 30 mL and
the 60 mL bottles. In DxM WalkAway instruments, the draw straw for a 60 mL bottle measures
longer than that for a 30 mL bottle.
The draw straw assembly consists of an adapter fitting, the draw straw, and a filter.
(1) Adapter fitting
(2) Draw straw
(3) Filter

Maintenance
Replacing the draw straw assembly in WalkAway Plus instruments
To replace the draw straw assembly in the WalkAway Plus:
1. Request maintenance access. See Requesting maintenance access (page 107) for more
information.
2. Lift the reagent adapter lever to the full vertical position and then raise the adapter from the
bottle. Keep the adapter directly above the bottle so the filter is inside the bottle. Place two
fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.
WARNING
Do not remove or bend the level sense probe when replacing the draw straw
assembly. It is fragile and can break easily.
3. Carefully remove the draw straw and filter from the adapter by gently pulling the draw straw
down. Any excess fluid drains into the bottle. If the adapter fitting stays inside the adapter
when you remove the draw straw and filter, do not try to remove the adapter fitting.
Adapter fittings extend above the gaskets in 60 mL bottle adapters and they are flush with
the gaskets in 30 mL bottle adapters.
(1) Level sense probes
(2) 60 mL bottle draw straw adapter fitting (above gasket)
(3) 30 mL bottle draw straw adapter fitting (recessed below gasket)

Maintenance
WARNING
Do not place any object inside the draw straw filter to try to clean it. If the
filter mesh is torn, crystallized reagent or contaminants can enter the solenoid
valve and damage it.
4. Place the new draw straw and filter into the bottle adapter.
• If the adapter fitting was removed from the bottle adapter when you removed the draw
straw, place the new draw straw assembly into the bottle adapter.
• If the adapter fitting was NOT removed from the bottle adapter, remove the new adapter
fitting from the new draw straw assembly and then install the new draw straw and filter
onto the existing adapter fitting in the bottle adapter.
5. Place the bottle adapter back onto the bottle in the reagent station, and press the lever down
to the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains
firm in the base holder.
6. Purge the reagent station.
Replacing the draw straw assembly in DxM WalkAway instruments
To replace the draw straw assembly in the DxM WalkAway:
1. Make sure that you are wearing PPE per your lab policy.

3. Lift the lever to its full vertical position and then lift the reagent adapter and reagent bottle
out of the assembly. Wait a few seconds before removing the adapter from the bottle to
prevent reagent spills on the manifold gaskets. Do not use only the adapter lever to lift the
bottle as it might break the lever.
4. Set the reagent adapter and bottle on a lint-free cloth.
5. Unscrew the bottle from the reagent adapter.
CAUTION
When removing the bottle from the reagent adapter, some reagent can drip from
the draw straw. Use a lint-free towel to collect any reagent that drips from the
draw straw.

Maintenance
6. Carefully remove the draw straw and filter from the adapter by gently pulling the draw straw
away from the adapter fitting in the adapter.
(1) Draw straw
(2) Filter
(3) Adapter fitting
WARNING
Do not place any object inside the draw straw filter to try to clean it. If the filter
mesh is torn, crystallized reagent or contaminants can enter the solenoid valve
and severely damage it.
7. Remove the new adapter fitting from the new draw straw assembly.
8. Install the new draw straw and filter onto the existing adapter fitting in the bottle adapter.
Make sure to install the correct draw straw since the draw straw lengths are different for the
30mL and the 60mL reagent bottles.
9. Hold the bottle adapter and screw the bottle into the bottle adapter.
10. Place the bottle and bottle adapter back into the reagent station and then press the lever
down to the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle
remains in the base holder.

Maintenance
Replacing the reagent bottle adapter

This topic describes how to replace the reagent bottle adapter.
While the reagent adapter assemblies are designed to perform to specifications for the life of
your instrument, under certain circumstances, it might become necessary to replace the
assembly. Beckman Coulter recommends changing only one adapter at a time.
CAUTION
Consult with your local field service engineer prior to incorporating this practice into
your normal maintenance.
About the reagent adapter in the WalkAway Plus instrument
The following illustration shows the components of the reagent bottle adapter assembly.
(1) Reagent adapter cap (3) Reagent line knurled nut
(2) LED power cable (4) Air line

Maintenance
Replacing the reagent adapter in the WalkAway Plus instrument
To replace the reagent adapter in the WalkAway Plus:
1. Turn OFF power to the instrument and remove the power cord from the instrument.
See Shutting down the WalkAway instrument (page 77) for the complete shutdown
procedure.
2. After system power is off, open the reagent drawer.
3. Lift the reagent drawer lid to access the reagent adapter that you want to replace.
4. Disconnect the LED power cable from the reagent adapter by pressing the button on the top
of the connector and pulling the cable from the adapter.
5. Disconnect the reagent line from the reagent adapter by turning the nut counterclockwise.
6. Disconnect the air tubing by pulling it straight away from the adapter.
7. Lift the adapter lever to its full vertical position.
8. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in the base holder, and then
remove the reagent bottle adapter from the bottle.
CAUTION
When removing the adapter from the bottle, use a lint-free towel to prevent any
reagent drip from the draw straw.
9. Connect the LED power cable to the new reagent bottle adapter.
10. Install the reagent tubing and fully tighten the nut in the reagent bottle adapter.
11. Install the air tubing by pushing the tubing onto the air port.
12. Place the adapter cap with the position label from the old adapter on the new adapter.

Maintenance
(1) Reagent adapter cap
13. Ensure that the bottle contains an appropriate amount of reagent. If the reagent level is low,
see Replacing reagents (page 186) for more information.
14. Re-seat the reagent adapter onto the bottle, lower the lever to its full horizontal position and
then close the reagent drawer.
15. Plug the instrument back in and then turn ON the power.

17. Check the reagent dispense pressure and then manually purge the dispense lines as
necessary. Check for leaks at the reagent adapter nut when the system is pressurized.
WARNING
After replacing a reagent adapter, always check for leaks at the reagent adapter nut
when the system is pressurized. If a leak is not detected, it can lead to a very
significant reagent drawer leak and adversely affect the reagent dispense system.
See Dispense pressure out of range for the WalkAway Plus in WalkAway instrument
display issues (page 203) for more information about troubleshooting air leaks.

Maintenance
Replacing the reagent adapter in the DxM WalkAway instrument
You do not need to turn off power to the instrument for this procedure.
To replace the reagent adapter in the DxM WalkAway:
3. Lift the reagent drawer lid to access the reagent adapter that you want to replace.
4. Lift the reagent adapter lever to its full vertical position to release the reagent adapter and
bottle. Wait a few seconds before removing the adapter from the bottle to prevent reagent
spills on the manifold gaskets.
5. Hold the reagent bottle and pull out the reagent adapter and the bottle.
6. Hold the bottle and unscrew the bottle from the reagent adapter. Do not use only the lever to
unscrew the bottle as it might break the lever.
CAUTION
When removing the adapter from the bottle, use a lint-free towel to prevent any
reagent drip from the draw straw.
7. Ensure that the bottle contains an appropriate amount of reagent. If the reagent level is low,
see Replacing reagents (page 186) for more information.

Maintenance
8. Holding the adapter, screw the bottle onto the new reagent adapter.
9. Insert the reagent adapter and bottle back into the reagent station in the reagent drawer and
then close the reagent drawer. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in
the base holder.
12. Check the reagent dispense pressure. The system automatically purges the next time it is
pressurized. See Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190) for more information.

Maintenance
Maintaining gaskets
This topic describes how to remove, replace and clean a reagent adapter gasket and how to
replace a manifold gasket.
When to replace
Reagent adapter gaskets are replaced during the normal preventive maintenance cycle by your
field service engineer. While the gaskets are expected to perform to specifications for this period
of operation, replacement might be necessary under certain circumstances.
Replace the manifold gaskets each month or if they are damaged or deteriorated so the reagent
dispense system seals properly.
Required materials
Lint-free wipes soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Before you begin

If necessary, complete the following procedures before you attempt to replace an adapter gasket.
Replacing or cleaning the WalkAway Plus reagent adapter gasket
To replace or clean a WalkAway Plus reagent adapter gasket:
1. Remove the draw straw by gently pulling the tube away from the adapter. If the adapter
fitting stays inside the adapter when you remove the draw straw, do not try to remove the
adapter fitting.
2. Using a pair of hemostats, grab the gasket and gently remove it from the adapter.
WARNING
Do not remove or bend the level sense probe when replacing or cleaning the
gasket. The probe is fragile and can break easily.

Maintenance
3. If necessary, thoroughly clean the inner portion of the adapter using hemostats and a
lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Clean the gasket with a lint-free wipe
soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol, if necessary.
4. To replace the gasket, slide the new gasket over the level-sense probe.
5. Position the new (or existing) gasket so the draw straw can be inserted.
6. Firmly press the gasket into position to ensure a good seal against the adapter assembly.
7. Reinsert the draw straw fitting (if it was removed) and then reinsert draw straw.
8. Replace the adapter on the top of the bottle and then hold the adapter flat while pressing
the lever down to the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the
bottle remains in the base holder.
9. Ensure that all bottles are securely in place. Check the reagent dispense pressure and
manually purge the dispense lines, if necessary.

Maintenance
Replacing or cleaning the DxM WalkAway reagent adapter gasket
Clean the reagent adapter gasket every time you add or replace a reagent. Replace the gasket if it
is damaged or deteriorated so the reagent dispense system seals properly.
The DxM WalkAway reagent bottle adapter has a draw straw assembly that might be equipped
with a filter or a T- joint modified connector at the end of the draw straw.
If the draw straw assembly in the adapter gasket is equipped with a filter at its end, you must
remove the draw straw assembly from the reagent adapter to clean the adapter gasket. If the
draw straw assembly is equipped with a T-joint modified connector at its end, you can clean the
adapter gasket without removing the draw straw assembly.
The illustrations in the following procedure show an example of the draw straw assembly with a
filter at its end.
To replace or clean a DxM WalkAway reagent adapter gasket:
1. If the draw straw assembly is equipped with a T- joint modified connector at its end, skip to
step 2.
If the draw straw assembly is equipped with a filter at its end, remove the draw straw by
gently pulling it away from the draw straw fitting. Do not remove the draw straw fitting that
attaches the draw straw to the adapter.
2. Insert hemostats into the two holes in the gasket, and gently remove the gasket from the
adapter.

Maintenance
3. If necessary, thoroughly clean the inner portion of the adapter and/or gasket using
hemostats and a lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
4. Position the new (or existing) gasket so you can insert the draw straw.
Position the new (or existing) gasket properly in the reagent adapter.
5. Firmly press the gasket into position to ensure a good seal against the adapter assembly.
6. If the draw straw assembly is equipped with a T-joint modified connector, continue with
step 7.
If the draw straw assembly is equipped with a filter, reinsert the draw straw.
7. Holding the adapter, screw the bottle into the reagent adapter. Do not use only the lever to
screw the bottle as this might break the lever.

Maintenance
8. Place the reagent adapter and bottle back into the reagent station, and press the lever down
to the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in
the base holder.
9. Ensure that all bottles are securely in place.
11. Check the reagent dispense pressure. In DxM WalkAway instruments, the system
automatically purges the next time it is pressurized. See Purge the reagent dispense lines
Replacing or cleaning a DxM WalkAway manifold gasket
WARNING
components. Using towels or wipes that contain lint can damage solenoid valves and
cause excessive amounts of reagents to be released into the waste bag or bottle.
To replace or clean a DxM WalkAway manifold gasket:
1. Get Maintenance Access. See Requesting maintenance access (page 107) for more
information.
2. Identify the reagent manifold gasket that must be cleaned or replaced. Lift the bottle lever to
its full vertical position. Hold the reagent adapter and the bottle and lift the bottle from the
base. Do not use only the lever to lift the bottle.
If there is excessive residue build up on the manifold gasket, clean it. See step 4.
3. To replace the manifold gasket, identify the gasket to be replaced. Gently lift the gasket away
from the manifold.

Maintenance
(1) Reagent fluid hole on manifold
(2) Compressed air hole on manifold
4. Wipe away any residue build-up around the compressed air hole and/or reagent fluid hole
on the gasket manifold with a lint-free wipe soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
IMPORTANT
The reagent fluid hole gasket can stretch or shrink over time depending on the reagents
used, such as alcohol based reagents. If this gasket is not replaced frequently, the reagent
adapter might fail to seal properly. Replace the reagent fluid hole gasket on the manifold
each month to ensure a proper seal and appropriate WalkAway instrument functionality.
Note that It is not required to replace the reagent fluid hole gasket on the manifold for
blank caps.
5. Insert the new (or existing) gasket on the manifold.
6. Place the reagent adapter and bottle back into the reagent station.
7. Lower the reagent adapter lever to its full horizontal position to lock the reagent adapter to
the manifold. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.

Maintenance
Replacing reagents
This topic describes how to refill and replace reagent bottles.
Before you begin

Complete the following procedures when necessary:
Refilling and replacing reagent bottles

To refill and replace reagent bottles:
2. Remove the reagent bottle and adapter.
3. Refill or replace the bottle.
CAUTION
Use of other types of reagents can adversely affect the performance of your
instrument and panels.
more information.
CAUTION
Using other types of alcohol can cause erroneous instrument reagent level-
sensing and/or incorrect panel identification results. Alpha Naphthol must be
fully dissolved prior to installation.
5. Always verify the reagent lot number prior to filling a bottle. If using a new reagent lot,
update the reagent lot number. See Updating reagent lot numbers (page 189) for more
information.

Maintenance
6. Place the reagent adapter and bottle back into the reagent station.
• On the WalkAway Plus, place the reagent bottle back in the reagent station. Place the
reagent adapter on the bottle and secure the fit by pressing the adapter lever down to
the full horizontal position. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in
the base holder.
The following illustration shows the WalkAway Plus reagent adapter lever being pressed
down.
• For the DxM WalkAway instrument, holding the adapter, screw the bottle into the
reagent adapter and then place the reagent adapter and bottle back into the reagent
station. Place two fingers on the bottle to ensure the bottle remains in the base holder.
Press the adapter lever down to the full horizontal position. Do not use only the lever to
screw the bottle as it might break the lever.
The following illustration shows the DxM WalkAway adapter lever being pressed down.

Maintenance
CAUTION
Do not force the bottle adapter lever to the full horizontal position. Gently push
the lever down until the mechanical stop is reached. Attempting to push the
lever past the mechanical stop could potentially damage the reagent adapter.
7. For the WalkAway Plus instrument, check the reagent dispense pressure and then
manually purge the dispense lines, if necessary.
For the DxM WalkAway instrument, close the reagent drawer. The system automatically
purges the next time it is pressurized. See Purge the reagent dispense lines (page 190) for
more information.
If the dispense pressure is not within the normal range, see the “Dispense pressure out of
range” topic in WalkAway instrument display issues (page 203) for troubleshooting steps.
If a reagent runs empty and a valve runs dry, you can purge the solenoid and lines with 30 mL
to 60 mL of 70% isopropyl alcohol. This can break up any reagent deposits. If you note that
the valve is not purging normally, contact Customer Technical Support.
CAUTION
If a specific reagent is not used for more than three days, remove the reagent
from the system and flush the line with sterile distilled or sterile deionized water.
This prevents the reagents from remaining static in the lines and solenoids for
extended periods of time.

Maintenance
Updating reagent lot numbers
This topic describes how to update reagent lot numbers whenever you introduce a new reagent
lot into the WalkAway instrument. Reagent lot numbers appear on the QC Panel Report.
IMPORTANT
If you replace or refill a reagent bottle with a reagent from a new lot number, you must update
the lot number records.
Procedure
To update reagent lot numbers:
1. On the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, in the Reagents area, type the new lot
number in the Lot Number box to the right of the reagent name.
LabPro automatically saves the lot number.

2. Repeat this procedure for each new reagent lot number.

Maintenance
Purge the reagent dispense lines
This topic describes how to purge the reagent dispense lines. Purge the reagent dispense lines in
the WalkAway Plus instruments only if the reagent bottles have run dry and/or there are air
bubbles in the dispense lines.
In DxM WalkAway instruments, the system automatically purges the next time it is pressurized,
whenever the system senses a status change in the reagent bottle station. However, if the
instrument is powered off and you lift the reagent bottle adapter lever, then turn on the power,
the instrument does not automatically purge. In such cases, you must manually purge the
reagent dispense lines.
Procedure
To purge the reagent dispense lines:
2. Make sure the reagent dispense system is pressurized.
For DxM WalkAway instruments, close the reagent drawer to pressurize the dispense system.
For WalkAway Plus instruments, select the appropriate reagents to purge and verify the
reagent dispense system is pressurized.
If the system is not pressurized, on the Maintenance tab, click Pressurize dispense system.
Confirm that the pressure range is between 2.7 and 3.8 PSI.
If the PSI is outside this range, see WalkAway instrument display issues (page 203) for more
information.
3. When the purge process is complete, click Depressurize dispense system.
4. Verify that the reagent is dispensing properly. See Checking the reagent dispense lines and
cleaning dispense tips (page 191) for more information.
5. Continue to the next reagent dispense maintenance task, if necessary. If you are finished with
maintenance, lock the doors to terminate access.

Maintenance
Checking the reagent dispense lines and cleaning

dispense tips
This topic describes how to check the reagent dispense lines for leaks and how to clean dispense
tips.
Required materials
• Squirt bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol
• Lint-free cloths
Checking the reagent dispense lines in the WalkAway instruments

To check the reagent dispense lines:
2. Ensure that the system is not pressurized; verify in the LabPro Maintenance screen that the
system pressure is 0.0 psi.
For the WalkAway Plus, check the dispense lines and the base of the solenoids for leaks.
The following figure shows the proper layout of the tubing in the WalkAway instrument.

Maintenance
For the DxM WalkAway, lift the reagent drawer lid and check the tubing are filled with
reagents and there are no air bubbles.
If the tubing has air bubbles, do the following to access the reagent dispense lines and check
for leaks:
• Remove all the reagent adapters and bottles.

• Remove the tubing cover by pulling up on the two lift holes located in the middle area
of the tubing cover. The following illustration shows the dispense tubing cover on the
DxM WalkAway. The arrows point to the lift holes.
• Check the dispense lines and the base of the solenoids for leaks.
Cleaning dispense tips in the WalkAway instruments

To clean reagent dispense tips:
1. Lift the dispense head from the waste funnel and examine the dispense head for
crystallization.
2. Floss a lint-free cloth soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol between the dispense tips on the
dispense head.

Maintenance
3. When the dispense head is clean, inspect it to ensure that the reagent dispense tips extend
approximately 1/8 inch beyond the dispense head. If necessary, gently push the lines
through the dispense head to extend the dispense tips.
4. Keep the reagent drawer open and the dispense head removed from the waste funnel and
then clean the reagent waste funnel.
See Cleaning the reagent waste funnel (page 120) for detailed instructions on how to clean
the waste funnel.

Maintenance
Maintaining the oil dispense system
This topic describes how to maintain the oil dispense system. The oil dispense system consists of
the following components:
• Oil bottle
• Oil line
• Oil syringe assembly
• Oil level LED
When to maintain
The WalkAway Plus low-oil light illuminates when the bottle is at or below 35% capacity. The DxM
WalkAway oil light is green when oil levels are sufficient and yellow when you must check the oil
level.
You can perform maintenance tasks for the oil dispense system at the same time you check and
clean the reagent dispense system. You do not have to request separate maintenance access.
Checking for leaks and bubbles in the oil dispense line
To check for leaks or air bubbles in the oil dispense line and oil syringe:
See Requesting access to the WalkAway instrument (page 87) for more information.
3. Ensure that the tubing is below the surface of the oil in the container.
4. Make sure that the float and the tubing in the oil container are not tangled.
5. Check the oil line for leaks or air bubbles.
6. If you observe any air bubbles, purge the oil line three times.
7. After you check the oil line, examine the oil bottle level indicator LED.

Maintenance
Checking the oil level in the WalkAway Plus
To check the oil level:
1. If the fluid indicator LED (on the front of the instrument) is illuminated, request maintenance
access.
3. If the oil level LED is illuminated, replace the oil bottle or refill it with MicroScan oil and then
purge the oil line three times to remove air from the system.
Checking the oil level in the DxM WalkAway
To check the oil level:
1. If the oil level indicator LED (on the front of the instrument) is yellow, request maintenance
access.

Maintenance
3. Replace the oil bottle or refill it with MicroScan oil and then purge the oil line three times to
remove air from the system. The following illustration shows the DxM WalkAway oil dispense
system.
Adding or replacing oil in WalkAway instruments
CAUTION
Use MicroScan mineral oil (B1010-40A). Use of other types of mineral oil can
adversely affect the performance of your instrument and panels.
WARNING
Clean up any oil spills with absorbent material and dispose of in accordance with the
SDS and local/state/federal waste guidelines.

Maintenance
To add oil to an existing bottle in the WalkAway instruments:
1. With the reagent drawer open, lift the oil bottle out of its holding location in the reagent
drawer.
2. Unscrew the cap and set it aside.
3. Remove the bottle from the reagent drawer.
4. Refill the existing bottle, or replace the bottle with a new one.
• To refill the bottle: pour MicroScan oil into the bottle and reinstall the existing bottle cap
assembly onto the bottle. Fill only to the bottle shoulder.
• To replace the bottle: install the bottle, then replace the cap of the new MicroScan oil
bottle with the bottle cap assembly from the old bottle.
5. Reinstall the oil bottle in the dispense drawer location. Carefully organize the oil tubing and
sensor wires so that they are not pinched or bunched in the reagent drawer.
6. Purge the oil line until there are no more air bubbles. See the “Purging the oil line” topic in
the next section.
Anytime the bottle cap is removed from the bottle, regardless of whether or not the bottle is
replaced, the oil system must be purged three times to remove air from the system.

Maintenance
Purging the oil line
Purge the oil line after adding oil or if air bubbles appear in the oil line or oil syringe assembly.
CAUTION
If your WalkAway instrument has been idle for an extended period (for example, no
panels were processed over the weekend) purge the oil line three times to remove air
from the system and to ensure that oil is properly dispensed into the panels.
To purge the oil line:
2. On the WalkAway Monitor Maintenance tab, click Purge oil. Purge the oil line three times
to remove air from the system. While the instrument is purging the oil line (approximately
1½ minutes), LabPro software displays the hourglass symbol.

6
Troubleshooting
• QC diagnostic troubleshooting for the WalkAway instruments (page 200)
• WalkAway instrument display issues (page 203)
• General WalkAway instrument issues (page 209)
See the LabPro Operator’s Guide for the following additional troubleshooting information related to LabPro
software and WalkAway instrument interaction.
• LabPro error conditions for the WalkAway instrument
• Uncommon panel processing alerts and exception messages
• Resolving unread panels
• Resolving WalkAway panel processing exceptions

Troubleshooting
QC diagnostic troubleshooting for the WalkAway instruments

The following table contains instrument diagnostic results that might appear on the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report.
Message/issue Possible cause Solution

Ambient temperature is The ambient temperature should 1. Determine if an outside variable, such as a heat vent near the
underlined under be less than 81° F (27° C). instrument, might be causing the problem.
Environmental Status 2. To force calibration, shut down the WalkAway instrument,
wait at least 15 seconds, and then start up the instrument.
3. Print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report and then confirm
that the problem is resolved.
If the problem persists, contact Customer Technical Support.
Calibration values are • Something is blocking the 1. Clean the photodiode shield and diffuser plate.
underlined under light pathway. 2. To force calibration, shut down the WalkAway instrument,
Colorimetric Calibration, • The light source failed. wait at least 15 seconds, and then start up the instrument.
Color Lamp Voltage, and/or
A/D System Calibration • The photosensor A/D board 3. Print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report and then confirm
failed. that the problem is resolved.
• Diffuser was not replaced If the problem persists, contact Customer Technical Support.
after cleaning.
Dispenser failed The instrument is unable to build 1. Tighten any loose reagent bottles.
up sufficient pressure to dispense 2. Close the reagent drawer.
the reagents due to the following:
3. Pressurize the instrument using the Maintenance tab on the
• Loose reagent bottles WalkAway Monitor and then check the dispense pressure.
• Fitting failure in air lines If there is a fitting failure in the air lines or if the problem
persists, contact Customer Technical Support.
Fluorometric System failed • The light source might be 1. Verify the following:
burned out. • If the instrument has been shut down for more than 2
or
• The shield or reference disk is hours, allow the instrument to warm up at least 60
Fluorometric Calibration
dirty. minutes.
values are underlined
• The instrument temperature • If the incubator door has been open for an extended
is too low. period, allow 60 minutes for the instrument to
equilibrate.
2. Clean the reference disk and fluorometer shield.
3. To force calibration, shut down the WalkAway instrument,
4. Print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report and confirm that
the problem is resolved.

Troubleshooting

Humidity is underlined under The humidity should be within 1. Add sterile deionized or sterile distilled water to the water
Environmental Status the RH range as follows: reservoir.
• 25% to 70% for WalkAway 2. Allow the instrument to equilibrate for 30 minutes.
instruments. 3. To force calibration, shut down the WalkAway instrument,
Internal temperature is The card cage is overheated. Turn off WalkAway instrument and then contact Customer
underlined under Technical Support immediately.
Environmental Status
Light Source failed The colorimetric system failed 1. Clean the photodiode shield and diffuser plate.
because: See Checking and cleaning the photodiode shield
or
(page 141) and Checking and cleaning the diffuser plate
• The lamp failed.
A/D Photo Board failed (page 144) for more information.
• Something is blocking the
light pathway.
TIP: If all colorimetric calibration values are underlined, a lamp
failure has likely occurred.
If the problem persists, contact Customer Technical Support for
help in replacing the lamp.
Motor Movements Unrecoverable motor movement Contact Customer Technical Support.

failure.
Panel Detect System disabled A self-diagnostic test indicates Contact Customer Technical Support.
the sensor is out of alignment.
This can happen while
performing shield maintenance if
you accidentally hit the sensor.
Processor Check failed or Failures on the main CPU have Shut down the WalkAway instrument, wait at least 15 seconds,
PROM Checksum failed or occurred during the and then start up.
RAM Memory Check failed WalkAway instrument start up.
Temperature failed The internal temperature was out Ensure that the ambient temperature is less than 81° F (27° C).
of range for 10 minutes after the
If the problem persists, contact Customer Technical Support
WalkAway clock started.
immediately.
The WalkAway clock starts:
• 60 minutes after the
instrument is started up.
• 60 minutes after the incubator
door is closed.
• 15 minutes after other doors
are closed.

Troubleshooting

Temperature is underlined The temperature is 1. Verify the following:
under Environmental Status not 35° C ±1° C. • If the WalkAway instrument has been shut down for
more than 2 hours, allow the system to warm up at least
60 minutes.
• If the incubator door has been open for an extended
period, allow 60 minutes for the instrument to
equilibrate.
3. Print the WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report and confirm that

Troubleshooting
WalkAway instrument display issues

The following table contains WalkAway instrument control panel messages listed in alphabetical order.

Access Overtime Please Hurry The amount of time requested for 1. Finish your activities in the WalkAway instrument.
loading/unloading access 2. Close the door and press the Quick Access button on front
expired. control panel, or click Lock Door on the WalkAway
Monitor, to lock the door and terminate access.
Access will be cancelled soon The amount of time requested for Press the Quick Access button on front control panel, or click
access expired and the door has Lock Door on the WalkAway Monitor, to lock the door and
been closed for one minute but terminate access.
not locked.
Check colorimetric system Dirty photodiode shield and/or 1. Clean the photodiode shield and diffuser plate.
diffuser plate or the lamp failed 2. To force calibration, shut down the WalkAway instrument,
during a colorimetric reading. wait at least 15 seconds, and then start up the instrument.
If the message continues or underlined values persist on the
WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report, contact Customer Technical
Support.
Check fluorometric system Dirty reference disk and/or 1. Verify the following:
fluorometer shield or the • If the instrument has been shut down for more than two
fluorometer lamp failed. hours, allow the instrument to warm up at least 60
minutes.
equilibrate.
2. Clean the reference disk and fluorometer shield.
If the message continues or underlined values persist on the
WalkAway QC Diagnostics Report, contact Customer Technical
Support.
Color wheel jam The color wheel failed to rotate 1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
when rotating through the Monitor.
interference filters. 2. If the jam persists, shut down the instrument for at least 15
seconds and then start up the instrument.
3. If the jam still occurs, contact Customer Technical Support.
Do not attempt to fix a color wheel jam. Call Customer Technical
Support for help.

Troubleshooting

Dispense head lost The instrument is unable to find 1. Follow the resolution instructions on the WalkAway
the dispense head. It is not Monitor.
located on the fluorometer or in 2. Verify that the alignment pin for the dispense head is
the waste funnel. properly seated in the alignment hole in the waste funnel.
The dispense head was not If the dispense head is loose, reseat it in the waste funnel.
seated properly on the waste 3. If the problem persists, shut down the instrument for at least
funnel after maintenance was 15 seconds and then start up the instrument.
performed.
If the problem still occurs, contact Customer Technical Support.
Dispense pressure out of Possible leak and pressure is too

range low—pressure range should be WARNING
within 2.7 to 3.8 PSI. The
instrument cannot come up to When troubleshooting the reagent dispense system, always
pressure during reagent wear full protective gear (goggles, lab coat and gloves).
dispense.
During the first five minutes after If the PSI is out of the 2.7 to 3.8 range, follow these steps. During
this message appears, the the first five minutes, the instrument grants maintenance access
instrument waits for the condition to correct the problem.
to be corrected.
For the WalkAway Plus:
NOTE: If you do not correct the
1. Verify that the adapter assembly is seated properly and the
problem, all panels that require
lever is in full horizontal position.
reagents are completed without
reagents. These panels appear on 2. Make sure that both sides of bottle adapter assembly have
the Exception Status tab on the not spread apart excessively.
WalkAway Monitor with the 3. Close the reagent drawer.
message Dispense failed.
4. Pressurize the reagents to check the pressure.
5. Determine the location of the pressure leak by clamping off
the air inlet to each bottle, one bottle at a time. The air inlet
is the clear plastic tubing that attaches to the top of each
reagent bottle adapter. After a few seconds, watch the
WalkAway Monitor for an increase in pressure. If the
pressure increases, the clamped reagent bottle is creating
the pressure leak. Verify that the air and reagent lines are
finger tight and seated properly.
6. Inspect the reagent adapter gasket and clean or replace as
needed. If a bottle gasket is cracked or deteriorated, replace
the gasket or contact Customer Technical Support. See
Maintaining gaskets (page 180) for more information.
7. Inspect the reagent bottle. If a bottle was replaced, verify
that the new bottle height is the same as height of bottle
that was removed from the system. Make sure there are no
chips, cracks or irregularities. See Inspecting bottle height
If the pressure leak still cannot be isolated, contact Customer
Technical Support.

Troubleshooting

Dispense pressure out of Possible leak and pressure is too For the DxM WalkAway:
range low—pressure range should be
1. Verify that the adapter assembly is seated properly and the
within 2.7 to 3.8 PSI. The
adapter lever is in the full horizontal position.
instrument cannot come up to
pressure during reagent 2. Make sure that reagent bottle is tightly screwed into reagent
dispense. adapter.
During the first five minutes after 3. Close the reagent drawer.
this message appears, the 4. Pressurize the reagents to check pressure.
instrument waits for the condition
5. If the Peptidase reagent was just replaced, remove the
to be corrected.
reagent bottle adapter and then use alcohol and a lint-free
NOTE: If you do not correct the wipe to clean the top and threads of the bottle and the
problem, all panels that require bottle adapter threads.
reagents are completed without 6. Inspect the reagent adapter gasket and manifold gaskets.
reagents. These panels appear on Clean or replace either gasket as needed. See Maintaining
the Exception Status tab on the gaskets (page 180) for more information.
WalkAway Monitor with the
message Dispense failed. 7. Inspect the reagent bottle. If a bottle was replaced, verify
that the new bottle height is the same as height of bottle
that was removed from the system. Make sure there are no
chips, cracks or irregularities. See Inspecting reagent bottles
If the pressure leak still cannot be isolated, contact Customer
Technical Support.
Incubator temperature too The temperature is too high or Take a manual temperature reading. The temperature range
high or too low too low for at least 10 minutes. should be 35° C ±1° C.
Main carousel jam The carousel that holds the panel 1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
towers failed to move. A tower Monitor and try to clear the jam.
might be installed backward. 2. Verify that a tower was not installed backward.
If the jam persists, shut down the instrument for at least 15
seconds, verify the movement of the carousel, and then start up
the instrument.
WARNING
After you shut down the instrument, if you hear a grinding

sound when you manually move the carousel, contact
Customer Technical Support immediately. Do not turn the
instrument back on.

Troubleshooting

Panel grabber jam The grabber plate failed. A jam
can occur when the instrument WARNING
attempts to remove or replace a
panel. Shut down the instrument before manually moving the
panel grabber belt.
Typical causes for jams.
• Too much mineral oil (more
1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
than 3 drops)—or oil
Monitor.
inadvertently dropped onto
the panel surface—caused 2. Remove any panels stuck in the read head, using the panel
the tray lid to seal with the grabber belt located behind the read head assembly. If the
top of the tray. The panel grabber plate is wedged between the panel and the
instrument is then unable to tray lid in the tower, carefully remove the tower if possible or
pick up the panel, but “thinks” back out the panel grabber plate using the panel grabber
it has. When the instrument belt.
tries to replace the panel, it 3. If the panel is not damaged, reinsert the panel into the
jams into a panel still in the tower.
tower.
• If the panel processing time is not in overtime, the panel
NOTE: This can occur on is processed normally.
earlier WalkAway instruments
without the panel detection • If the panel is in overtime, the instrument aborts the
system. panel. This action is noted on the Exception Status tab
on the WalkAway Monitor as Aborted Overtime.
• The panel does not have a
tray lid, has a damaged lid, or If the jam persists, contact Customer Technical Support.
has two or more tray lids.
• The panel is stuck in the tower
slot, the tray lid does not sit
flat on panel when inserted
into the tower, or the tray lid
tabs have broken.
• The bar code label extends
above the panel edge and
becomes stuck under the lid.
The instrument cannot pick
up the panel but “thinks” it
has. When replacing the
panel, the instrument jams
into a panel still in the tower.
• The fluorometer shield is
inserted upside down (curved
end of shield faces
downward).
Please close the door The panel access door, incubator Make sure all controlled doors are closed. If the message
door, or reagent dispense drawer persists, contact Customer Technical Support.
was open longer than scheduled
or was open when trying to
advance the carousel.

Troubleshooting

Transverse axis jam The transverse axis motor failed. 1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
The axis resides on the read head Monitor and try to clear the jam.
and supports side-to-side 2. Verify that the fluorometer is centered on the transverse axis.
movement. The motor controls If not, move the fluorometer to the center. If the jam persists,
the fluorometer and dispense shut down the instrument for at least 15 seconds and then
head. start up the instrument.
If the jam still occurs, contact Customer Technical Support.
Unable to pick up dispense Dispense head not seated Panels that require reagents are completed without reagents
head properly in the waste funnel. The and appear on the Exception Status tab on the WalkAway
instrument was unable to pick up Monitor with the message Dispense Failed. The results must
the dispense head when be verified.
attempting to add reagents.
1. Follow the resolution instructions on the WalkAway
Monitor.
2. Verify that the dispense head alignment pin is properly
seated in the alignment hole in the waste funnel. If the
dispense head is loose, reseat it in the waste funnel.
If the problem persists, shut down the instrument for at least 15
Unable to replace dispense After adding reagents to a panel, 1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
head the instrument was unable to Monitor.
replace the dispense head in the 2. Verify that the alignment pin for the dispense head is
waste funnel. properly seated in the alignment hole in the waste funnel.
If the dispense head is loose, reseat it in the waste funnel.
If the problem persists, shut down the instrument for at least 15
Vertical axis jam The read head assembly jammed 1. Follow the jam resolution instructions on the WalkAway
as it traveled up and down in the Monitor and try to clear the jam.
center of the carousel. 2. Verify that nothing impedes the vertical movement (for
example, the fluorometer shield dropped to the bottom of
the instrument).
If the jam persists, shut down the instrument for at least 15
If the jam still occurs, contact Customer Technical Support.
Water level low The water in the reservoir is too Add sterile deionized or sterile distilled water to the reservoir.
low.

Troubleshooting

Temperature failed The internal temperature was out Ensure that the ambient temperature is less than 81° F (27° C).
of range for 10 minutes after the
If the problem persists, contact Customer Technical Support
WalkAway clock started.
immediately.
The WalkAway clock starts:
• 60 minutes after the
instrument is started up.
• 60 minutes after the incubator
door is closed.
• 15 minutes after other doors
are closed.
Temperature is underlined The temperature is not 35° C ±1° 1. Verify the following:
under Environmental Status C. • If the WalkAway instrument has been shut down for
more than 2 hours, allow the system to warm up at least
60 minutes.
equilibrate.

Troubleshooting
General WalkAway instrument issues

This table describes basic instrument issues.

All LED status lights next to The WalkAway instrument cannot 1. Close the panel access door.
tower slots flash rapidly when determine the status of the 2. Shut down the instrument for at least 15 seconds and then
panel access door is open. slots—empty, completed, or in start up the instrument again to force a bar code scan.
process. The problem can occur if:
• The panel access door sensor
has failed.
• The instrument does not
recognize that the door is
open, for any reason.
• The instrument does not
recognize which tower faces
the panel access door.
Jams Jam messages indicate that a The instrument displays the type of jam (for example, Panel
mechanical failure occurred while grabber jam). See the corrective action for each particular jam in
the instrument was in motion. WalkAway instrument display issues (page 203).
Basic jam resolution includes the following steps:
1. Determine the type of jam. A message appears on the
instrument status display. Follow the jam resolution
instructions on the WalkAway Monitor.
2. Open the incubator door to determine the location of the
read head assembly. You might need to remove the front
tower.
3. If the read head assembly is down in the reagent system
area, determine if the reagent dispense head is attached to
the fluorometer.
CAUTION
Do not open the reagent door if the reagent dispense head

is attached to the fluorometer because the reagent dispense
lines can be pulled loose.

Troubleshooting

Jams 4. If necessary, detach the reagent dispense head and then
reseat it in the waste funnel.
(continued)
5. If possible, determine the cause of the jam and then resolve
the problem.
WARNING
Always shut down the instrument before moving the panel

grabber belt.
6. Remove any panels that might be jammed in the read head

assembly. To do this, move the panel grabber assembly belt
located behind the read head assembly.
Panel spill in WalkAway • The panel might not have Decontaminate the instrument as follows:
instrument tower or Rough been seated correctly.
1. Shut down and unplug the instrument, and close LabPro
panel handling • The panel handling assembly software.
is out of alignment.
3. Remove any incomplete overnight panels from the
WalkAway and then place them in an incubator.
4. Completely loosen the hold-down wheel of the tower at the
front of the carousel and then lift the tower up and out of
the instrument.
5. Pull any available tower toward you gently to rotate the
carousel. When the next tower has adequate clearance for
safe removal, repeat the tower removal process and then
continue until all towers are removed from the instrument.
6. Autoclave the towers.
7. Wipe surfaces inside the instrument with 70% isopropyl
alcohol.
CAUTION
Do not use amphyl/alcohol or chlorine bleach to wipe

surfaces as these products can damage certain components
such as the optical system.
8. Allow the instrument to air dry with the power off and the
incubator door open.
9. When the instrument is completely dry, replace the towers,
close the incubator door, plug in the instrument, turn on the
power, and then allow the instrument to run for 60 minutes
before proceeding with normal operations.

Troubleshooting

Power failure Not applicable. 1. Shut down the WalkAway instrument and all LabPro
software components immediately.
2. Wait for the power to restore before you start up the
components.
3. If the instrument has been shut down more than 2 hours, let
the instrument warm up for at least 60 minutes and then
calibrate.
Hardware failure • Solenoid valve has failed Contact Customer Technical Support
• There is a problem with the
circuitry that controls solenoid
valve
• If the reagent system fan fails,
the LED fluid status display
panel alternately flashes the
hardware failure error
indicator LED pattern and the
normal mode of operation
LED pattern.


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MicroScan

For in vitro Diagnostic Use

Limitations and conditions

Made in USA Beckman Coulter Ireland Inc.

2 © 2021 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. 9020-8071, Rev. AE

Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AE

Publishing date: 2021-05

Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)

Available languages: English and regionally supported languages

Summary of changes: Added topics in Preface for IVDR compliance.

9020-8071, Rev. AE WalkAway Instrument Guide 3

Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AD

Publishing date: 2019-02

Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)

Available languages: English and regionally supported languages

Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AC

Publishing date: 2018-04

Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)

Available languages: English and regionally supported languages

Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AB

Publishing date: 2017-10

Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)

Available languages: English and regionally supported languages

Summary of changes: Minor corrections

Document: P/N 9020-8071, Rev. AA

Publishing date: 2017-08

Supported instruments: • DxM 1040 MicroScan WalkAway

Supported software (version): LabPro software (all versions)

Available languages: English and regionally supported languages

Summary of changes: New document.

Future document updates

Document category: Instrument IFU/Manual

About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

9020-8071, Rev. AE WalkAway Instrument Guide 7

Disposal of Microbiology instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

How the WalkAway instrument processes panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

DxM WalkAway instrument components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

WalkAway Plus system components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Status display and control panel buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

WalkAway fluorometric systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

WalkAway colorimetric systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

WalkAway panel positioning assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

8 WalkAway Instrument Guide 9020-8071, Rev. AE

Panel detection system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

WalkAway bar code reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

WalkAway humidifier and heater assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

WalkAway instrument waste system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

WalkAway internal computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

About the WalkAway Bar Codes window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

WalkAway instrument technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Starting up the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Shutting down the WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Processing panels in a WalkAway instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Printing and applying bar codes to samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

9020-8071, Rev. AE WalkAway Instrument Guide 9