Troubleshooting Guide

Edition Version: 1.0

Date: January 2005

ETI-Max 3000 Manufacturer: STRATEC Biomedical Systems AG

Distributor: DiaSorin S . p . A .

Trademarks MS-DOS and Windows 95/2000 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

We reserve the right to make changes in the course of technical development

without previous notice.

E T I -Max , D i a S o r i n S . p . A . All rights reserved.

13040 SALUGGIA (VERCELLI) - ITALY

Neither this manual nor any parts of it may be duplicated or transmitted in any way without the written
approval of D i a S o r i n S . p. A .
 Contents

Contents

1 Error Messages of the User Software ......................................... 4

1.1 COP Error Messages and System Information ...................................... 4
1.2 Pipettor Error Messages ...................................................................... 7
1.3 Washer Error Messages ...................................................................... 9
1.4 Plate Transport Error Messages .........................................................11
1.5 Colorimeter Error Messages ...............................................................12
1.6 Incubator Error Messages ..................................................................14
1.7 Rack Error Messages.........................................................................14

ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide Page 3

1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.1 COP Error Messages and System Information

1 Error Messages of the User Software

System messages appear in the status bar of the user software, error messages are
displayed in a separate window, which has to be confirmed. "%1" and "%2" are place
holders for a system module or the designation of a plate, a reagent or an error
number.

1.1 COP Error Messages and System Information

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Argument error in During initialization Reinstall the firmware for the concerning module.
command: procedure.
If error recurs the PCB of concerning module has to
Faulty firmware is be checked, call service.
installed.
COMGEN error %1. At start-up. Check connection between PC and analyzer. Start
PC and analyzer again.
Cable connection between
PC and Analyzer is faulty. If error recurs, please call service.
COP serial port test At start-up. Check connection between PC and analyzer. Start
error. PC and analyzer again.
Error in serial interface on
COP board. If error recurs, the COP has to replaced, call service.
Crash cover file After power failure. Do you want to try and recover the work list?
detected.
Button No: software continuous with initializing the
Do you want to try and system. Old work list will be deleted.
recover the work list?
Button Yes : following message appears:
&
Is the system still running?
Is the system still
Button No: system initializing first the modules
running?
before continuous the next work list step.
Button Yes : systems continuous with the next work
list step.
Error during assay After adding assay and Push button OK and reduce the numbers of patients,
layout reduction. patient to the plate. that a maximum of 96 wells on one plate are used.
Reduce the number of
Too many samples are
patient samples. Check
used on this plate.
that the assay layout is
reducible.
Error scheduling plate. After adding plate and Push OK button and modify the assay or work list.
assay.
The Assay programming is
not correct or the
combination of different
plates cannot be
scheduled.

Page 4 ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide


Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action
Information
Error: Argument error in During the initialization
%1. procedure.
Component cannot be
actuated.
Invalid pipettor After adding plate and
coordinates on plate X, assay.
label sample “…”. Check
The assay programming is
that the dispense labels
faulty. A label of a sample
and aspirate labels are
is undefined.
consistent.
No disposable tips left. During the run.
No more tips available or
found.
No liquid detected for During the run, if reagents
reagent… check was disabled.
No response to System cannot
command… communicate with PC.
Please close system During initialization
flap. procedure. System flap
isn’t closed.
Please close the During initialization
instrument drawer. procedure. Instrument
drawer isn’t closed.
Please close the After loading / unloading
load/unload door. the micro plate.
ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide
1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.1 COP Error Messages and System Information
Restart software and analyzer. If the error recurs, the
concerning module has to be checked, please call
service.
Push OK button.
Modify the assay definition and restart the work list.
Automatically appearance of the loading window
after system message occurs.
Load the correct tips to the suggested position.
After pushing the OK button the work list will go on.
Button Retry : system will check level of reagent,
again.
Button Ignore: system will go on although if there is
not enough liquid in the bottle.
NOTE: AIR CAN BE PIPETTED IF YOU WILL PUSH THE
IGNORE BUTTON.
Button Abort : The work list will be aborted.
To make sure that the work list will run without miss
pipetting errors, push Abort and enable the reagent
check in the panel options.
After that, you have to start the work list again. The
old work list cannot be recovered.
Button Retry : PC will try to connect to System again.
Button Abort : the work list will be aborted.
If error message recurs after pushing Retry , check
RS 232 cable or restart Analyzer and PC.
Close the system flap and push the OK button.
If the error recurs after closing the flap the closing
mechanism has to be checked, please call service.
Close instrument drawer and push OK button.
If the error recurs after closing the instrument
drawer, the closing mechanism has to be checked,
please call service.
Close load / unload door and push OK button.
If the error recurs after closing load/unload door, the
closing mechanism or the door switch, has to be
checked, please call service.
Page 5
1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.1 COP Error Messages and System Information

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Please close the tip During initialization Close tip drawer and push the OK button.
drawer. procedure. Tip drawer isn’t
closed. If the error recurs after closing the tip drawer, the
closing mechanism has to be checked, please call
service.
Please configure the After adding plate and Push OK button.
system in preparation for assay.
Make sure that correct predilution area is chosen for
a standard WL. Ensure
Wrong predilution area is this assay and start work list again.
that the dilution tube
defined.
rack is inserted.
Reagent is undefined. After adding plate, assay Open assay and add the missing reagent into
and sample. reagent database. Restart the work list.
A reagent has not been NOTE: THE CHANGES HAVE TO BE SAVED, WITH THE
defined. SAVE BUTTON BEFORE THEY WILL GET ACTIVE.

RS 232 write error- Error in interface PC / Check connection between PC and analyzer. Start
command: %1. analyzer. PC and analyzer again.
If error recurs, the system has to be checked.
Some required After the loading dialogue. Push OK button. Load all resources from the
resources have not been unallocated resources field into the appropriate
allocated to the system position (reagents, samples, dilution tubes/plates,
positions. tips, buffers)
Suspect tip pickup. During tip pickup. After the error occurs the software goes on with the
next tip automatically, if the error recurs the teaching
Disposable tip adapter
positions and the disposable tip adapter have to be
cannot pick up tip
checked, please call service.
correctly. It does not move
deep enough into the tip.
System fluid low. During the initialization Push OK and go on after filling up the system liquid
procedure or during the container with de-ionized water.
run.
System waste full. During initialization Push OK button, after emptying the waste container.
Empty the waste procedure or during the
container. run. If the error recurs after emptying the waste container
the level sensor has to check, please call service.
The disposable tips During the tip type After pushing the OK button the software displays to
have been incorrectly detection. Software the loading dialogue where you have to check if the
loaded. detected a wrong type of correct type of tips (300 µl or 1100 µl) are loaded to
tip. the correct position.
There was an error After finishing a plate and Button Retry : software will try to start the print job,
found when printing the getting a result. again.
Document to LPT1: The
Button Cancel: The print job will be cancelled.
device is not connected.
Do you want to retry or Please check that the printer is switched ON and all
cancel the job? cables are connected.
Make sure that the right printer driver is installed.
If the error recurs after checking the printer, please
call service.

Page 6 ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide

 1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.2 Pipettor Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Tip eject failure. Error during the tip Push Retry button after removing the tip manually.
ejection. The system goes on with the next step.
If the error recurs the disposable tip adapter has to
be checked, please call service.

1.2 Pipettor Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Aspirate check failed for During the run.
reagent %1
Aspirate step of reagent
was faulty.
Clot detected in patient During the run.
sample %1
Insufficient volume of During the run.
predilution %1.
System cannot find
enough volume in
predilution.
Insufficient volume of At reagent check if volume
reagent %1. of reagent is insufficient.
Button Retry : pipettor will dispense back the
aspirated liquid and repeats the aspirate step.
Button Abort Plate: Plate will be aborted.
Button Continue: System goes on but all concerning
samples will be flagged.
Button Skip Sample: system will skip the concerning
sample and will go on with the work list.
Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
Button Continue: system goes on but concerning
sample will be flagged.
Button Retry : system will try to repeat the last
measurement of level height.
Button Abort : the concerning sample will be aborted.
Button Abort Plate: the whole plate will be aborted.
Button Ignore: The concerning sample will be
flagged. System goes on with the next predilution.
Button Abort check: reagent check will be aborted.
The system goes on with the work list.
Button Refill bottle: software jumps back to the
loading window where reagents can be filled up.
Button Ignore: system will go on with checking the
next reagent.
To make sure that work list will run without miss
pipetting errors, please push Refill bottle and make
sure that enough reagent liquid is available.

ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide Page 7

1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.2 Pipettor Error Messages
Error message O. S.
Information
Insufficient volume of
sample %1.
No liquid detected for
reagent %1.
No liquid detected for
sample %1.
Pipettor error 0X0E -LY
position not reached.
Pipettor open loop /
overload error.
Page 8
Appearance and Caused Action
During the run if volume of
sample is insufficient.
Only possible if “sample
check” is disabled.
During the run.
No liquid for reagent %1 is
detected. Button Ignore: work list will go on but all concerning
samples will be flagged.
During the run.
No liquid for sample %1 is
detected.
During a pipettor
movement.
Pipettor crashes or
mechanical problems.
Pipettor crash during a
run.
Button Retry : system will try to repeat the last
measurement of level height.
Button Abort : the sample will be aborted.
Button Abort Plate: the whole plate will be aborted.
Button Ignore: The concerning sample will be
flagged. Systems go on with the next sample.
Button Retry : system will try to find liquid in
concerning reagent, again.
Button Abort Plate plate will be aborted.
Button Retry : System will try to find liquid in
concerning sample, again.
Button Ignore: System goes on but concerning
sample will be flagged.
Button Abort : the concerning sample will be aborted.
Button Abort Plate: Plate will be aborted.
Button Retry : system will try to reach the position
again, after the axis will initialize again.
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
go on without sequence errors.
Button Abort : The work list will be aborted.
Push Retry button to repeat the last step, if the error
recurs please open system flap and check if they’re
any obstacles that disturb the pipettor movement. If
there are no obstacles, the pipettor module has to be
checked, please call service.
Button Retry : system will try to repeat the former
pipetting step.
Button Ignore: system will continue with the next
pipetting step.
Button Abort : the whole plate will be aborted.
If system doesn’t go on after pushing Retry or Ignore
push Abort and restart system and software again.
ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide
 1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.3 Washer Error Messages

1.3 Washer Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Unknown washer error Unknown washer error. Restart system and software, if the error recurs, the
code '%1. whole washer module has to be checked, please call
service.
Washer %1 motor not The washer motor %1 is Button Retry : system will retry to reach the home
homed. faulty or the washer isn’t position again.
initialized.
Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
Push Retry button to repeat the last step. If error
recurs push Abort Plate button and restart the
software to initialize the washer again.
If the error recurs, the washer module has to be
checked, please call service.
Washer aspirate pump During the initialization Button Retry : software will try to activate the aspirate
error. procedure or during a pump again.
wash step. The washer
Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
aspirate pump or the
vacuum sensor is faulty. Before pushing the Retry button, please check that
all tubes are connected correctly. If the error recurs
the vacuum sensor and the aspirate pump have to
be checked, please call service.
Washer dispense pump During the initialization Button Retry : software tries to repeat the dispensing
error. procedure or during a step.
wash step. The washer
Button Abort Plate: the plate will be aborted.
dispense pump is faulty.
Push Retry .If the error recurs the dispense pumps
have to be checked, please call service.
Washer EEPROM error. EEPROM error while Restart system again. If the error recurs the washer
reading / writing PCB has to be changed, please call service.
procedure.
Washer head home During the initialization Button OK: software will cancel the work list and
movement error. procedure or during a jump back to start menu.
wash step. Washer lift
Push OK button to come back to the start menu,
cannot reach its home
position. restart software and system.
If error recurs the Z-motor and the light barriers have
to be checked, please call service.
Washer plate home During the initialization Button OK: software will cancel the work list and
movement error. procedure. Washer X- jump back to start menu.
sledge cannot reach the
Push OK button to come back to the start menu,
home position.
restart software and system.If error recurs the X-
motor and the light barriers have to be checked,
please call service.

ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide Page 9

1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.3 Washer Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Washer plate motor During initialization Button Retry : System will try to activate the X-motor
movement error. procedure or during a again.
wash step.
Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
Push Retry button, if the error recurs the X-motor
has to be checked, please call service.
Washer plate movement During a wash step. Button Retry : System will try to go on with the wash
error. step.
X-movement of washer is
faulty. Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
Before pushing Retry check washer if carrier sledge
is jammed, or a strip of the micro plate in not
inserted correctly.
If error recurs after pushing Retry please call
service.
Washer reagent level After loading dialogue or Button Retry : software checks the level sensor
low. during the run. again.
One of the washing liquids Button Abort : the work list will be aborted.
is empty.
Button Ignore: the work list goes on without filling up
the buffer.
Refill the washer reagent and push Retry .
If the error recurs after refilling, check the cables
connections of level sensors or call service.
Washer strip error. Before wash step. Button Retry : strip check will be repeated.
One of the strips of micro Button Abort Plate: Plate will be aborted.
plate isn’t inserted
After error occurs push Retry button. The system will
correctly.
go on, if the error recurs abort the plate.
Washer waste full. During initialization Button Retry : system will check the level sensor
procedure or during the again.
run.
Button Abort Plate: plate will be aborted.
Waste bottle “1” is full.
Empty washer waste bottle “1” manually and push
OK button.
If the error recurs, the washer level sensor has to be
checked, please call service.

Page 10 ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide

 1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.4 Plate Transport Error Messages

1.4 Plate Transport Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Plate transport %1 During the initialization After error message occurs check if something
motor home error. procedure. Plate transport jammed the plate transport.
cannot reach or find the
Push OK button and restart software to initialize the
home position.
plate transport again.
If the error recurs, the plate transport mechanism
has to be checked, please call service.
Plate transport %1 During the initialization Button Retry : system will try to repeat the last
motor movement error. procedure or during the movement step.
run. Plate transport can’t
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
reach the demanded
position. go on without sequence errors.
Button Abort : plate will be aborted.
After error message occurs, make sure that there are
no obstacles that jammed the plate transports
movement.
Push Retry button, if the error recurs the plate
transport module has to be checked, please call
service.
Plate transport %1 During the initialization Restart software, to initialize the plate transport
motor not homed. procedure. Plate transport again. If the error recurs, the light barriers of plate
motor cannot find home transport have to be checked.
position.
Plate transport carrier During Plate Transport Button Retry : plate transport will try to load / unload
error. movement. Plate the plate again.
Transport crashes at load /
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
unload movement.
go on without sequence errors.
Button Abort : system will try to abort the plate.
If error recurs after pushing Retry the Plate
Transport position has to be aligned again, please
call service.
Plate transport EEPROM error while Restart system again. If error recurs, the plate
EEPROM error. reading / writing transport PCB has to be changed, please call
procedure. service.
Plate transport Y-motor During plate transport Button Retry : Plate Transport will try to repeat the
movement error. movement. Plate movement again.
Transport cannot move in
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
Y-direction
go on without sequence errors.
Button Abort Plate: system will abort the plate.
Before pushing the Retry button, check if something
jammed the plate transport. If the error recurs,
please call service.

ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide Page 11

1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.5 Colorimeter Error Messages
Error message O. S.
Information
The plate transport
cannot find a route from
its current position to its
next destination.
Unknown plate transport Unknown plate transport
error code: '%1. error.
1.5 Colorimeter Error Messages
Error message O. S.
Information
Colorimeter %1 not
homed.
Colorimeter A/D error.
Colorimeter A/D over
range error.
Colorimeter A/D under
range error.
Page 12
Appearance and Caused Action
During the run.
Plate transport has no
information about its
present position.
Appearance and Caused Action
During initialization
procedure or during a
reading step. The X-motor
of the colorimeter is not in
the home position.
During the initialization
procedure or during a run.
Error of the analog / digital
converter of the
colorimeter.
During the initialization
procedure or during a run.
Upper limit of colorimeter
A/D has been exceeded
due to the signal height of
the pre-selected
resolution.
During the initialization
procedure or during a run.
Too less light reaches the
electronic of colorimeter.
Abort the work list, and restart software to initialize
the Plate transport. Restart work list again. If the
error recurs the Plate Transport has to be checked,
please call service.
Abort the work list, and restart software to initialize
the Plate Transport. Restart work list. If the error
recurs the Plate Transport has to be checked, please
call service.
Please, restart the software and system. If the error
recurs the colorimeter module has to be checked,
please call service.
If the error occurs during a run, please press Abort
button to cancel the work list. After this error occurs
a recovery isn’t possible, please call service.
Please, restart the system, if the error recurs, the
colorimeter module has to be checked, please call
service.
Button Retry : system will try to repeat the last step.
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
go on without sequence errors.
Push Retry button, if the error recurs, abort the work
list and check the filters. If error recurs after checking
the filters, the whole colorimeter module has to be
checked, please call service.
Button Retry : system will try to repeat the last step.
Button Ignore: not advisable cause system cannot
go on without sequence errors.
Button Abort : the work list will be aborted.
Push Retry button, if the error recurs, abort the work
list. The whole colorimeter module has to be
checked, please call service.
ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action
Information
Colorimeter background During the initialization
light level error. procedure or during a run.
Typically occurs when light
entered the measurement
chamber.
Colorimeter EEPROM During the communication
error. between colorimeter and
PC.
Colorimeter filter %1 During initialization
error. procedure. The gain factor
for the respective filter
cannot be identified.
Colorimeter filter motor During the initialization
home error. procedure. The system
does not recognize the
current position of the filter
motor.
Colorimeter filter motor During the initialization
movement error. procedure. The movement wheel has to be checked, please call service.
of the filter wheel is faulty.
Colorimeter lamp error. During the initialization
procedure. Halogen lamp
of colorimeter is faulty.
Colorimeter optic During the initialization
channel %1 error. procedure. One of the
optical channels is faulty.
Colorimeter plate motor During the initialization
movement error. procedure. The plate
movement is faulty.
Colorimeter plate motor During the initialization
movement home error. procedure. The plate
doesn’t find its home
position.
Unknown colorimeter Unknown colorimeter
error code %1. error.
Verification failed: %1. During the colorimeter
verification.
ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide
1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.5 Colorimeter Error Messages
Restart the software to initialize the colorimeter
again. Please check if the colorimeter flap is closed
and all filters are installed.
If the error recurs, please call service.
Initialize the module again. If the error recurs the
colorimeter PCB has to be checked, please call
service.
Restart the software to initialize the colorimeter
again, after checking the filter configuration.
If error recurs, change the concerning filter, please
call service.
Restart the software. If the error recurs, the filter
wheel has to be checked, please call service.
Restart the software. If the error recurs, the filter
Replace halogen lamp and restart the software to
initialize the colorimeter again.
The lower or upper optic blocks have to be cleaned,
or the fiber has to be replaced, please call service.
Restart the software to initialize the colorimeter
again. If the error recurs the moving mechanism has
to be checked, please call service.
Restart the software to initialize the colorimeter
again, if the error recurs the light barriers have to be
checked, please call service.
Restart system and software, if the error recurs, the
whole colorimeter module has to be checked, please
call service.
If the error occurs, change the lamp and check the
filter configuration. Repeat the colorimeter
verification test. If the error recurs the colorimeter
module has to be checked, please call service.
Page 13
1 Error Messages of the User Software
1.6 Incubator Error Messages

1.6 Incubator Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Incubator heater %1 During the initialization The heater foil of concerning incubator box has to be
error. procedure or during the checked, please call service.
run. The heater foil of
incubator box %1 is faulty.
Incubator sensor %1 During the initialization The temperature sensor of concerning incubator box
error. procedure or during the has to be checked, please call service.
run. The temperature
sensor of incubator box is
faulty.
Unknown incubator error Unknown incubator error. Restart system and software, if the error recurs, the
code: %1. whole incubator module has to be checked, please
call service.

1.7 Rack Error Messages

Error message O. S. Appearance and Caused Action

Information
Rack scanner motor Motor error in scanner of If error occurs please use the possibility to allocate
error. reagent and sample rack. the reagents and samples, manually.
Scanner firmware does
The bar code scanner has to be checked, please call
not work correctly.
service.
Electronic or mechanical
problems of scanner.
Rack scanner not During the initialization If error occurs please use the possibility to allocate
detected. procedure. Scanner of the reagents and samples, manually.
loading bay is not
The bar code scanner has to be checked, please call
connected.
service.
Rack sensor focusing During a reading step of If error occurs please use the possibility to allocate
error. bar coded sample / the reagents and samples, manually.
reagent rack. The bar
The bar code scanner has to be checked, please call
code scanner cannot be
service.
focused.

Page 14 ETI-Max 3000 - Troubleshooting Guide