Beckman Coulter Allegra X-12 Series
Beckman Coulter · Model Allegra X-12 Series
Save time and labor. Eliminate 15 mL or 50 mL conical tubes. Reduce a potential contamination step Complete Your Run--Even with Imbalance. ARIESTM Smart Balance Rotor automatically corrects for imbalance. Up to 50 grams opposing loads. Eye balance your samples with confidence Save Time with a Truly Intuitive Interface. Avoid scrolling. User-friendly prompts.
Key tips
- ·Run QC controls before trusting any repair - an analyzer that passes self-test can still report clinically wrong results.
- ·Rule out a reagent lot change before opening the instrument - it can look exactly like a hardware fault.
- ·Centrifuge rotors have a hard retirement age/cycle limit regardless of visible condition - don't eyeball it.
Typical Failure Modes
Compiled for this model from its own documentation and established engineering knowledge for this equipment class - not from a verified service record. Confirm against the manufacturer's service manual.
Will not start / error at start
HighSymptoms: Error code, run will not begin, or aborts shortly after start.
Root cause: Set speed exceeds the rotor maximum, an imbalanced load, the lid / door not locked, an unapproved rotor, or a drive / control fault.
Will not reach speed / excessive noise or vibration
MediumSymptoms: Slow spin-up, rumble, or vibration during a run.
Root cause: Load imbalance, worn drive / motor bearings, a worn drive coupling, or (older units) worn motor brushes.
Timer / speed inconsistency
MediumSymptoms: Run ends early / late, or RPM does not match the setting.
Root cause: Tacho / speed-sensor drift or a control-board fault.
Lid / door will not open or lock
MediumSymptoms: Lid-lock error, will not open after a run, or will not lock to start.
Root cause: Lid-lock solenoid / switch fault, or a run still winding down.
Rotor / bucket wear or corrosion
MediumSymptoms: Visible corrosion, cracks, or a bucket that will not swing; imbalance trips.
Root cause: Rotor / bucket ageing - a safety-critical wear item with a use-life limit.
Serviceable Parts & Consumables
Serviceable items for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Service class and relative cost are estimates, not manufacturer figures; no part numbers are given. Confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
Drive / motor bearings & coupling
Class Major service partRel. cost $$$R&R Difficult
Lid-lock solenoid / switch
Class Major service partRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Speed sensor / control board
Class Major service partRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Motor brushes (older units)
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $R&R Moderate
Rotor / bucket set & O-rings
Log rotor runs; retire per the manufacturer's rotor-life programme.
Class Major service partRel. cost $$$R&R Easy
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive / motor bearings & coupling | Major service part | $$$ | Difficult |
| Lid-lock solenoid / switch | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Speed sensor / control board | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
| Motor brushes (older units) | Periodic replacement | $ | Moderate |
| Rotor / bucket set & O-rings Log rotor runs; retire per the manufacturer's rotor-life programme. | Major service part | $$$ | Easy |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
PM Checklist
Preventive-maintenance tasks typical of this equipment class. Perform to the manufacturer's procedure and your facility's policy - this is general reference, not a schedule for this specific unit.
- ·Daily QC controls run and reviewed
- ·Calibration verification per assay
- ·Routine cleaning and decontamination
- ·Scheduled reagent-path and pump-tubing maintenance
Error Codes
Extracted directly from this unit's own service manual.
P1Power failure occurred, see manual
System or facility power failure. Run shuts down. Press [CE] to clear message. Restart run. Remaining time shows on display.
L1 through L6Door latch, see manual
Latches are not operating properly. Error message appears; run shuts down with maximum brake. Press down on both sides of the door until the [DOOR] LED comes on. Press [CE] to clear message. If you close the door repeatedly and the problem continues, call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
L7Can't open door, see manual
Door latches do not release. Door doesn't open when [DOOR] key is pressed. Press down on the door, then press [DOOR] again. If door still doesn't open call Beckman Coulter Field Service. If the door opens but the message stays on the display, press [CE] to clear.
C1Rotor temp exceeds 4C above set
Rotor temperature exceeds temperature setting by more than 4°C but less than 8°C after equilibration. Run continues; the message is informational. Press [CE] to clear message.
C2Rotor temp exceeds 8C above set, call Service
Rotor temperature exceeds temperature setting by more than 8°C after equilibration. Run shuts down with no brake. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
C3 and C5Temp error, call Service
Refrigeration system error. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
T1 and T2Temp, door locks for 45 minutes, call Service
System temperature problem. Run shuts down with no brake; door locks for 45 minutes. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
T3Temp, door locks for 45 minutes, see manual
Motor overheated. Run shuts down with no brake; door locks for 45 minutes. Wait 45 minutes for motor to cool down, then restart run. Press [CE] to clear message. If problem persists, call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
D1 through D9Drive error, see manual
Drive system problem. Run stops, usually with no brake. After run stops press [CE] to clear message, then restart run. If problem repeats, call Beckman Coulter Field Service. Before trying to open the door, listen carefully and make sure that no sound is coming from the chamber (indicating a spinning rotor). Follow the directions under RETRIEVING YOUR SAMPLE IN CASE OF POWER FAILURE.
R1 and R2Rotor ID problem, see manual
No magnets identified, or magnets incorrectly identified. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Check that magnets are in place on rotor bottom. Press [CE] to clear message. If problem repeats, call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
R3Rotor ID mismatch, check rotor
The entered rotor number is not the same as the rotor identified. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Press [CE] to clear message. Enter the correct rotor entry identification.
R4 and R5No rotor match, see manual
The system cannot identify the rotor. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Make sure the rotor in use is a compatible Beckman Coulter rotor (see AVAILABLE ROTORS in Section 1). Check that magnets are in place on rotor bottom. Press [CE] to clear the message. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
S1System error, call Service
There is a problem with the system control software, EPROM, or RAM. System shuts down, no brake. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
S8System error, door locks for 45 minutes, see manual
There is a problem with system control software. Run shuts down with no brake; door locks for 45 minutes. Wait 45 minutes then press [CE] to clear message; restart run. If problem persists, call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
H1, H2, H4Speed error, call Service
Speed control problem. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
H3, H5, and H6Speed error, door locks for 45 minutes, call Service
Speed control problem. Run shuts down with no brake; door locks for 45 minutes. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
I1Imbalance, see manual
Rotor load is severely out of balance. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Make sure that tubes or bottles are balanced and loaded symmetrically in the rotor as described in the applicable rotor manual. With swinging bucket rotors, remove the buckets and clean and lubricate the pivot pin sockets where the buckets contact as described in the applicable rotor manual. Unlubricated pivot pin sockets can prevent the buckets from reaching horizontal position, which can cause imbalance. Press [CE] to clear message. Rotor tie-down is not properly fastened. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Make sure rotor lid is properly aligned and tie-down T-bar is securely fastened. Press [CE] to clear message. Centrifuge is misaligned (tilted). Run shuts down with maximum brake. Level the centrifuge on the bench or table. Press [CE] to clear message. Centrifuge was moved during operation. Run shuts down with
I2Imbalance error, see manual
System imbalance error. Run shuts down with maximum brake. Press [CE] to clear message, then restart run. If problem persists, call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
C3- / C5-Refrigeration-system temperature error.
The run shuts down. Call Beckman Coulter Field Service.
Troubleshooting Approach
A starting sequence for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Symptom: Diagnostic message / error number on the SPEED display
- Write down the error number or code (e.g. L7-, C1-, C2-, C3-, SEr).
- After the rotor has fully stopped, turn the power off (O) then back on (I) to reset; for some codes, also open and close the door before restarting.
- For a temperature message (C1- informational, C2-/C3-/C5- call service), press [CE] to clear an informational one.
- If "SEr" appears, do not press any keys - power off and on to exit service mode.
- Look the number up in the manual's Error Message Chart; escalate a repeatable microprocessor / mechanical code to Beckman Coulter Field Service.
Symptom: Door will not open (L7- or at end of run)
- Press down firmly on both sides of the door until the [DOOR] LED lights, then press [DOOR].
- If it still will not open, press down on the door and press [DOOR] again.
- Use the door-latch override procedure in the troubleshooting section to retrieve the sample after a power failure.
- If the door opens but the message stays, press [CE] to clear.
- Escalate a persistent latch fault to Beckman Coulter Field Service.
Symptom: Imbalance / vibration / icing (refrigerated)
- Re-balance the load with paired equal-mass tubes.
- For a door stuck shut by ice at very cold set points, press firmly around the door opening and step on the foot pedal again.
- Wipe moisture from the chamber, gasket and inner door before each cold run to minimise icing.
- Inspect the rotor and chamber for a broken tube.
- Verify speed and smooth running with a balanced load.
Typical Location
Where this class of equipment is typically deployed - general reference, not this unit's own placement record.
- Central / core laboratory
- Point-of-care testing stations
- Blood bank
- Microbiology lab
Documents & Manuals
Safety & Recalls
Synced live from the FDA openFDA API.
- RECALL
Beckman Coulter has become aware of an intermittent issue in which the optional flag Previous Sample Had Sperm was enabled but not displayed so that a carryover event could have been investigated.
- RECALL
Beckman Coulter has determined that there is a potential for under-reporting casts. This can occur if per high-power field (/HPF) units of measurement for casts are selected in the iQ200 software, but the abnormal threshold and/or grading format is set up based on reporting per low-power field (/LPF)* or *per microliter. This may occur during initial method validation or if settings are altered after the initial validation.
- RECALL
Unpaired lots of AU lyophilized chemistry calibrator level 1 and 2 have been distributed. Calibrator level 1 and 2 must be paired when used for calibration and cannot be used in any other combination. If lot numbers are not correctly paired, calibration can be run using incorrect set points which may generate erroneous results. QC failures could occur if incorrect pairs of calibrators are used.
- RECALL
The recall was initiated after Beckman Coulter identified four (4) issues with the COULTER LH 500 Series System and the Unicel DxH 800 Coulter Cellular Analysis System: Issue 1: There is a potential for misidentification to occur when the system is configured in languages other than English or Chinese. The characters #,@,[,\,],`,{,|,}, or ~ are substituted or omitted in other languages. The issu
- RECALL
Beckman Coulter has become aware of a potential issue in which the Sample ID information embedded in the barcode affixed to a slide made by the Coulter GEN*S and LH SlideMaker does not match the text.
- RECALL
There is a potential for erroneous yet credible results for Body Fluids on the LH700 series hematology analyzers when a cassette label fails to read and the subsequent sample is cycled in Body Fluid mode.
- RECALL
There is a risk of sample misidentification when processing samples in the Manual aspiration mode.
- RECALL
Biohazard situation exists for users.
- RECALL
Incorrect Hemoglobin result can be reported with software version 2A and higher.
- RECALL
Software vote out logic changed. Erroneous white blood cell counts.
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