Radiometer · Model ABL90 FLEX
Blood gas analyzer for point of care testing. Designed specifically for demanding hospital wards like the ICU, the NICU and the ED, the ABL90 FLEX analyzer is quickly ready for the next sample.
Failure patterns typical of this equipment class - general BMET reference, not verified against this exact unit's own service history unless flagged. Severity is a category-level estimate.
Symptoms: Aspiration error, short sample, carryover.
Root cause: Clot/crystal obstruction.
Symptoms: Vibration, loud noise, stop error.
Root cause: Worn bearing or unbalanced rotor.
Symptoms: Clogs, high blank, QC fail.
Root cause: Pump tube wear, air in line.
Symptoms: Incubator out of range.
Root cause: Failed heater/fan or sensor.
The parts a BMET typically services on this class of equipment. Service class and relative cost are general engineering estimates for the category, not figures from this unit's documentation. Part numbers appear only when pulled from this unit's own service manual. Always confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
Consumable, replace proactively.
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peristaltic pump tubing Consumable, replace proactively. | Frequent wear item | $ | Easy |
| Xenon / LED light source | Periodic replacement | $$$ | Moderate |
| Centrifuge rotor & bearings | Major service part | $$$ | Difficult |
| Incubator heater / fan | Periodic replacement | $$ | Moderate |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
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.
A structured starting point derived from the failure modes above. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Where this class of equipment is typically deployed - general reference, not this unit's own placement record.
Synced live from the FDA openFDA API.
ABL90 FLEX and ABL90 FLEX PLUS analyzers running with Radiometer Windows 10 versions RWIN10 1.0 and RWIN10 1.1 may unexpectedly freeze (the analyzer ceases to operate) during a sample measurement. The analyzer software includes a feature (watchdog) that detects a freeze and automatically restarts the software to continue operating the analyzer. However, even if a restart occurs, any sample being processed at that time will be lost, potential to lead to delay in test results.
Issue with analyzer when the pH of the calibration solution decreases during the in-use period potentially because of bacterial growth in the calibration solution bottles. This may result in a probability of reporting biased out-of-specification pH results on blood samples.
There is a potential for sporadic incidents of positive and negative biases for analyzer systems configured with cNa+, cCa+, and cK+.
Due to an issue with the internal clock of the analyzers with an e3800 PC unit installed.
Barcode readers on ALB900 and ABL800 analyzers used for measuring pH, blood gases, electrolytes, glucose, lactate, hematocrit and oximetry may misinterpret the contents of some barcode types not using a check digit for patient ID or accession number. Misinterpretation of a barcode, including e.g. patient ID or accession number, may result in patient mix up and/or delayed medical treatment.
Analyzer's barcode reader misinterprets the contents of barcode label used for entering patient ID or accession number. The issue is related to barcode types not using a check digit. This could result in patient mixup or loss of sample resulting in delayed medical treatment
Through internal investigation is has been determined that an incorrect component was used within the power supply. The incorrect component may cause a short circuit within the power supply resulting in a delay in treatment. The delay could result in a range of risk from cyanosis and low blood pressure to cardiac arrhythmias and severe impairment of cardiac function.
The firm received reports of occurrences where the barcode reader misinterpreted the contents of a locally printed barcode label used for entering patient ID or accession number into the analyzer in connection with a sample measurement. This could result is patient mixup and/or lost of sample, resulting in delayed medical treatment.
The analyzers fail on S7950 (Range +) QC measurements due to the hemolyzer cuvettes, a subcomponent of the optical system which measures ctHb and derivates. In a cuvette with light shunt, some of the received light has not been transmitted through the sample. This will lead to a perturbed and non-linear absorbance spectrum which results in measurement errors.
Software Security; The action is being initiated because of software security vulnerabilities with the firm's analyzer operating system, which may cause the device to shutdown or reboot resulting in delayed medical treatment.
From three incidents in Denmark and Sweden, comparison studies on patient blood samples carried out for quality assurance demonstrated that creatinine measurements as determined on analyzers could be underestimated with up to 28% as compared with measurements from COBAS. The underestimated creatinine occurs specifically, when measurements on Autocheck 6+ level 1 (also known as S7835 Autocheck module and abbreviated AC6+L1) are less than or equal to 230 micro-meter of a specified insert interval for AC6+L1 with insert limits 210 290 micro-meter. Ultimately, a lower read-out on patient samples is observed Customers are concerned about underestimation of creatinine results in patients, which are to undergo radiocontrast x-ray investigations. If these patients are not healthy, the exposure of radiocontrast agents may induce kidney insufficiency (contrast-induced nephropathy). Hazardous situ
The ABL90 FLEX can aspirate Cal 2 solution instead of rinse solution, when the following take place: The analyzer is in ready mode Operator lifts the inlet and then closes it again, thereby initiating a rinse Immediately after lifts the inlet and quickly closes it again
Reports that the sample type "cord blood" has been changed into the two sample types "cord blood arterial" and "cord blood venous.
The ABL90 analyzer does not always use the most recent calibration data to calculate patient results. This can in some cases lead to a biased patient result.
Negative drift on QC during in-use lifetime of CREA membranes can be observed.
RADIOMETER become aware that if the ABL90 FLEX is tilted, this may potentially cause a negative bias on sodium (Na+) results.
Following the receipt of two (2) reported customer complaints, the firm determined that the current operating software for their ABL 90 Analyzer does not prevent the further use of the sensor cassette when there is the possibility of iron rich plaque build-up in the reference electrode. If the device operator/user ignores the error message and continues to obtain biased measuring results using the
Due to a software error, a patient mix up can occur on the ABL90. If a sample is pre-registered and the sample "fails" the next result will inherit the patient data from the previous result.
Analysis of customer data, (for ABL 8X7 customers) has shown that the reference membranes are out of analytical specifications when replaced as specified in the device labeling. These errors in analytical specifications could lead to inadequate or clinical interventions (therapy) or misleading interpretation of patient status in clinical settings.
Tube may break. The firm discovered that the yellowish/white tubes used in their blood gas analyzers (ABL800 Flex Series) were manufactured incorrectly. These tubes have the potential to break off at the black plastic connectors. The breakage may occur during the installation of the tubes or after a short time in use.
In some situations pre-registered patient data is not reset when leaving the pre-registration mode in the software. This occurs when a Safe Pico blood sampler associated with a specific patient is pre-registered in the analyzer by scanning a barcode.
Incorrect FI02 values: programming issue can cause incorrect values to be transmitted to the LIS when : 1)- The FIO2 result is edited in the manual sample processing mode--2)- An existing result is opened and FI02 is then edited and sent.....In both cases RADIANCE will transmit the original FI02 value, not the value that was edited.
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