We have also been having trouble with gel tubes for primary sampling
recently. Firstly, a tube leading to the electrodes on our Hitachi
917 became blocked (this could be either gel or fibrin; we have not
got an identification of the material), and secondly some of the
tubes did not spin down properly either at the recommended speed and
time or after prolonged centrifugation.
This effect seems to be batch-specific and we are assuming it is due
to variation in the physical properties of the gel. I won't point the
finger at the supplier because they are trying to be helpful, and
also because I suspect that all the gel used by any manufacturer
probably comes from the same source originally.
It's good to hear about other people's problems because one often
hears ".... this is the first time anyone has complained about this
..." with the implication that the complainant is the problem.
Incidentally, it's amazing how hard it is to recall all faulty tubes
after they have been issued around our hospital and other users!
John Whitfield, Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.
Phone [61 2] 9515 5246, Fax [61 2] 9515 7931.
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