Calibration (in the field):
- Press the On/Off button to turn on the pump.
- Use the Up/Down arrow buttons to select CAL.
- Connect the end of the flow indicator to the Bio-Pump.
- Press the Set button and the pump will start running at low speed.
- Press the Up/Down arrow buttons rapidly to adjust the flow rate until the silver ball in the flow indicator is in the middle of the black (15 L) line.
- Press the Set button to save the calibration. The pump will stop automatically.
- Press Up/Down arrow button to select Verify Calibration.
- Press Start/Stop to begin verification. The silver ball should reach the middle of the black line and remain there.
- Press the Start/Stop to end verification.
- Remove the flow indicator.
Spore trap collection:
- Calibrate the pump prior to sampling.
- Determine sampling sites.
- Collect an indoor sample from an unaffected area to serve as a control.
- Collect a representative outdoor sample to provide a reference for determining whether certain fungi are being amplified in the indoor environment.
- Submit a blank, unexposed spore trap cassette with each sampling event to serve as a negative control.
- Place the pump in the desired location.
- Label the spore trap cassette with sample number.
- Do not use damaged or expired cassettes.
- Avoid writing over the lot number and expiration date on the cassette.
- Remove the label from the outlet port of the cassette and place it on the side of the pump.
- The labels on the outlet and intake ports will be used later to seal the cassette.
- Place the cassette on the rubber grommet on top of the pump until it fits snugly.
- Immediately before sampling, remove the spore trap from the inlet of the cassette and place it on the side of the pump.
- Examples of recommended sampling times:
- Sampling volume (15 L/min); 75 total liters is recommended as a benchmark for representative sample volume.
- The flow rate recommended for total spore sampling is 15L/min for 3-5 minutes with Air-O-Cell, VersaTrap, and Allergenco-D cassettes, and 5L/min for 5 minutes with Micro-5 cassettes. Longer sampling times are used for clean rooms, hospitals, and remediated areas.
- In dusty or heavily polluted areas, particle overloading may occur, and sampling times/volume should be adjusted accordingly.
LOCATION SAMPLING TIME Outdoor (depending on season) 2-5 minutes Indoor Clean office (no visible dust) 5 minutes High activity personnel 2-5 minutes Drywall renovation or industrial dust 1 minute Visible dust present 30 seconds
- Turn on the pump.
- The impacted area (trace) of the spore trap should appear opaque, not white, when an appropriate amount of sample has been collected.
- If the trace appears white, repeat the sample collection for a shorter amount of time.
- When sampling is completed, replace the label on the spore trap cassette inlet port.
- Remove the cassette from the pump by gently pulling upward.
- Replace the label on the cassette outlet.
- Shipping:
- Clearly label each sample with a Sample Number and complete the Chain of Custody (COC).
- Place the cassettes in a Ziploc bag in a box with the sufficient packing material to prevent damage and ship to the laboratory with the completed COC form.
- Keep spore trap cassettes at room temperature to prevent melting of the gel layer.
- Ship samples Monday through Friday.
Maintenance:
- Prior to use, inspect the electrical cord, plug, and rubber grommet for frays, cracks, wear, degradation, or contamination.
- If the pump demonstrates any of the above, do not use the equipment and return it for service.
Battery Use & Care:
- Checking the battery power
- Press the On/Off button to turn on the unit.
- Use the Up/Down arrow buttons to select Battery. The display will show the percentage of the battery life left.
- LOW BATTERY will be displayed when there is enough power for approximately one five-minute sample.
- Press the On/Off button on the pump to turn off the power.
- Charging the battery
- Plug in the female end of the battery charger into the jack at the back of the Bio-Pump.
- Plug the opposite end into an electrical outlet.
- The green LED light in the back of the unit will light up. When charging is complete, the light will go out.
- Charging takes ~2-3 hours.
- If the pump is not used for an extended period of time, it will slowly lose its battery charge.
- A typical charge will allow 30 spore trap samples to be taken at 5-minute collection times per sample.
- AC Power Operation
- Plug in the female end of the battery charger into the jack at the back of the Bio-Pump.
- Collect samples as normal.
Reference:
Biopump Operating Instructions. Zefon International, Ocala, FL. LAO3066 Rev. 2