Technical Support
VALIDATE® Products FAQs:
Questions:
How do I get information on your new products?
Where can I find the target values for each level?
I do not have a non-frost-free freezer. How should I store your frozen products?
My instrument uses direct ISE for electrolytes. Do I need the Chem 8 kit?
Can you provide guidance on how best to thaw VALIDATE® kits?
Answers:
How do I get information on your new products?
Join our mailing list or call (800-377-9684). We will need typical contact information, such as institution name, contact name, address, phone, fax and email. We will send you new product information when it is available.
Where can I find the target values for each level?
Typical values, by configuration, can be found in your package insert, or by calling Maine Standards Company Technical Support. Typical values are intended as a guide only, and are not intended to be used as targets for data analysis. Actual results obtained may vary depending on instrumentation, methodology and assay temperature. Results may also be dependent on the accuracy of the instrument/reagent system calibration. The degree of acceptable nonlinearity is an individual judgment based on methodology, clinical significance and medical decision levels of the test analyte.
I do not have a non-frost-free freezer. How should I store your frozen products?
VALIDATE® products that require frozen storage need a non-frost-free freezer capable of maintaining the recommended storage temperatures. These storage conditions are similar to many other frozen controls and calibrators typically stored by a laboratory. Please refer to our technical bulletin 05-001 for more details on why a non-frost-free freezer is needed and what to do if you do not have access to one.
My instrument uses direct ISE for electrolytes. Do I need the Chem 8 kit?
If you are using an instrument from a leading manufacturer with either direct or indirect ISE, then you will not need the Chem 8 kit.
The Chem 8 product was designed primarily for smaller bench top analyzers that perform LITHIUM by direct ISE. Examples of these systems are Roche’s AVL series or Beckman’s El-ISE systems. Therefore, unless you perform LITHIUM on a separate system from your main large chemistry analyzer, you do not need the Chem 8 kit.
My frozen product was inadvertently placed in the refrigerator over the weekend. Can I still use the kit?
VALIDATE® products are temperature sensitive and require specific storage conditions. Maine Standards Company can only guarantee the performance of test kits stored in accordance with labeled instructions. We recommend contacting us to purchase replacement kits for any product not stored properly.
Storage requirements for VALIDATE® products can be found on the end panel of the kit box, bottle labels and the package inserts. Products that are to be stored at 2 to 8°C are packaged in BLUE kit boxes and products that are to be stored at -10 to -20°C or -10 to -25°C are packaged in WHITE kit boxes.
The storage conditions required by the VALIDATE® products are similar to other controls, calibrators and reagents used in clinical laboratories. Please refer to the FAQ regarding non-frost-free freezers needed for the products that require frozen storage.
Can you provide guidance on how best to thaw VALIDATE® kits?
Prior to use, remove the VALIDATE® Calibration Verification / Linearity Test Kit from storage and allow to come to room temperature, 18°C to 25°C. To minimize the time that it takes to completely thaw, remove the bottles from the box. Typically, the thawing process takes approximately 45 minutes to reach room temperature. Invert gently before use.
For Technical Support:
| Phone: | 800-377-9684 |
| 207-892-1300 | |
| Fax: | 207-892-2266 |
Hours:
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM,
Eastern Time, Monday
through Thursday.
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday.
For technical consultation outside of normal business hours, simply call during business hours or email us to schedule a time.