Hemochon Sig Elite - No Sample ID (losing configuration?)

Oh Sandra! That is worrisome for so many compliance and patient safety issues. I would send it in for repair to manufacturer. None of my Hemochrons act this way and my IQCP would stroke out if it did. 

Good luck!
Erika Deaton-Mohney MT(ASCP), CPP
deatone@bronsonhg.org

I have not experienced that, but I have experienced random devices not recognizing multiple Operator IDs even though they are defined and certified.  The fix was easy - simply powering down and then back on, and it recognized the IDs fine.  I realize that's not the same issue, but it is along the lines of the device "losing its mind", lol, so I am wondering if it would also work for your issue.
  Curious, do you use the old Configuration Manager or are you using their new GEMWEB Plus to configure?

Great pull on the losing its mind. We had to "reset" one of our instruments because it would not quit alarming. The fix was to let it run out of battery power. I put it in a box and left it turned on. The next day I came in, I charged in with a power cord and turned it back on. Worked fine after that.

James Beck: We use the old Config Mngr (CM). We had the issue with operators not being recognized periodically.  The previous POCC was loading operators in both CM and Telcor. Turned out we needed to create one 000000 operator in CM.  If it loses one now, I just have them download again. I'll have them try the on/off next time as you may be correct because by the time I get to the unit, the Elite has shut off and I cannot replicate the issue. Thank you!

Erika Deaton-Mohney: We had that alarm issue (fault) and resolved it the same way. The next one however, required a new analyzer purchase.

If this were just one analyzer or one department....and it's very sporadic. It resolves once downloaded. What's amazing to me is they realize it isn't "right" but don't think to notify us. Some don't even catch that it didn't prompt them and don't look at the display to see that there isn't an ID.

Tech Support wanted me to check before each download to ensure the PID wasn't being stripped off by Telcor. Not likely. They also said that the ethernet cord should not stay plugged in after download is completed so I'm working on re-educating staff. I started asking many different questions (did you interrupt EQC, did it ask for EQC, was if off or on, any other issues or unusual behavior, etc.) and then discovered it wasn't even prompting for PID, still did for operator.

Interesting.  Regarding the ethernet connection being always 'plugged in' - I have run mine that way (with cable always in) for 10+ years and have never had configuration lapse issues.

Update. I did some experimenting and discovered that if the EQC was aborted when the analyzer was started by cuvette insertion, the analyzer went to QC Selects 1-QC Normal, 2-QC Abnormal. If you try to cancel, nothing happens. If you make a selection, it goes the screen to enter the QC lot. At that point, press Cancel and it goes to Enter OID and immediately starts the countdown to add specimen with "Add Sample....Press Start." No PID was requested and no way to enter it. If the cuvette is simply pulled out at that point, EQC starts. I was working with Werfen and they were able to duplicate the problem. I'm sure this happened because the operators would just push buttons until the test could be performed (their words, not mine). Werfen was able to duplicate the issue so we no longer allow cuvette insertions to start the instrument. Re-education was done.  1) Start must be used to turn on. 2) Prior to procedure or scheduled ACT, check when EQC is due and run if needed. 3) EQC is NOT to be aborted. 4) No PID - no test--pull cuvette out to abort the test. Turn the instrument off and then back on to reset. The good news is that since education, there have been no more occurrences of missing PID.