Institution Laboratory name Location Head/Responsible person

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance

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Content
1. Scope 2. Definitions and abbreviations 3. Personnel qualifications

#!$ %edical fitness #!& 'ducation and training

4. Procedure

(!$ (!& (!# (!( (!* (!+ (!, (!/

Principle Samples ')uipment and materials Reagents and solutions "etailed instructions for use Reading and recording -ualit. control 0aste management

5. elated documents !nne". #alance maintenance lo$boo%

Compiled b. 4ame "ate Signature Laborator. area:

'1amined b.

2ppro3ed b.

Replaced Code:

4e5 3ersion Code:

4o of copies:

Reason for c6ange:

Institution Laboratory name Location Head/Responsible person

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance

Code: ersion: no! "ate: of release Page: 2 of 5

1. Scope
76is SOP describes t6e optimal use and maintenance of a laborator. balance8 i!e! a balance used to measure mass to a 6ig6 degree of precision! 76ere are man. t.pes of laborator. balance but t6is procedure focuses on electromagnetic balances!

2. Definitions and abbreviations

Sensitivity of a balance 76e smallest mass t6at t6e balance measures accuratel.! 42: not applicable

3. Personnel qualifications
3.1 Medical fitness

42
3.2 Education and training 'ducation and training must be gi3en on t6e follo5ing topics: 6.giene re)uirements9 5earing and use of protecti3e e)uipment and clot6ing9

pre3ention of incidents and steps to be ta:en b. 5or:ers in t6e case of incidents (bio6a;ard incidents8 c6emical8 electrical and fire 6a;ards)9 good laborator. practice9 organi;ation of 5or: flo59 use of e)uipment (operation8 identification of malfunctions8 maintenance)!

76e training s6all be: gi3en before a staff member ta:es up 6is/6er post9 strictl. super3ised9 adapted to ta:e account of ne5 or c6anged conditions9 and repeated periodicall.8 preferabl. e3er. .ear!

4. Procedure
4.1 Principle 'lectromagnetic balances are fragile8 precision instruments intended for t6e accurate 5eig6ing of c6emicals in t6e routine 7< diagnostic laborator.! 76e. are anal.tical balances8 5it6 a ma1imum 5eig6ing capacit. of &=>&== g and a sensiti3it. of =!=$ mg! ?or ot6er purposes8 suc6 as balancing loads for t6e centrifuge8 use an open t5o@pan balance (sensiti3it. of =!* g8 and capacit. of up to se3eral :ilograms)! Use a balance 5it6 a sensiti3it. appropriate for t6e desired 5eig6t!

Institution Laboratory name Location Head/Responsible person

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance

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Optimal operation of t6e balance is ac6ie3ed t6roug6 regular calibration8 3erification and proper maintenance! Initial calibration and 3erification ser3ices are usuall. pro3ided b. t6e manufacturer! 4.2 Samples 42 4.3 Equipment and materials Balance 76e balance s6ould be installed on a solid8 3ibration@free surface8 a5a. from direct sunlig6t and at an e3en temperature! It must be precisel. le3elled8 using t6e built@in spirit le3el: t6e le3elling foots of t6e balance are turned until t6e air bubble is correctl. positioned in t6e centre of t6e spirit le3el! Protect t6e balance from drafts of air! 2ir mo3ing across t6e pans 5ill cause inaccurate readings! 2l5a.s :eep t6e balance and 5eig6ts clean and dr. to protect t6em from corrosion! Other items 0eig6ing paper9 Set of calibrating 5eig6ts9 "ust brus6! 4.4 Reagents and solutions Silica blue desiccant 't6anol8 ,=A 4.5 Detailed instructions for use C6ec: 56et6er t6e sensiti3it. of t6e balance is appropriate for t6e amount of material to be 5eig6ed! Bero t6e balance before use! Put material to be 5eig6ed in a suitable container or on 5eig6ing paper8 ne3er directl. on t6e pan of t6e balance! "etermine t6e mass of t6e 5eig6ing container or paper! Place t6e material to be 5eig6ed in t6e container or on t6e 5eig6ing paper in t6e middle of t6e pan to a3oid corner@load error! 7o pre3ent contamination of stoc: material8 do not return unused substance to t6e stoc: bottle! Clean t6e balance 5it6 a soft8 clean brus6 after use! Refer to manufacturerCs manual for ot6er instructions on cleaning! <alance pans and t6e 5or:ing area can be disinfected 5it6 ,=A et6anol!

Institution Laboratory name Location Head/Responsible person

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance

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2l5a.s :eep t6e 5or: area clean! 06en t6e balance is not in use8 :eep it under an airtig6t plastic co3er for protection against dust! Place a dis6 of 5it6 blue silica under t6e co3er to remo3e 6umidit. from t6e air! (06en t6e silica desiccant 6as turned red8 it must be regenerated b. 6eating!)

4.6 Reading and recording 76e mass of t6e substance being 5eig6ed is read directl. from t6e screen of t6e balance! 4. !ualit" control 4.7.1 Daily Using an appropriate milligram/gram 5eig6t8 c6ec: dail. t6at t6e 5eig6t registered b. t6e balance agrees 5it6 t6e calibrating 5eig6ts! Record t6is c6ec: in t6e logboo: (see 2nne1)! 4.7.2 Annually Calibration of t6e balance s6ould be carried out annuall. or after an. repair or re@siting b. a )ualified ser3ice tec6nician and registered in t6e logboo:! Repair of t6e balance s6ould be carried out b. a )ualified ser3ice tec6nician! 4.# $aste management

42 5. elated documents

%anufacturerCs manual8 specific to eac6 balance! Basics of quality assurance for intermediate and peripheral laboratories8 &nd ed! Cairo8 0HO Regional Office for t6e 'astern %editerranean8 &==&! aintenance and repair of laboratory! dia"nostic ima"in" and hospital equipment! Dene3a8 0orld Healt6 Organi;ation8 $EE(! aintenance manual for laboratory equipment8 &nd ed! Dene3a8 0orld Healt6 Organi;ation8 &==/ (a3ailable at 555!56o!int/entit./diagnosticsFlaborator./documents/guidance/guidance&/en/) anual of basic techniques for a health laboratory8 &nd ed! Dene3a8 0orld Healt6 Organi;ation8 &==#!

Institution Laboratory name Location Head/Responsible person

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance

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!nne". #alance maintenance lo$boo%

')uipment: <2L24C' Purc6ase date: Location 5it6in t6e laborator.: 0arrant. e1pir. date: %anufacturer: 2ddress:! Contact person: 7ec6nical ser3ice representati3e: &'() &D(*'&+&C!'&,* <rand name: %odel/t.pe: Serial no! 7el: 7el:

P( &,D&C&'-. "ate %aintenance operation Operator

"ate

'3ent

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Operator