23 May 2001

Aerospray® Microbiology Slide Stainer

SS-141 Gram Reagent Concentrate System

Intended Use

SS-141 system is a series of concentrated gram reagents for staining microbial specimens with the Wescor Aerospray Microbiology Slide Stainer.

Description

Wescor reagents provide optimum performance with your Aerospray Slide Stainer. The reagent concentrate system delivers the quality and performance of our standard prepared reagents in a smaller package. Reagent concentrates offer lower cost, less shipping expense and reduced storage space requirements. Mixing is easy, and you can use diluted reagent concentrates immediately. There is no need for prolonged agitation, filtration, or other time-consuming steps.

For convenient mixing and storage, we recommend a 4.5 liter space-saver container and dispensing spigot for each reagent. These reusable items are available from Wescor:

Catalog No.	Description

AC-038	4.5 liter Space-Saver Container with Lid.

AC-039	Dispensing Spigot for Space-Saver Container (AC-038).

AC-043	Empty 500 ml Reagent Bottle with Lid.

Microbiology Reagent Concentrates

Catalog No.	Description

SS-141A	Reagent A Decolorizer with Safranin Concentrate, 210 ml bottle will dilute to 4.71 liters of reagent.

SS-141AF	Reagent AF Decolorizer with Fuchsin Concentrate, 135 ml bottle will dilute to 4.635 liters of reagent. NOTE: Basic Fuchsin is a cancer suspect agent. Refer to material safety data sheet (MSDS).

SS-141B	Reagent B Iodine Concentrate, 500 ml bottle will dilute to 5.0 liters of reagent.

SS-141C	Reagent C Crystal Violet Concentrate, 135 ml bottle will dilute to 4.6 liters of reagent.

Each bottle of reagent concentrate includes:

Reagent Concentrate, 135 - 500 ml Bottle

Reagent Label for 4.5 liter Space-Saver Container

Reagent Label for 500 ml Reagent Bottle

Mixing Instructions (One per Order)

Instructions

WARNING! These reagents contain moderately toxic chemicals that require care in handling. Always use appropriate safety measures including gloves and eye protection when handling reagents.

PREPARE CONTAINER

Use a clean, empty container with 5 liter capacity (we recommend the space-saver container described on page 1). If you notice any debris or precipitated reagent from previous use, clean the container before proceeding.

You need to disinfect the container monthly to prevent microbial growth. To disinfect, fill the container with a 1/10 dilution of household bleach and let stand for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with deionized water.

REMOVE SPIGOT

Remove the dispensing spigot and turn the container so its spout is upright.

ADD SOLVENTS AND CONCENTRATES

Wescor offers two formulations for diluting reagent SS-141A and SS-141AF. The recommended acetone formulation* provides somewhat better differentiation between gram negative and gram positive bacteria. While straight acetone will dissolve the carousel and other instrument parts, acetone at 25% and below in isopropanol has been shown to operate satisfactorily in the Aerospray without significant damage over a 5-year period. The previously recommended blend of isopropanol and methanol may also be used if desired (shown below).

Add solvents and concentrates to their containers in the order and quantities listed below:

Reagent	Filtered, Deionized Water

(0.2 micron filter, minimum 200,000 ohms resistivity)	Anhydrous, Reagent-
Grade Isopropanol	Anhydrous, Reagent-
Grade Methanol	Anhydrous Reagent-
Grade Acetone	Reagent Concentrate
A*	3600 ml	900 ml	SS-141A (210 ml)
AF*	3600 ml	900 ml	SS-141AF (135 ml)
B	4500 ml	SS-141B (500 ml)
C	4500 ml	SS-141C (135 ml)
A	2700 ml	1800 ml	SS-141A (210 ml)
AF	2700 ml	1800 ml	SS-141AF (135 ml)

MIX

Replace the dispensing spigot or container lid and mix the reagent thoroughly by inverting the container several times.

APPLY LABELS

Expiration dates for Reagents A, AF, and C are the dates printed on the concentrate bottle. The expiration date for Reagent B (Iodine) is eight months from the date of dilution or the expiration date printed on concentrate bottle, whichever is sooner. Transfer the lot and expiration data from the concentrate bottle to both reagent labels. Initial and date the reagent labels. Apply the appropriate label to both the mixing container and the instrument reagent bottle.

The reagent is ready for use. Refer to the stainer User's Manual for loading instructions.