VetScan VS2® FAQ
- Is the VS2 a "one test at a time" system?
- Do I need a separate instrument for electrolytes or blood gases?
- Can the analyzer detect a flawed or defective rotor?
- How many species can the VS2 store for reference ranges?
- How many result records can the VS2 hold?
- What maintenance does the VS2 require?
- Does the VS2 require calibration?
- Does the VS2 need surge protection or an uninterruptable power supply?
- Can I connect the VS2 to an external computer?
- What types of samples can I run on the VS2?
- Is precision pipetting required?
- Can I use sodium heparin?
- Can I use whole blood directly in a rotor?
- If I inadvertently run an outdated rotor, do I risk inaccurate results?
- What is the shelf life of rotors?
- If a rotor was exposed to heat do I risk unreliable results as with other systems? Or if it's run too cold?
- Do rotors require warm-up before use?
- Does hemolysis, lipemia, or icterus affect the results on the VetScan VS2?
- What do the tilde (~ ~ ~) symbols in the results mean?
- What happens if I run a rotor under the wrong species?
- Can the VS2 results be transmitted to my lab management software?
- Can I back up the results on my VS2?
- Can patients other than equine, large animal, or avian use the Equine, Large Animal and Avian profiles?
- Is the VS2 a "one test at a time" system?
No. The VS2 offers a variety of assays in a number of preconfigured panels for the utmost flexibility, while requiring only seconds of hands-on time, and providing the lowest possible operating costs.
back to top - Do I need a separate instrument for electrolytes or blood gases?
No. The VS2 offers Na+, K+, tCO2, and Cl- which can be run on the same unit, test procedure, and sample.
back to top - Can the analyzer detect a flawed or defective rotor?
Yes. The VS2's extensive Intelligent Quality Control (iQC) detects any flaw or potential anomaly in the rotor. Abaxis also provides a Performance Guarantee covering manufacture-defective rotors. (This does not include cancellations or assay suppressions due to improper rotor storage, operator error, or poor sample integrity.)
back to top - How many species can the VS2 store for reference ranges?
In addition to cat, dog, and horse, the VS2 includes pre-determined specie labels for entering your own reference ranges, and also provides 99 open labels for adding further species.
back to top - How many result records can the VS2 hold?
The VS2 stores the results of the last 5000 rotors run. Thereafter, the VS2 replaces the oldest record with the most recent.
back to top - What maintenance does the VS2 require?
The only required maintenance is cleaning the air filter on the back of the analyzer.
back to top - Does the VS2 require calibration?
No. Unlike any other system, the VS2 reagents are factory-calibrated. The analyzer reads calibration values from the bar code on the rotor itself. The VS2 then calibrates its optics automatically for each measurement, and measures optical absorbance to determine the concentration of each analyte.
back to top - Does the VS2 need surge protection or an uninterruptable power supply?
Abaxis recommends plugging the VS2 into a surge protector designed for use with a computer. Abaxis also recommends using an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) in areas prone to electrical surges or power outages.
back to top - Can I connect the VS2 to an external computer?
Yes. Sample results and status reports can be transmitted to a computer (through a USB port) whenever calculated or prepared. You can use popular terminal emulation software to collect the data from the VS2. The data is delivered in raw ASCII format, and can easily be converted to text for use in other applications.
For information about optional Ethernet connectivity capabilities, or ASTM or XML connections, contact Abaxis Technical Service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-822-2947.
The VS2 also interfaces with many commercial veterinary data management software packages. For information on compatible packages, check with your software vendor, or contact Abaxis Technical Service.
back to top - What types of samples can I run on the VS2?
Whole blood, serum, or plasma.
back to top - Is precision pipetting required?
No. Adding approximately 100-120µl of sample is sufficient. (Make sure not to overfill the chamber, or internal spills can result.) The VS2's on-board microfluidics handle the rest.
back to top - Can I use sodium heparin?
No. This anticoagulant can alter results. We recommend using lithium heparin with the VS2.
back to top - Can I use whole blood directly in a rotor?
No. Syringes might be heparinized with sodium heparin anticoagulant, which is not recommended for use with the VS2. Instead, transfer the sample to a green top lithium heparin tube before loading into the rotor.
back to top - If I inadvertently run an outdated rotor, do I risk inaccurate results?
The analyzer checks the rotor, and cancels the run if the rotor is outdated. This makes it essential to set your VS2 to the correct date and time.
back to top - What is the shelf life of rotors?
Rotor shelf life depends on the type of rotor, but averages approximately 9 to 18 months from the date of manufacture. See the package label to determine the rotor expiration date. To ensure optimal performance through the expiration date, the rotors must be refrigerated at 2-8° C (36-46° F), and used one at a time directly from the refrigerator.
Note: Do not store rotors in the freezer or along side of a freezer component within a refrigerator. This freezes the diluent pack, which prevents it from running properly in the instrument.
back to top - If a rotor was exposed to heat do I risk unreliable results as with other systems? Or if it's run too cold?
Always store rotors in the appropriate conditions to help ensure accurate results. Rotors may tolerate brief exposure to heat or cold, but excessive exposure to extreme temperatures suppresses reporting of some results, since the VS2's extensive built-in iQC mechanisms protect against reporting results for potentially compromised analytes.
back to top - Do rotors require warm-up before use?
No. In fact, you should use rotors directly from the refrigerator.
back to top - Does hemolysis, lipemia, or icterus affect the results on the VetScan VS2?
Endogenous substances such as hemolysis, lipemia, and icterus affect all blood chemistries, regardless of the type, size, or cost of the analysis instrument. The VetScan VS2 is the only point-of-care analyzer that assesses and suppresses hemolysis, lipemia, and icterus by determining assay-by-assay the level at which these substances could affect the reliability of the results, and bringing this to the user's attention.
back to top - What do the tilde (~ ~ ~) symbols in the results mean?
These symbols mean that the VS2's iQC algorithm is functioning correctly and results for that particular chemistry analysis were suppressed. If the VS2 cannot assure reliable results because of sample quality, endogenous substances, or unmeasurable analysis, the analyzer suppresses the results rather than simply report unreliable numbers.
back to top - What happens if I run a rotor under the wrong species?
The analyzer is specifically calibrated for different species. If a rotor is run under the wrong species bank, the results will be unusable, and the rotor must be run again under the correct species.
back to top - Can the VS2 results be transmitted to my lab management software?
Most lab management software is compatible with Abaxis equipment. Check with your software company to be certain.
back to top - Can I back up the results on my VS2?
No, but you can print out reference ranges and results, or transfer them for storage in your lab management software.
back to top - Can patients other than equine, large animal, or avian use the Equine, Large Animal and Avian profiles?
No. Profiles and reference ranges are designed for the specific species indicated on the package label. Running samples of other species can provide inaccurate results because some analytes are species-specific. See the rotor package insert for more information.
back to top