The air microbial sampler is the "air quality guardian" of hospital operating rooms, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, disease control centers, and other places, used to accurately capture microorganisms (such as bacteria and fungal spores) in the air, helping to assess the level of environmental microbial pollution. But for new users, 'difficult installation' is often the first hurdle. don't worry! As long as you master the four step process of "unpacking inspection environment preparation component assembly debugging operation", installation difficulties can be easily resolved.
Step 1: Unpack and inspect to confirm that all parts are complete
receivedsamplerAfterwards, unpack the box immediately and check the accessories against the instruction manual. Taking the common Anderson six stage impact sampler as an example, standard accessories usually include: host (including fan and control panel), six stage impact head (including six layers of impact disks with different apertures), sampling head bracket (adjustable height), flow meter (adjusting air flow to 28.3L/min), power adapter (input 220V, output matching host voltage), spare sealing ring (preventing interface leakage), and instruction manual. If missing accessories are found (such as a missing impact disc or sealing ring), immediately contact the manufacturer for replacement to avoid affecting subsequent installation.
Step 2: Choose the right environment and lay a solid foundation for installation
The installation location directly affects the representativeness of the sampling results. Choose to stay away from air conditioning vents (at least 1 meter to prevent directional airflow interference), areas with frequent human movement (to reduce dust pollution), and level and stable countertops (such as laboratory workstations or dedicated sampling racks). If it is a wall mounted sampler, the installation hole position should be marked on the wall (according to the instructions, drill holes with an impact drill and install expansion screws), ensuring that the bracket is installed vertically without tilting (can be calibrated with a level ruler). It is recommended to control the ambient temperature between 10-30 ℃ (to avoid high temperature damaging the fan or low temperature affecting microbial activity), and the relative humidity should be less than 80% (to prevent condensed water from affecting the sampling head).
Step 3: Assemble step by step to ensure a tight fit
1. Install the sampling head: Place the impact disks of the six level impact head into the card slot in order (pay attention to the direction, usually with larger holes in the upper layer and smaller holes in the lower layer, indicated by arrows indicating the direction of airflow), and press them tightly with a fixing ring (ensure that each layer of impact disk is not loose, otherwise it will cause airflow short circuit and some microorganisms cannot be captured). If it is a liquid impact sampler, pour sterile liquid (such as buffered saline) into a collection bottle (about 10-20mL), and then install the collection bottle at the outlet of the sampling head.
2. Connect the host to the sampling head: Connect the outlet of the sampling head to the inlet of the host through a silicone hose (or metal hard tube) (the interface needs to be sealed, wrapped with a matching sealing ring or tape 2-3 times to avoid air leakage and insufficient sampling flow). Fix the sampling head on the bracket (usually 1.2-1.5 meters high, simulating the height of a human breathing belt), and tighten the screws of the bracket fixture (with moderate force to avoid damaging the sampling head).
3. Install the flowmeter and power supply: Set the flowmeter knob to the "0" position (initial position), connect the host power cord (pay attention to voltage matching, if 220V AC power is required, plug it into a standard socket, and do not use damaged power strips). If it is a battery powered model, fully charge it in advance (a battery level below 20% may cause unstable fan speed).
Step 4: Debug and run to verify the installation effect
After installation, turn on the power (check all interfaces for firmness before turning on), and set the target sampling flow rate (such as 28.3L/min, which is the international standard for air microbial sampling flow rate). Adjust the fan speed through a flow meter (observe the flow display value, the normal error should be<± 5%). After the flow rate stabilizes, observe the operation status of the sampling head: the impact sampler can see tiny particles driven by the airflow hitting the impact disks at all levels (if there are no obvious particles attached but there is dust in the environment, it may be due to poor sealing); The liquid sampler can hear a slight airflow sound (indicating that air is entering the collection bottle normally). Use a stopwatch to time for 1 minute and check if the flow meter value is stable (fluctuation<± 2%). If it is unstable, recheck the interface sealing or calibrate the flow meter.
Additional reminder: "Small details" after installation
Regularly clean the sampling head (wipe the impact disc or collection bottle with a 75% alcohol cotton ball after each use to avoid microbial residue contamination during the next sampling).
IfsamplerIf not in use for a long time, remove the battery (to prevent leakage) or disconnect the power supply, and store it in a dry and cool place (to avoid damaging components due to high temperature or humidity).
By following these four steps, even users who are new to the sampler can easily complete the installation, enabling the device to quickly start working and providing reliable data support for environmental microbial monitoring!