User manual

VITEK

2 Instrument Instrument Hardware Components

VITEK

2 Instrument User Manual 4-11

510731-10EN1

Dispenser/Pipettor Station

This station automatically prepares the organism dilution used for AST

(Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test) cards. VITEK

2 provides a significant time

savings by ensuring that mated ID and AST cards are processed from the

same sample.

Dispenser

The dispenser system, shown in Figure 4-6, delivers 2.5 mL of sterile saline

into the test tube of each AST card in a cassette.

Figure 4-6: Dispenser System

Sterile Saline. The top of the VITEK

2 instrument has a compartment

designed to hold a one-liter bag of sterile saline (1, Figure 4-6). This is

enough saline to process about 330 AST cards.

Dispenser Assembly. The dispenser assembly consists of a plastic

dispensing chamber and two sections of plastic tubing. One section of

tubing (2) leads from the dispensing chamber and is attached to the sterile

saline bag. The other section of tubing (3) also leads from the dispensing