Filta-Max xpress System

Yes, the Filta-Max xpress system is accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Methods 1622 and 1623.

• Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Standards and Risk Management Division; January 11, 2007

Typically there might be between 0 mL–50 mL remaining in the housing after sampling. This is purged from the housing during the first cycle of the elution.

You can use only Filta-Max housings (MKII) with the correct fittings with the Pressure Elution Station. You can use Filta-Max MKI housings and Filta-Max MKII housings with hosetail fittings for field sampling; however, you should place the filter modules in an MKII housing with appropriate fittings for the elution process.

Yes. IDEXX provides a kit that includes a QF stem and a QC body that you can fit onto the MKII housing. IDEXX also provides a sampling kit that you can attach to the sampling hose to aid in the quick attachment of the filter housing.

• Minimum input pressure: 65 psig (4.5 bar)
• Maximum input pressure: 150 psig (10.3 bar)
• Working pressure: 72.5 to 116 psig (5 to 8 bar)

The Qorpak plastic 8 oz jar can be used to transport the filters. VWR cat # 36318-860. The Qorpak cat # is PLC-4DK0182AWNA6C9 3823.

Yes, they can be purchased directly from Swagelok.

Qorpak is a registered trademark of All-Pak, LLC. Swagelok is a registered trademark of the Swagelok Corporation.

The final volume is 400 mL–450 mL.

IDEXX performed experiments with various ages of oocysts and cysts, and did not see any changes to the morphology or mophometry.

Recoveries are equivalent to, or higher than, Filta-Max and show a higher degree of precision.

The machine is calibrated at point of manufacture and does not require recalibration thereafter. There are low- and high-pressure gauges that can be used to check the pressure. The high-pressure gauge should read 5 bar and the low-pressure gauge should read 0.5 bar.

IDEXX has carried out a mean time between failure analysis and seen that even at 85,000 cycles, the elution station was still functioning correctly.

Although the Filta-Max xpress system has been optimized to use a total elution volume of 400 mL–450 mL contained within a 500 mL centrifuge tube, IDEXX has validated the use of 2 X 250-mL centrifugation at 1500 X g for 15 minutes as an alternative procedure. IDEXX suggests that laboratories validate this alternative procedure before adopting it.

Yes, this is possible.

The Filta-Max xpress buffer is Phospate Buffered Saline with Tween 20 (PBST). You can find directions on how to prepare this PBST elution buffer on page 5 of the Filta-Max xpressOperators Guide (Biological) .

The lid is interchangeable with a larger carboy with an 83-mm diameter closure.

You should run reagent water through the elution station after the last elution cycle of the day.

You can clean the QC stem with an alcohol wipe; however, positive pressure is used to elute so there is very minimal risk of cross-contamination.

It is advisable to minimise vibration, balance the centrifuge and use a slightly higher centrifuge speed (2000 g).

IDEXX has experimented with challenging matrices from a wide range of geographical locations.

The elution station uses positive pressure to elute the oocysts and cysts from the filter module, minimising the risk of contaminating the unit itself. IDEXX supplies five outlet diverters with each elution station so your laboratory can switch diverters between samples. You can clean these manually or in an autoclave. IDEXX has researched the possibility of cross-contamination by using high spikes of target organisms (e.g., 106) and there has not been any evidence of cross-contamination.