Operating Instructions
Tel: 724-941-9701 Fax: 724-941-1369 e-mail: skctech@skcinc.com
863 Valley View Road, Eighty Four, PA 15330 USA
BioStage Impactors
The SKC BioStage® single-stage viable cascade impactors operate on the principle
of inertial impaction and meet NIOSH Method 0800 and 0801 requirements and
ACGIH recommendations for sampling viable microorganisms including bacteria
and fungi. Made of precision-tooled autoclavable aluminum, sampler components
are precision-threaded together for a positive seal to ensure sample integrity. Air is
drawn through the impactor where particles are impacted onto an agar collection
medium for culture, count, and identifi cation. BioStage provides performance
equivalent to the Andersen N-6 and Aerotech A6 (see reference on page 7). Two
models of the BioStage Impactor are available.
Standard BioStage contains a 400-hole jet classifi cation stage and
BioStage 200 contains a 200-hole jet classifi cation stage and is
Specifi cations
Flow Rate: Standard BioStage: 28.3 L/min
BioStage 200: 14.15 L/min
Material: Inlet cone and
base plate: Precision-tooled autoclavable
aluminum
O-rings: Duro 50, BUNA-N (not autoclavable)
Jet Classifi cation Stage: Standard BioStage: 400 holes (0.25-mm hole diameter)
BioStage 200: 200 holes (0.25-mm hole diameter)
Median Cut-point (D
Sample Media: 15 x 90 to 100-mm agar plates*
Analysis: Colony culture
Tubing: 1/4-inch ID
* Consult a laboratory for information on appropriate agar choice.
† In situations where spore counts are high, positive-hole correction should be used. See Macher,
J., "Positive-hole Correction of Multiple-jet Impactors for Collecting Viable Microorganisms,"
American Industrial Hygiene Journal, 50 (11), 1989, pp. 561-568, available at www.skcinc.com/
pdf/Multiple_Jet_Impactors.pdf
is operated at 28.3 L/min
operated at 14.15 L/min
): 0.6 μm
50
†
Sample Media
Use appropriate agar in a 15 x 90 to 100-mm agar plate with the Standard BioStage
or the BioStage 200. Plastic or glass agar plates can be used. Verify with your agar
supplier that the plates contain the proper volume of agar to achieve the appropriate
agar height to maintain impactor cut-points. Store agar plates as directed by the
supplier.
Suggested Media
For Bacteria: Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) or Blood Agar Plates (BAP)
For Fungi: Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Malt Extract Agar (MEA),
For information on laboratories that can provide agar plates and analyze
samples, see Laboratories at www.skcinc.com.
Dichloran Glycerol 18 Agar (DG-18), or Corn Meal Agar (CMA)
Caution: Clean the BioStage before the fi rst use and between subsequent uses.
See Cleaning and Sterilizing.
Caution: Sanitize hands or wear disposable gloves. Sanitize hands and
impactor any time contamination from handling is possible. Do not touch holes
in the jet classifi cation stage.
Assembly
1. Remove the inlet cone by lifting it up and off.
2. Remove the jet classifi cation stage by gently
unscrewing it and lifting it up and off.
Note: Visually inspect the condition of the O-ring
in the inlet cone and in the base plate. Ensure the
O-ring surface is smooth (i.e., without cracks, cuts,
or other damage). Ensure the O-ring fi ts properly
in the channel in the inlet cone and the base plate.
The O-ring should lay fl ush with the upper lip
of channel. Replace if there is apparent damage,
stretching, or thinning.
Caution: Ensure refrigerated agar plates have been permitted to warm up to
ambient temperature (approximately 20 minutes) before use.
3. Remove the lid from an agar plate and place the lid in
a clean resealable bag. Place the agar plate on the three
raised metal pins in the base plate of the impactor.
Caution: Do not operate without an agar plate in place.
4. Gently screw the jet classifi cation stage back onto the
base plate. Align and press the inlet cone onto the jet
classifi cation stage until a secure seal is established.
2
Calibration with a QuickTake 30 Sample Pump
¼-inch Tubing
Pump inlet
adapter
Pump inlet
adapter
3
/8-inch
Sampling tubing
Luer adapter
Luer adapter
BioStage
inlet
BioStage outlet
¼-inch Tubing
Rotameter outlet
3
/8-inch
Adapter tubing
Calibration
adapter
QuickTake® 30 pump and BioStage in calibration train
1. Ensure the BioStage is fully assembled with a representative agar plate in
place.
2. Connect the rotameter outlet to one end of the ¼-inch ID tubing.
3. Insert the small end of a Luer adapter into the free end of ¼-inch tubing.
4. Insert the large end of the Luer adapter into the short length of the
3
/8-inch
adapter tubing.
5. Install the free end of the adapter tubing onto the calibration adapter.
6.
Press the calibration adapter onto the BioStage inlet until a fi rm seal is established.
7. Connect the BioStage outlet to one end of the ¼-inch ID tubing.
8. Insert the small end of a second Luer adapter into the free end of the ¼-inch
tubing.
9. Insert the large end of the second Luer adapter into one end of the
3
/8-inch
sampling tubing and the pump inlet adapter into the other end.
10. Insert the pump inlet adapter into the pump inlet.
11. Calibrate the sample pump to 28.3 L/min for a Standard BioStage or
14.15 L/min for BioStage 200.
The calibration adapter and rotameter are for use with both models of BioStage. See Accessories.
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