Standard Operating Procedure for Verification of Volume Dispensed and Maintenance of Oxford Automatic Dispensor SOP Number: EQ-08-06 Date Revised: 04-15-14


US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs
Office of Pesticide Programs
Mic ro bio lo gy La bo ra to ry
Environmental Science Center, Ft. Meade, MD
Standard Operating Procedure for
Verification of Volume Dispensed and Maintenance
of Oxford Automatic Dispensor
SOP Number: EQ-08-06
Date Revised: 04-15-14

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SOP No. EQ-08-06
Date Revised 04-15 -14
Page 1 of 5
SOP Number
EQ-08-06
Title
Verification of Volume Dispensed and Maintenance of Oxford
Automatic Dispensor
Scope
This protocol describes the quality control requirements for the
Oxford Automatic Dispensor.
Application
Media dispensors are used to accurately measure the volume of
media to be dispensed into tubes prior to sterilization. This SOP
describes the quality control procedure to ensure proper instrument
calibration.


Approval Date
SOP Developer:

Print Name:
SOP Reviewer

Print Name:
Quality Assurance Unit

Print Name:
Branch Chief

Print Name:


Date SOP issued:

Controlled copy
number:

Date SOP withdrawn:

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SOP No. EQ-08-06
Date Revised 04-15 -14
Page 2 of 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents	Page Number
1.
DEFINITIONS
3
2.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
3
3.
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
3
4.
INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION
3
5.
SAMPLE HANDLING AND STORAGE
3
6.
QUALITY CONTROL
3
7.
INTERFERENCES
3
8. NON- C ONF ORMIN G DATA
3
9.
DATA MANAGEMENT
3
10.
CAUTIONS
3
11.
SPECIAL APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
3
12.
PROCEDURE AND ANALYSIS
4
13.
DATA ANALYSIS/CALCULATIONS
4
14.
FORMS AND DATA SHEETS
5
15.
REFERENCES
5

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SOP No. EQ-08-06
Date Revised 04-15 -14
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1. Definitions
Abbreviations/definitions are provided in the text.
2. Health and
Safety
Follow procedures specified in SOP MB-01, Laboratory Biosafety. The Study
Director and/or lead analyst should consult the Material Safety Data Sheet for
specific hazards associated with media and reagents.
3. Personnel
Qualifications
and Training
Refer toSOPADM-04, OPP Microbiology Laboratory Training.
4. Instrument
Calibration
As noted below
5. Sample
Handling and
Storage
Not Applicable
6. Quality Control
For quality control purposes, the required information is documented on the
appropriate form (see section 14).
7. Interferences
1.	High volumes or viscous fluids dispensed at high speed will result in
extremely high discharge velocities and valve pressures that can damage
the valve.
2.	Calibration may be affected if the unit is operated at a speed setting other
than the range specified (speed knob at 6-7).
8. Non-
conforming
Data
1.	Management of non-conforming data is consistent with SOPADM-07,
Non-Conformance Reports.
2.	Document any deviation from the procedure on the appropriate forms (see
section 14). Recalibrate the instrument if the percent error is > 5%, as
indicated in the manufacturers' instruction manuals (see section 15).
9. Data
Management
1. Data will be archived consistent with SOP ADM-03, Records and
Archives.
10. Cautions
1.	Check hose connections before operating the instrument.
2.	Prime the instrument prior to and after use, and between fluid changes, by
dispensing at least one liter of de-ionized water through the system.
3.	Dispense large volumes at low speed when initiating the process.
11. Special
Apparatus and
Materials
1.	Oxford Automatic Dispensor: Curtin Matheson, Product No. 8885-
047004, Serial Number 10012369. Manufacturer claims precision of
0.5%. With polypropylene accessory pack, Catalog No. 387-894,
instrument can dispense volumes from 2 mL to 20 mL.
2.	100 mL volumetric flasks

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SOP No. EQ-08-06
Date Revised 04-15 -14
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3.	Serological pipettes
4.	De-ionized water
5.	Ethanol (70%)
6.	Bleach 6% solution diluted 1:10
12. Procedure and
Analysis
1.	The instrument is set to deliver 10.3 mL aliquots of liquid. The set volume
is based on volume loss during autoclaving as observed on historical data.
In the event that a different volume is set, conduct verification of the
specific target volume prior to use. Follow instructions in 12.2 for
different target volumes.
2.	Verify the volume dispensed on a monthly basis.
a.	Dispense ten 10.3 mL aliquots of de-ionized water into a 100 mL
volumetric flask. Calibrate the instrument when set at a speed
between 6 and 7. Speed can be adjusted using the speed control
knob.
b.	If the amount of liquid dispensed is above lOOmL volume mark, use
a 5 mL serological pipette to determine the volume that is greater
than 100 mL.
c.	If the amount of liquid dispensed is below the lOOmL volume mark,
use a 5 mL serological pipette to determine the volume that is
necessary to bring the level to the 100 mL volume mark.
d.	Calculate the volume dispensed and percent error, see formula in
section 13.
e.	The error must be within ± 5% or the machine must be re-calibrated.
Follow section 12.2 for recalibration. If after recalibration
instrument is outside the accepted percent error, contact the
manufacturer for further instructions.
3.	Clean the instrument on a monthly basis to avoid the buildup of biofilm
(visible pink film) in the hose lines.
a.	Flush the tubing and syringe with 70% ethanol or with bleach 6%
solution diluted 1:10 (one part bleach + nine parts de-ionized water).
b.	Rinse tubing and syringe with de-ionized water. Let approximately
one liter of de-ionized water run through the tubing.
13. Data Analysis/
Calculations
Percent error formula:
(103 — amount of liquid actually dispensed)
Percent Error =	x 100
103

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SOP No. EQ-08-06
Date Revised 04-15 -14
Page 5 of 5
14. Forms and Data
Sheets
Test Sheets. Test sheets are stored separately from the SOP under the
following file names:
Verification of Volume of Oxford Automatic
Dispensor Record EQ-08-06_Fl.docx
15. References
1. Oxford Automatic Dispensor Instructions and manual.

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