1. Overview

The TrakStation® is a simple system that provides pH monitoring within a closed environment, such as an incubator, without opening and contaminating that environment.  The TrakStation is intended for general laboratory use – not for diagnostic use.  The overall system includes the TrakStation and TrakPods for use with the sv2 sensors and qc2 System Alignment Tool.  These items are all described in this document.

Device Description

The sv2 sensor cup is a small surrogate vessel into which you put a sample of the media whose pH you want to track.  At the bottom of the sensor is a special membrane that contains a dye.  This dye is affected by the pH of the media sample, and it reacts to light differently at different pH levels.

The sensor fits into the fiber optic fixture.  To make a measurement, the machine sends flashes of light of a certain wavelength through the fiber optic fixture.  The dye in the membrane reacts by sending back flashes of light at a different wavelength.  The machine reads this result and calculates the pH of the media sample.  You can set the timing of this measurement to be once per minute or once every 30 minutes.

The system includes

  • TrakStation: This is a tablet computer running proprietary software.  The software initiates pH readings, as well as stores and displays these pH measurements over time.  Using an included USB 3.0 hub, up to eight (8) TrakPods can be connected simultaneously to a TrakStation.
  • TrakPods: The TrakPod is the proprietary, LED-based, optical pH measurement instrument.  One TrakPod is needed for each incubator chamber that is monitored.  TrakPods have internal magnets, allowing them to be placed on the side of large format, cabinet style incubators.  It is a USB connected fluorescent measurement device with a fiber optic cable and fixture that connects to the sv2 Sensor inside of an incubator.  The TrakPod and sv2 Sensor together detect the pH of a liquid sample.
  • sv2 Sensors: The sv2 sensor is a disposable. It is a small surrogate vessel into which you put a sample of the media whose pH you want to track.  100 µL of media and at least 50 µL of oil are used in the monitoring test. At the bottom of the sensor is a special membrane that is impregnated with a proprietary dye. This dye is affected by the pH of the media sample, and it reacts to light differently at different pH levels. The sensor fits into the fiber optic fixture. To make a measurement, the TrakPod sends light flashes of a certain wavelength through the fiber optic fixture. The dye in the membrane reacts by sending back flashes of light at a different wavelength. The TrakPod reads this result and calculates the pH of the media sample.  A sensor is used for seven (7) days in a normal test with a pH reading frequency of 30 minutes.  Alternatively, it will only last three (3) days if the pH reading frequency is one minute.  sv2 Sensors are provided in a kit of ten (10) individually pouched items.
  • qc2 Alignment Tool: A fluorescent reference device for use in System Alignment and Quality Control.  The qc2 System Alignment Tool contains a fluorescent target with a stable and known fluorescent signal.  Between each week of pH monitoring, the qc2 System Alignment Tool is used to check that the TrakPod fluorescent signal is still performing according to factory specifications.  If any changes in the fluorescent signal are detected the TrakPod can make adjustments to the detectors to restore it to appropriate performance levels.  One qc2 System Alignment Tool is needed for each lab and it is replaced annually.

The TrakStation’s user interface is described in Section 6, Menu Functions.

For a more detailed explanation of how the TrakStation uses fluorometric technology, see Section 9, “The Science Behind pH Monitoring.”

Features of the TrakStation

The TrakStation is easy to use, accurate, and reliable.

It is easy to do quality control checks on a routine basis, using a supplied alignment tool.

The TrakStation provides you with several options for viewing and controlling data collection and adjusting the configurations.

Common things you can do include:

  • Start and end pH tests;
  • Run QC Alignment tests;
  • View current pH results and plots of pH history;
  • Download data into CSV-formatted files to a USB drive;
  • Set the frequency with which pH readings are to be taken (at 1- or 30-minute intervals);
  • Add and remove Pods;
  • Perform the Site Standardization procedure and edit offset values.

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