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8.3.11 Using the Settings Menu

The settings menu allows modification of various system settings. Click the Settings icon on the Main
Menu to bring up the Settings screen.

The Settings screen contains various buttons that allow the user to change system settings. Each screen
contains a Back button and a Save button. The Back button returns to the Settings screen. The Save
button save any changes made in the screen. If the Back button is clicked without clicking the Save
button first, all changes made in the screen will be discarded. See description in the User Manual.

8.3.12 Set Up a Laboratory Information System (LIS)

'Abacus 5' analyzer supports uploading of measurement data to an LIS or host computer. If your
laboratory has an LIS system, the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer can be connected to it using a serial or an Ethernet
connection. An LIS system is not required to operate the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer.

Your LIS system must be configured to accept measurement results from the analyzer. ‘Abacus 5’ uses
the Diatron 3.1 protocol to communicate over a serial connection, and the HL7 (version 2.5 or higher) to
communicate over an Ethernet connection. See your LIS vendor to determine if your LIS system is
compatible with the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer.

LIS configuration requires a moderate level of familiarity with computer settings and some
understanding of computer data communications. If you are not comfortable setting up the ‘Abacus 5’
LIS connection, consult your Diatron certified service engineer.
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Use the ‘External devices’ button in the Settings screen to set up LIS connection options.

8.3.13 Set Up a Serial LIS Connection

To connect the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer to an LIS system using a serial LIS connection, perform the following
steps:

x Ensure that your LIS system is compatible with the Diatron 3.1 protocol using a serial connection.
x Connect a serial cable (null modem or modem eliminator) between the COM 1 port on the back
panel of the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer and the host system.
x Select the appropriate ‘Sending port baud rate’ on the ‘Abacus 5’ ‘External devices’ screen.
o Select 9600 baud if your serial cable is longer than 5m (~15’).
o Select either 9600 or 115200 baud if your serial cable is shorter than 5m (~15’).
x Check the ‘Automatic LIS’ check box if you want every result to be transmitted automatically to
the LIS. Uncheck if you want to manually select and transmit database records to the LIS.
x Uncheck the HL7 enable check box.
x Uncheck the ‘Bidirectional LIS’ check box.
x Click the Save button to save your changes.
x Click the Back button to exit the External devices screen.
x Configure your LIS system to accept measurement results from the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer using
these settings.
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A copy of the ‘Diatron Communication protocol’ description is available from your sales representative or
by download from the Support section of the Diatron web site (http://www.diatron.com/).

8.3.14 Set Up an Ethernet LIS Connection

Connecting the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer using an Ethernet connection requires connecting the analyzer to a
local area network. Consult your IT administrator about connecting the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer to the local
area network of your laboratory. The ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer is configured at the factory to “Obtain an IP
address automatically.” If this setting is not suitable for your local area network and must be changed,
only a Diatron certified service engineer can complete the installation.

To connect the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer to an LIS system using an Ethernet LIS connection, perform the
following steps:

x Ensure that your LIS system is compatible with the HL7 version 2.5 protocol or higher using an
Ethernet connection, and has been configured to accept ‘Abacus 5’ compatible HL7 messages.
x Check the ‘Automatic LIS’ check box if you want every result to be transmitted automatically to
the LIS. Uncheck if you want to manually select and transmit database records to the LIS.
x Check the LIS check box.
x Enter the IP address of the LIS host computer.
x Enter the Port of the host computer.
x Click the Save button to save your changes.
x Click the Back button to exit the External devices screen.
x Configure your LIS system to accept measurement results from the ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer using
these settings.

8.3.15 Running Blank Samples and Blood Samples for the First Time
The ‘Abacus 5’ analyzer requires a blank measurement to be run every day before the analyzer will allow
you to run blood or control samples. This measurement is also called Background which indicates that
the system is clean and ready to measure blood samples.

The transportation and packaging process sometimes causes minor particles to be present in the
pneumatic components of the analyzer. For this reason, five to ten initial blank measurements should to
be run during installation to flush the system.

Click the Measure icon on the top left side of the screen and run a blank measurement. The Start button
will change color to red. The fill procedure and blank measurement take several minutes to complete.
The start button will change color to green and the blank result screen will be displayed.

After the procedure completes, a blank result screen will be displayed. Click the ‘Start Again’ to run an
additional blank measurement. Repeat this procedure several more times until the blank results are no
longer flagged, or until the blank results are low enough to satisfy laboratory quality standards. If the
Blank measurement is satisfactory, press Accept to make other measurement modes enable.