A rotameter calibrated to a primary standard, soap bubble tube/meter or a dry bubble meter should be used to calibrate the sampling pump to a flow rate of 15 lpm. Some pumps only work with specific calibration devices. Please reference the owners manual for your pump to verify if any special calibration methods should be employed. Because the cassette does not produce significantly measurable back pressure, the rotameter can optionally be connected directly to the pump (without the Air-O-Cell cassette in line) to calibrate the pump flow rate.
To begin sampling, remove the tape seals covering the inlet and outlet and placed them on the side of the cassette. Then connect the Air-O-Cell cassette to the sam- pling pump using flexible tubing. Turn the sampling pump on for an appropriate sample time ranging from 1 to 10 minutes and both seals replaced after sampling is complete. Unlike other spore trap impaction or filter devices, the Air-O-Cell cassette can be oriented in any vertical or horizontal direction, without concern for sample loss of large particles or vibration. “Outdoor background” samples should always be collected for comparison purposes.
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