UNIMEDITREKTOTAL MEDICAL SOLUTIONS

SOP TEMPLATE
Doc ref: UMT/SOP/EQUIPMENT-CLEANING
Reviewed: July 2026
Rev.: template

Equipment Cleaning & Preventive Maintenance SOP

Histopathology · Unimeditrek Pvt. Ltd.

⚠️ Validation required. This SOP template is provided for educational and quality-system support only. It is a starting point to adapt — not a validated procedure. Each laboratory must review, complete the lab-specific fields, validate and approve this SOP through its own pathologist / quality manager, and align it with local regulatory requirements before use.

1. Purpose

To keep histopathology equipment safe, clean and reliable through scheduled cleaning, reagent management, checks and calibration — reducing breakdowns and protecting slide quality.

2. Scope

Applies to routine cleaning and preventive maintenance of the tissue processor, embedding station, microtome, floatation bath, slide warmer and slide stainer. Complements the manufacturer manual and AMC/CMC.

3. Responsibility

Histotechnician — performs daily/weekly cleaning and records it.
Senior technician / biomedical engineer — performs periodic maintenance and coordinates service/calibration.
Quality manager — approves this SOP and audits the maintenance records.

4. Equipment & materials

Manufacturer user manuals and this schedule
Approved cleaning agents, lint-free cloths, brushes and PPE
Maintenance log and calibration/service records

5. Safety precautions

Isolate power before internal cleaning; allow heated parts to cool.
Handle solvents and blades safely; dispose of waste per local rules.

6. Procedure

Daily

Wipe external surfaces and work areas; clear paraffin debris from the embedding station and microtome.
Skim/clean the floatation-bath surface between blocks and check its temperature; check slide-warmer temperature.
Check reagent levels and condition; filter hematoxylin where used.

Weekly

Deeper clean of the stainer containers/baths and processor reagent area; empty waste as required.
Inspect blades/holders, clamps and seals; replace consumables as needed.
Rotate/replace processing and staining reagents per schedule. Rotation frequency: [lab to validate].

Monthly / periodic

Verify temperatures against the manufacturer specification; arrange calibration where required.
Confirm preventive-maintenance and calibration are current under AMC/CMC; log service visits.

7. Quality-control checkpoints

Equipment runs without recurring alarms or breakdowns.
Temperatures and reagents are within validated limits; records are complete.

8. Acceptance criteria

Scheduled tasks completed and signed; calibration/service records current.

9. Common errors & corrective action

Problem	Corrective action
Frequent breakdowns / downtime	Tighten preventive-maintenance discipline; book an AMC/CMC and calibration check; use genuine spares.
Temperature drift affecting quality	Verify and calibrate temperatures; check controllers and sensors.
Reagent-related defects	Enforce the reagent-rotation schedule with logs.

10. Records & documentation

Daily/weekly/monthly maintenance checklist (signed)
Reagent-change log; calibration and service records

11. Review frequency

Review at least annually or after equipment changes or recurring faults.

12. Approval

Role	Name	Signature	Date
Prepared by
Reviewed by (Quality Manager)
Approved by (Pathologist)

Unimeditrek Pvt. Ltd. — histopathology laboratory equipment manufacturer, India. Author: Unimeditrek Technical Content Team · Reviewed by: Biomedical Engineering & Histopathology Applications team · Last reviewed: July 2026.
📞 +91-98105 33445 · sales@unimeditrek.com · www.unilabequipments.com · Manufactured under ISO 9001 & ISO 13485 QMS; certificates on request.
© Unimeditrek Pvt. Ltd. This is an adaptable template for laboratory use — complete the highlighted fields and validate through your own quality system before implementation.