The Millipore AFS 8D System: Innovation for clinical water quality
Millipore's AFS® 8D water purification system has been specifically designed to meet the needs of clinical laboratories requiring CLRW-compliant, degassed reagent water. Thanks to a rigorous combination of advanced purification technologies, it guarantees consistent and reliable water quality, which is essential for accurate and reproducible analytical results. Its production capacity of 8 litres per hour and distribution flow rate of 0.6 L/min allow continuous supply to analysers while effectively eliminating air bubbles that could interfere with the instruments' optical sensors.
The heart of the system is a multi-stage purification chain: Progard® cartridge pre-treatment, high-performance reverse osmosis, 254 nm UV treatment, Q-Gard® cartridge circulation and polishing, hollow fibre degassing, and 0.22 µm terminal sterilising filtration. Each stage is optimised to maximise the quality of the water produced, reduce operating costs and extend the service life of consumables. The system is capable of maintaining resistivity levels above 15 MΩ.cm at 25°C, with total organic carbon (TOC) levels typically below 30 ppb and microbial concentrations below 1 cfu/mL.
Thanks to its compact design, the AFS® 8D fits easily into any laboratory environment. It can be installed on a bench, under a bench, on a wall or on a trolley. Its user-friendly interface with backlit display clearly shows essential parameters (water quality, tank level, maintenance alerts), while its ergonomic locking system simplifies cartridge replacement. Integrated RFID technology guarantees the authenticity of consumables and ensures complete traceability of their use.
In terms of regulatory compliance, the AFS® 8D allows automatic data archiving for six months, with the option of activating Millitrack® software for centralised data management and remote access. This level of traceability and quality control is particularly relevant for laboratories wishing to obtain or maintain ISO® 15189 accreditation. In addition, the system is equipped with self-maintenance functions, including rinsing cycles, disinfection and waste water management, significantly reducing human intervention.
The system can be customised with a wide range of accessories: aeration kits to adjust dissolved oxygen, leak sensors, automatic disinfection modules, and sanitary sampling valves. This flexibility allows the AFS® 8D to be adapted to any specific configuration and protocol, ensuring optimal water purity at every stage of the analytical process.
