Control Panel/Unit went bad

[Malibu]

It was leaking out of the conductivity plug, NxStage said they would send another one and they did, they said we can switch it out and go forward, use it right away.  The clinic got involved, had them send 10 or 12 bags of dialysate.....why do we need that if we can use it right away?  Clinic says we have to test the water for the new CU and PAC.  She will send a thing to test the water, but then she said we can use it right away.  WTF......can we use it right away or do we need to test the water and use the bags?

Advice please...

[willowtreewren]

 

 

Malibu, it would seem to me that your water has already been tested...

They do go through a water test once a year, though. But you get to keep using the unit while the test is being done. Sounds like your clinic is not too educated on the NxStage protocols.....

[Meinuk]

There are state regulations when it comes to water testing for NxStage Machines.  In my case of NY, it was a monthly test.  I swapped out more Pureflow CPU's than I care to think about in my year on Home Hemo, we tested monthly, and ultimately, I ended up on bags anyway.  I don't know what state you livve in, but it is safe to assume that your clinic is bound by state regulations.  It may just be coincidence that this is happening after a breakdown.

Water testing is a huge expense for clinics in NY. It should be drawn by a trained technician (which means a site visit to the home monthly).  In many cases, it is more efficient for a clinic to just use bags exclusively.  A storage pain - for me especially as I lived in a small NYC one bedroom apartment - but ultimately, it is to safeguard that we are not exposed to pathogens in our treatment.

I may have had a rant or two or three about my pureflow CPU http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=7743.msg113734#msg113734 BUT I have to say I loved it, and the simplicity of just making a batch over hanging bags and the aforementioned storage issues. But sometimes, we just have to play the game.  It sounds like your clinic may have to figure out just what the proper protocols are to satisfy the unit, the manufacturer and the state. I hope that this all resolves for you soon Malibu.

[willowtreewren]

That's interesting, Meinuk.

We have to take a sample of the post SAK dialysate every month, but we only have to do the post PAK water every year. All the NxStage patients at our clinic had to draw the water samples this month.

One would think that there would be more standardization among the states. 

[Malibu]

TX.  We sample once a month as well but this sample was because it is a new CU.    Ohhhhhh, because we had to install a new PAK.  OK, I get it.  Has nothing to do with the CU.  Right?  Well maybe not.  I dunno.  But I'll find out.  Anyway we used it twice already so I hope it is OK. 

I cannot figure why the clinic sent these bags... I will see what she says.  Our clinic is called Davita at Home and they only do home dialysis, period.  They should know.    

[M3Riddler]

It was leaking out of the conductivity plug, NxStage said they would send another one and they did, they said we can switch it out and go forward, use it right away.  The clinic got involved, had them send 10 or 12 bags of dialysate.....why do we need that if we can use it right away?  Clinic says we have to test the water for the new CU and PAC.  She will send a thing to test the water, but then she said we can use it right away.  WTF......can we use it right away or do we need to test the water and use the bags?

Advice please...

You should always have extra bags available in case of emergency or pureflow equipment failure....

///M3R
www.nxstageusers.com