What do I do if the vessels are leaking?

Tips to avoid vessel leaks: 
(1) Do not spray water directly on the filter. Spray on the side of the vessel, so that it will flow onto the filter without force. You could also spray onto the mixer.   
(2) Always add the stir bar to the vessel before weighing in a sample or water. 
(3) Samples that contain fat, such as infant formula, will eventually leak through the filter if it is allowed to sit in the vessel for extended periods of time. We advise that vessels are loaded onto the FLEX within approximately 1 hour of weighing liquid samples into the vessels. 
(4) Wash vessels and vessel bottom assembly bases with hot soapy water after use. After washing, rinse vessels and vessel bottom assemblies with clean water, then, use a wash bottle to squirt clean water into the O-ring groove of the vessel bottom assembly to remove any alcohol that may be trapped behind the O-ring. Residual alcohol in the O-ring groove of the digestion vessel bottom assembly may compromise the hydrophobic nature of the vitamin filter.  
(5) When weighing fat samples, such as oil, for vitamins/cholesterol analysis add the water to the vessel first to create a barrier between the oil and the filter. Then add the oil on top. This is not necessary for other liquid samples. Refer to pgs. 31-32 of the FLEX Operator’s Manual for more information. When weighing oil samples for fat analysis, load the vessels onto the instrument and pipette 5ml of distilled water through the ports. This is not necessary for other liquid samples. Refer to pgs. 31-32 of the FLEX Operator’s Manual for more information. 
(6) Add internal standards, through ports, once vessels have been installed on the FLEX and vessel tops are closed. 
(7) Do not use vessels that are chipped or damaged on the bottom outside edge.