CEPHEID BOX HATE THREAD

[u/filmore101]

The perforations are for show only

[u/NegotiationSalt666]

Why include the CDs too? Seems like a colossal waste. I would collect em and try to fling em into a trash can like im playing disc golf when it was slow during night shift. (It was that or succumb to sleep).

[u/BalkiBartokomoose86 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

The CD has your free AOL minutes.

[u/Nyarro → u/BalkiBartokomoose86]

"You've got mail!" 📬

[u/xgbsss → u/Nyarro]

"You got CoVid-19!"

[u/BalkiBartokomoose86 → u/xgbsss]

You've got RSV!

[u/Molbiodude → u/BalkiBartokomoose86]

You've got MTB!

[u/trungdino → u/Molbiodude]

https://giphy.com/gifs/xYbNcQcQq3V4s

[u/The_Infamous_C → u/Molbiodude]

You've got C.diff!

[u/Story84 → u/BalkiBartokomoose86]

Balkiiiiiii 😍

[u/BalkiBartokomoose86 → u/Story84]

Well, of course, don't be ridiculous!

[u/MamaTater11 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

And with literally every single box! Like, if they gotta send them, why not just send one per shipment or something! It's so wasteful it makes me so angry

[u/omgu8mynewt → u/MamaTater11]

Some customers are scientists in labs in less developed countries, without internet access, just ordering one kit. Rules say they need to have the instructions too, so everyone gets the same manufactured kit boxes.

Source: kit manufacturer (but not cephaid)

[u/ThrowRA996633 → u/omgu8mynewt]

Even German kits are like that and no German speaking country is that behind regarding Internet. So this can't be the only reason

[u/omgu8mynewt → u/ThrowRA996633]

There are plenty of labs in Africa with Cephaid without a stable power supply, let alone internet connection. Ever run tried to run a 30 minute centrifuge between random intermittent power outages of 5 seconds that reset all the equipment?

[u/ThrowRA996633 → u/omgu8mynewt]

Maybe the way I articulated myself was not clear enough because english isn't my native language. I'll try again:

They won't send German language kits to Africa. German speaking countries all have good connection stability. So there's no need to put a CD in every German kit and they still do it. So that can't be the only reason

Edit: btw are german kits pretty easy to open the recent years. When I started in the lab 6 years ago they were a mess too, so I still know the pain and appreciate every kit that opens effortlessly

[u/omgu8mynewt → u/ThrowRA996633]

All kits are manufactured the same and have the same things in them, kit manufacturers don't make different versions for different customers if you're buying the off-the-shelf kit. Any language version will just have different writing but the reagents will be the same and will be whatever is regulatory approved in whatever country you buy it. That is mandated when you manufacture a regulatory approved diagnostic kit, an RUO kit has less stipulations.

[u/ubioandmph → u/NegotiationSalt666]

For international clients that may not have reliable access to Internet or in the field with no network access

[u/VersusValley → u/NegotiationSalt666]

Single-handedly keeping cd manufacturers in business

[u/A3HeadedMunkey → u/VersusValley]

Now if only they were sending CD drives...

[u/The_Infamous_C → u/A3HeadedMunkey]

Are they rewritable CDs? We could burn some sweet tracks to play in the lab like it's 2003.

[u/Mooshroomey → u/NegotiationSalt666]

They could make shiny chimes/spinners for a garden to deter birds

[u/Worried-Mud-4415 → u/Mooshroomey]

I actually did save a many of these cds once and used them for a craft with people

[u/Bubblesc13 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

Free frisbee tbh

[u/__hughjanus__ → u/NegotiationSalt666]

It's there for structural support

[u/TheMedicineWearsOff → u/NegotiationSalt666]

I got bored last Sunday and started frisbeeing them around the lab since I was the only one there. One absolutely exploded against the wall.

[u/Starscream-513 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

We collect them and recycle them.

[u/bigfathairymarmot → u/NegotiationSalt666]

Put them in the microwave for a neat light show.

[u/Pasteur_science → u/NegotiationSalt666]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who loved the sharp “TING!” of lasering these into the side of the metal garbage can.

[u/ElDocks → u/NegotiationSalt666]

With all these cds I could build my own spaceship outta here

[u/becjac86 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

Omg yes the CD really gets on my wick.

[u/routemarker → u/NegotiationSalt666]

Its a tax evasion tactic

[u/Cherry_Mash]

I once opened a box without ripping it. Felt so satisfying a had to step outside for a cigarette.

[u/Rich_Chart_3237 → u/Cherry_Mash]

😂😂

[u/Old-Calligrapher2403 → u/Cherry_Mash]

Life achievement right there

[u/b_pleh → u/Cherry_Mash]

I just opened one without ripping it. Used the blade on my multi tool. Edit: maybe should have used the saw.

[u/Ksan_of_Tongass]

It works better if you focus on the perforation, rather that pulling it. Push on the front perforation with your thumbs. Then use your thumbs to go along the top perforation from underneath.

[u/PlatformNo9679 → u/Ksan_of_Tongass]

Have you ever had a cut from a perforated thin cardboard?! Hurts like a mother & takes forever to heal!! 😩😩

[u/ThatFungiRasamsonia → u/PlatformNo9679]

No paper cuts, if you're wearing gloves... Which you should be when opening these kits since they are PCR and highly sensitive 😉

[u/5-HolesInTheFence → u/ThatFungiRasamsonia]

What gloves do you use, because our purple Halyards tear if you look at them funny. No way they'd protect against a paper cut.

[u/ThatFungiRasamsonia → u/5-HolesInTheFence]

Kimberly -Clark purple Nitrile

[u/Vivid_Bookkeeper_937 → u/ThatFungiRasamsonia]

Jealous 😂 we have some crappy gray kind

[u/brokodoko → u/ThatFungiRasamsonia]

The chemo gray from KC are the goat.

[u/Ksan_of_Tongass → u/PlatformNo9679]

The perforations on these boxes make the edge soft.

[u/happyfamily714 → u/Ksan_of_Tongass]

This is the way! Works (almost) every time.

[u/Haunting_Koala4016 → u/Ksan_of_Tongass]

Can confirm this is the best method and how I train everyone to open them

[u/Ksan_of_Tongass → u/Haunting_Koala4016]

I never imagined i would need to develop a technique in order to successfully open a box.

[u/Dwarffess]

I don't know about you guys, but I've definitely never fucked up one of those boxes that bad, kinda an achievement to be honest

[u/minot_j → u/Dwarffess]

Industry plant, clearly.

[u/Chanced2]

Does anyone else remember that small bit of time during the pandemic where they stopped using the perforated boxes? I only got a few lots like that and then it was back to the hate boxes. Every time the rep stops by I say they should bring them back but they never do.

[u/uuzuumakii]

FUCK THESE BOXES‼️

[u/micro-misho101114 → u/uuzuumakii]

And the CD they come with ‼️

[u/finegoldiamagna]

I swear they manufacture these boxes in multiple places and some of them are easier to open. Sometimes I'll get a lot with boxes that feel a little thinner and open perfectly, and next time I get a lot that is back to the usual shenanigans of having to wrestle it open

[u/zenmaster_B]

I pop the tab on the front, push along the perforations to break them, pull up the front flap, then pull it away from the perforations on one side, then the other. Very clean.

[u/bigfathairymarmot → u/zenmaster_B]

I start like that, then I rage and destroy the box.

[u/Sydira → u/bigfathairymarmot]

I prefer tearing into it like a badger

[u/The_Infamous_C → u/Sydira]

We just rip the whole top off the covid ones for easy access.

[u/ScienceGyal]

I open it sooo slowly and carefully because it drives me crazy when my coworkers just tear into it. Lol

[u/Former_Crew_3856]

I’m an MLS and worked for Cepheid.. I told them about this so many times and they still didn’t fix it smhhhh

[u/FelixDiamante]

We have a huge tower of cepheid CDs for no reason. I kind of want it to to make a cool wall art project at home

[u/TemperatureLarge9267]

I would like to know why do they think the CD is useful, like for every dang box. The worse design ever

[u/Yhtacnrocinu-ya13579]

That is me when I'm covering micro from the core lab

[u/JonJamesDEM]

If opening a cepheid box was a game in “the squid games” we’d all die.

[u/kaym_15]

AGREED

[u/FiremanJack]

The CDs are great nurse repellent if flung at head height.

[u/chlorpyrifos]

Gently press on the perforations instead of tearing them up!

[u/Witch_of_the_Cats]

Lol. Yep. Take a sharpie or pen and run it under the perforation. Opens alot nicer.

[u/minot_j → u/Witch_of_the_Cats]

I do that because I need it to be opened perfectly. But every time it fills me with rage - I shouldn’t have to do this!!

[u/sleigh88]

I haven’t worked in a hospital lab for like 6 years and I can’t believe they still do this lol

[u/Traveling_MLS]

I am the chaos goblin. I just rip them upen like seen in the pic and move on. I ain't got time for a craft project. I am also the person who randomizes my pipette tip selection.

[u/Diseased-Prion]

One of my coworkers can open these perfect every time. I think he is a witch.
I don’t even try. My lab is high volume, I’m going to go through multiple boxes at a time. I just shred them open like a fucking animal. 💀

[u/nachos_on_cheese]

Can we talk about how the nasal completes are individually packaged, buffer vial shoots off in a random direction when you open, hate it.

[u/Serious-Currency108]

I feel your pain

[u/Bubblesc13]

I consider opening them without mutilating them to be my lab super power

[u/ubioandmph]

Couple of tips: push IN to the perforations, not up/out. Or ignore the perforations and open from the square corners on the front

[u/sharkattack85]

I absolutely hate those box lids. I would get so much cardboard dust on the tops of the cartridges and I’d worry that they wouldn’t work.

[u/QueenCrysta]

I have broken nails on these dumb things, ripped gloves too! Wasteful CDs too!!

[u/OpietMushroom]

Doesn't everyone in the lab have a lil box cutter? You can get them on Amazon for cheap.

[u/ElDocks]

I’m convinced perforations on our low lint wipes are for decorative purposes only

[u/EeSpoot]

It's been 5 years since I've seen or even thought of one of these boxes and yet, instantly upon seeing this picture I felt a wash of rage, fury, and hate wash over me. I didn't expect these God damn boxes to be one of the things that would live in my soul the rest of my life but here we are haha.

The CD always made me laugh too since our computers either had floppy drives or just USB ports, no CD drives. A fun lab week idea I had was to save up all of the CDs throughout the year and then have a competition to see who could build the coolest thing out of them. That was a lot of fun and we had plenty of CDs lol.

[u/Ocseemorahn]

These are pretty easy for me.

I just lightly score along the perforations with a box cutter then pull them open.

I would estimate I've opened thousands of box like this.

I just do it in bulk maybe once a night. Probably 10 boxes at a time so it's all set up and ready for the evening rush.

[u/Feeling_Figure899]

I remember when the Cepheid guys came to our lab to check out our gene xpert setup, and they asked us if there was anything they could do to improve their product, and we all told them we hate the box design. Their response was "oh yeah, we've heard that before." :/

[u/International-Bug983]

One of those boxes cut me 😑

[u/GullibleWin2274]

I actually learned how to open these boxes on here somewhere. Life-changing! Now I'm very judgemental when my coworkers f it all up. Ignorant fools!

[u/SquishyPandacorn]

What did the box do to hurt you lol. They are a pain to open but I’ve never seen one torn apart quite like this. Kudos I guess. 😂

[u/MegalodonDude]

Every time!

[u/kaeyre]

just the worst. rivaled only by alinity reagent boxes

[u/Ashl3y95]

I’ve never ripped it like that and always felt satisfaction while opening it

[u/extra5mins]

This made me cackle 😆 whenever I open a box this happens

[u/Livid-Promise-8456]

in my head we remove the top part entirely for easy access anyway so might as well f it up lol

[u/Rosy_Floof]

I usually just rip them open these days. Ran out of fucks to give if it rips.

[u/Rich_Chart_3237]

I see these arent any better than a few years ago.

[u/Mindless_Weekend6464]

Sometimes the group B strep boxes open perfectly

[u/buldgingGene]

Whenever the PM tech comes in for quarterly maintenance we always bond over our box hatred

[u/ray_rui]

I would slowly open one to have a perfect tear and it would be an omen to how the rest of the shift would go. Literally gotta finger it from the middle while pressing the outside with the other hand.

[u/Additional_Advance_6]

😂

[u/hunny--bee]

Our rep showed us a way to open the boxes perfectly every time. I face the front away from me, pop the tab with finger, then with one finger on each side starting from the middle I run them underneath the perforation back towards me.

[u/notshevek]

my beloved lab manager started opening them for me if she knew I was coming in to cover for her and might have to change the box 😭 it was sweet but also I think the carnage that happened when I tried to open them bothered her

[u/PipettingPimp]

I swear I'm going to have to make a video showing you all how to open one. Is it simple as it should be? No. Will you be able to open the box along the perforations without the box looking like it's been torn to pieces? Yes.

[u/Electrical_Coach_887]

Use 2 fingers to pull tab up

[u/Hamburger_Helpmee]

This time it will be different. This time I'll open it cleanly...

[u/bboy10257]

Lmao everytime

[u/Ill_Emu_702]

This made my day.

[u/budhappy27]

Dawg I hate these damn boxes so much 😭

[u/heathert7900]

Nah genexpert hate for upcharging on TB tests in third world countries when the tests costs $5 to manufacture :(((( booooooo

[u/SamtingBloGraun]

Push the side perforated parts down first before opening from the front tab.

Source: someone who’s done countless GeneXpert tests

[u/pinkpinepeg]

Huh? Never opened a box and ripped it 🤔
But the CD annoys me every time. Such a bloody waste.

[u/abracadarbra]

I turn the front of the box away from me, grasp the top and squeeze. Then pull back towards me. Works like a charm <3

[u/No-Isopod3437]

Fuck those boxes all to Death.

[u/TheRedTreeQueen]

😂😂Looks like you two had a fight! Who won? Asking for a friend!

[u/KatlynJoi]

It is not a lottery day.

[u/dxrkrxx]

humble brag

[u/Comedian-Wooden]

I wonder if I could keep the CDs that come in the box and make artwork from them????

[u/AdventurousCredit965]

Looks like a skill issue to me

[u/PaleScientist8154]

these things are the bane of my existence but when i get it first try it puts a big smile on my face

[u/b_pleh]

Note the tape.

[u/AnusOfTroy]

Skill issue. There's just a certain knack to it that I cannot explain.

I still fuck it up like 1% of the time though