I've seen this happen before in two instances. Is it possible your R-0011L is old or contaminated? I would be happy to check your reagents for freshness. Please provide me with the lot number located on the reagent bottle. The lot number is four numbers followed by a letter, ie 1234A. Storage conditions are important as well. Reagent shelf life is primarily a function of storage conditions. If stored properly, most reagents can be effective for two to three years. Acids have a relatively indefinite shelf-life (assuming no contamination) as do powders and crystals (if kept dry and out of humid environments). Generally, reagents in amber bottles (e.g., R-0002) are natural oxidizers and are very sensitive to poor storage conditions.
Proper storage conditions involve the following general parameters:
. All caps should be screwed on tightly.
. All reagents must be kept out of direct sunlight and kept in the test kit case with the lid shut tight.
. All reagents should be stored in a temperature range of 36°-85°F.
. Do not store reagents near volatile treatment chemicals.
Any accidental deviations from these suggested storage procedures -even one time! - could result in degradation of the reagent's effectiveness. For that reason, as a general precaution, we urge people to replace their solutions annually.
The second possibility could be that you have a very high sanitizer(>20 ppm)level. This can cause your sample to bleach out, this is rare though.
