Abstract: A pumping system including a pumping chamber with a fluid sensor having a cylindrical shaft extending into the priming chamber. The sensor has a sensing dome on an end of a cylindrical shaft extending into the priming chamber, with the dome having a vertical base having a diameter less than the cylindrical shaft diameter. The sensor signals a controller whether liquid is present based on an algorithm with settings for dampening of the electromagnetic field, conductance of the electric field, and/or permittivity of the magnetic field using settings which correlate to the fluid environment. The controller controls operation of the pump and primer based on the sensor signal.