The Different Options For Automation In Today’s Market

Automation has a range of clinical, industrial advantages in research labs, including the reduction of human error, improved consistency, avoided leakage, improved throughput, lowered costs, and reduced hands-on time. At the same time, multiplex assays provide the advantage of increased data collection, along with a faster response times per sample, decreased sample usage, enriched scalability, and a variety of other benefits due to the elimination of repeated behavior.

Integrating laboratory automation with multiplex assays offers major efficiencies in operational procedures, in particular whether a significant number of samples are being analyzed, or when a sample is being examined.

A highly multiplexed test is being built. Automation may be partially or fully implemented. For example, a low test volume lab may automate only the scrubbing steps of an assay, whereas a core facility or high volume testing lab may want to automate all assay

steps —Incubation, cleaning of microplates, thermocycling, as well as microplate trembling — in a single, walkaway device.

Multiple Automation requirements for each laboratory should  consider different factors, such as format, speed of liquid handling, the capability of the deck, and the machine and upgradability of apps for future uses.

Semi-automated liquid handling workstation

Multiplex assays offer a range of benefits over singleplex assays but include a number of early processing steps prior to a singleplex assay. Completely automatic protocols can be applied. Managing liquid robots have the advantage of increasing their production quality during the sampling process and during the isolated preparatory steps. Each of these particular procedures may be carried out comprehensively to cater to the requirement of the semi-automated machinery. XMAP technology is a combination of a variety of stages of work. This includes beading coupling, coupling confirmation, plate preparation, reaction incubation, and washing steps. All of these can either be fully or partially automated.

Standardization of the microplate size assay (96-or 384-well format) is an essential step in the reduction of both response volumes and the overall cost of the assay. High throughput single or multi-channel pipette dispensers, currently present in the industry, are built to dispense calculated amounts, in any suspension, to accommodate various formats of the microplate. The main aspects of such robotic systems are a liquid handling arm that can be moved around the path.

Additionally, the x-and y-axes, the pipetting head fixed on the front of the arm moving in the z-directional, and pipetting networks that move liquids from tubing, reservoirs, and plates in the tips of the vessel are also the key features.

Automated light dispensing systems

Automated dispensers vary from single-channel tools (one volume at a time) to multi-channel dispensers, capable of supplying up to 384 aliquots simultaneously. Software managed dilution of the sample and multiple plate preparation allows scaling up of xMAP protocols for more routine service reproducibility rather than manual processes. Liquid handling robots can be accompanied by creative options, such as tip loading for serial 96/384-well dilution (including 96/384 interchangeable pipe heads), plate heating and cooling, orbital shaking, and barcode reading. Any automatic dispensers are easy to run under a laminar flow hood without the need for a device connection (e.g., VIAFLO 96/384 from Integra Biosciences Corp.). There are single and multi-channel dispensers that can be quickly introduced to a  workflow for a sequence of steps to dilute the sample and to execute a multitude of steps, such as plate cleaning, prior to the attachment of coupled microspheres to the  xMAP Technology Test.

Automated dispensers have been more generally accepted as they implement sophisticated, multifunctional robotic features. It is standard practice to continue all multi-channel washing moves.

Based on the kind of microspheres used in multiplexing protocol laboratories, various phases of xMAP assays will now be done under one heading of partially automated, unattended workflow, and reducing the human-induced variability (Zborowski, 2016)

Reliable service providers should acquire automated light dispensing systems. Some of the biggest names in the industry are:

Hamilton Automation:

It provides solutions for a complete automation workflow. These are helpful in obtaining consistent results for arrays; it includes options from low-throughput pipetting to high throughput systems that comprise integrated sample storage. Hamilton’s best automation options are micro lab vantage, micro lab star, micro lab nimbus, and micro lab prep (Hamilton, n.d.).

Hamilton Automation Filter Tips are available here.

Kingfisher Flex:

It has the most flexible equipment for benchtop versatile automation extraction instruments in the lab covering up to 24 to 96 lab samples for each run. It is known for its high throughput extraction and purification of DNA, RNA, proteins, and cells consistently (Thermo Fisher Scientific, n.d.).

In search for Kingfisher flex consumables? Get them here.

Tecan:

Tecen handling and robotics are famous for flexibility and reliability. The advanced designs promote efficiency and safety in the lab practices. These are ideal for lab usage and practices. Some of the finest product options are fluent, freedom EVO series, and Tecan Labwerx (Tecan, n.d.).

Plate washing systems

Single-function equipment, such as buffer discharging, serial dilution, or plate preparation, offers a simple way to implement multiplex microsphere-based screening automation  Protocols. The proprietary xMAP technology uses microspheres as a Strong phase for binding reactions to various antigens, Antibodies, and oligonucleotides. Compared to ELISA, the coupling of capturing molecules to xMAP microspheres gives a wider surface area and better distribution of captured molecules throughout the samples. Since the assay itself is conducted out on the ground of the microsphere rather than on the microplate’s surface (as with ELISA), microplate washing is used to clean the sample. Matrix and unbound microsphere suspension fabrics to ensure correct and consistent data between incubations. Plate washing may have a big effect on immunoassay results, and therefore, standardization of this procedure will boost the system’s efficiency over several batches. In most cases, a number of steps are required to run the assay. xMAP polystyrene microspheres are isolated from all the other elements in the sample with the help of a vacuum-based bead filtration (Zborowski, 2016).

References

Hamilton. (n.d.). Automated Liquid Handlers | Equipment Handling Equipment. Hamilton. https://www.hamiltoncompany.com/automated-liquid-handling

Tecan. (n.d.). Liquid handling and robotics. Tecan. https://diagnostics.tecan.com/products/liquid_handling_and_robotics

Thermo Fisher Scientific. (n.d.). KingFisher Flex System. Thermo Fisher Scientific. https://www.thermofisher.com/pk/en/home/life-science/dna-rna-purification-analysis/automated-purification-extraction/kingfisher-flex.html

Zborowski, T. (2016). Automation of xMAP® Technology-Based Multiplex Assays. Luminex. https://www.labinsights.net/pdfs/4290-pdfUK.pdf