The new high productivity system integrates nanolitre sample transfer with fully automated plate storage and sample handling for secure sample inventory management and distribution
A high productivity assay assembly system has been announced that combines the plate storage and handling capabilities of the Velocity11 BioCel laboratory automation platform with the nanolitre transfer technology of the Labcyte Echo 550.
The assay assembly system eliminates the need for intermediate compound distribution processes.
With refrigerated storage for 1000 plates, the system has full access to all compounds and can distribute them directly to assay plates.
The system incorporates a dedicated database for inventory management, high-speed plate handling, multiple options for reagent dispensing, and the nanolitre sample transfer capability of the Labcyte Echo 550 in an integrated automated work cell capable of producing hundreds of assay plates in either 384- or 1536-well formats.
In compound plate storage and replication, sample inventory management and sample integrity and inventory management are the keys to success.
The new assay assembly system links directly into laboratory information management systems (Lims) for receiving and delivering inventory information as well as keeping the BioCel database and sample inventory synchronised and up-to-date.
The BioCel ensures source and destination plate sample integrity with appropriate storage in one or more integrated environments that control temperature, CO2 and humidity levels.
Source and destination plate sample integrity is ensured on the BioCel by appropriate storage in one or integrated environments that control temperature, CO2 and humidity levels.
VWorks automation control software provides dynamic scheduling on the system for high throughput.
It also controls production of compound bank back copies for several users and different applications in parallel.
Gerry Alden, general manager for Velocity11 in Europe, commented: "Touchless transfer technology from Labcyte is a superior sample handling technique for our customers who need to minimise consumption of their valuable compound stores.
"By integrating the Echo 550 with our BioCel system for plate storage and handling supplemented with additional liquid handling capabilities such as our VPrep system, we deliver a fully automated system for direct access and processing of a complete compound collection".
