Multigen Diagnostics, the first-ever single-test, multi-target DNA analysis laboratory will use Franek uninterruptible power supply after one-minute outage causes one month downtime
Multigen Diagnostics will soon open its first high-throughput, high-volume DNA sequencing laboratory with sophisticated automation able to process more than 1000 samples a day.
All of the certification runs are being put in place and anticipation is high because the laboratory is consistently able to process multiple DNA sequences simultaneously on its Applied Biosystems (ABI) 3130 genetic analyser.
Soon physicians and government agencies will be able to rely on Multigen to identify multiple pathogens and identify markers for hereditary diseases, all within eight hours.
With state-of-the-art equipment, it was a simple one-minute power outage that brought all test runs to a halt and left the laboratory inoperable for an entire month.
This single glitch reinforces the importance of a stable infrastructure prior to the official opening of the laboratory.
With this episode it became clear that all laboratory instruments, regardless of the manufacturer, are highly sensitive to power spikes and outages.
In addressing the power challenge, T Vinayagamoorthy, Multigen's chief scientific officer, was referred by ABI to Franek Technologies, the leader in certified Category III-3 laboratory battery backup power protection systems (LPS/UPS), for the solution.
After a call with an engineering expert at Franek Technologies, a certified category III-3 power protection and back-up system, specifically calibrated and engineered for the exact ABI genetic analyser in the laboratory, was on its way to Multigen.
The laboratory was now back on track for certification and Vinayagamoorthy could now focus his attention on preparing the laboratory to open for business, confident that power variances would no longer be an issue.
"I've seen first-hand what can happen in a laboratory that does not have the level of power protection offered by the Franek Technologies units," he explains.
"I was extremely impressed with the quick response and high level of applications engineering expertise that Franek Technologies brought.
"With the level of throughput and the critical nature of the samples being processed, we intend to ensure that our instrumentation is operating at peak performance 24/7.
"The laboratory cannot afford any downtime or damage caused by substandard, unconditioned power.
"The secondary investment in Franek Technologies power protection solutions is not a luxury, it is a necessity".
"We hear this kind of story time and again," said Raymond Hecker, VP/general manager of Franek Technologies.
"Laboratory equipment has such tight power input and utilisation tolerances that only a high level of conditioned power protection and back-up can ensure that instruments are not damaged, test runs are not interrupted, and precious results are not lost.
"The downtime and repair costs of failing to install such systems substantially exceed the cost of a Franek Technologies certified category III-3 power protection system.
"Our uninterruptible battery backup power sources (LPS/UPS) are currently protecting over $3 billion in laboratory assets worldwide.
"We offer precisely configured LPS/UPS products for over 1500 instruments made by more than 100 manufacturers.
"In the highly unlikely case that a customer calls for a solution that we don't have it, we will design one at no additional charge and ship it as soon as possible.
"Capitalising on our over 30 years of industry experience, we are the absolute best choice for laboratory power protection solutions."
