Technical poster describes how a labour-intensive, multi-step assay was automated using Velocity11's BioCel automation platform, providing significant time savings and enhanced assay consistency
Velocity11 has reported on the application of its BioCel automation platform for use in high-throughput kinetic fluorescence assays in a new technical poster, available on request.
Kinetic fluorescence whole cell assays are widely used in high-throughput screening laboratories, however a persisting challenge for this type of assay is in its automation.
These assays frequently involve wash steps and multiple plate additions and ideally should be prepared entirely at 37C.
Using a Velocity11 BioCel Automation Platform the authors describe a protocol for performing the entire process in a controlled environment.
An example of an HTS process using the developed protocol is given that demonstrates significant increases in throughput compared to a traditional workstation approach.
Simultaneously the automated protocol enabled the screening scientist to run a much larger number of plates per day while maintaining assay standards and decreasing the amount of manual labour required.
The BioCel was selected to automate this assay due to its flexible event driven software and abilities to undertake online compound plate preparation, cell plate dye loading, cell plate washing, and compound transfer to the cell plate for pre-incubation, all in a temperature controlled environment.
A copy of the technical poster 'automating kinetic fluorescence whole cell assays using the Velocity11 BioCel screening platform' is available on request.
The BioCel automation system delivers the functionality of much larger systems in an efficient innovative package optimised for speed.
The BioCel is described as a fully-capable sample-processing platform for assembling genomics reactions, dispensing samples for compound preparation, or processing biological samples in screening applications.
The system's event-driven scheduler supports multiple plate formats and labware, multiple protocols, and linear and parallel process flows, while the software architecture accommodates expansion of the system to include additional modules and access to new third party devices.
