Combines rapid dispensing of reagents, buffers, solvents and cells with a microplate storage and delivery system for automated high throughput assay preparation and compound storage
At LabAutomation 2003, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences introduced the FlexDrop EX series precision reagent dispenser. The FlexDrop EX combines rapid dispensing of reagents, buffers, solvents and cells with a microplate storage and delivery system for automated high throughput, walk-away assay preparation and compound storage.
The FlexDrop EX series has two models: the single diving board EX model that integrates stackers with the reagent dispenser to enable unattended automation, and the dual diving board EXi model for easy integration with additional instruments, including the Evolution P3 system.
Stacker cassettes provide capacity for up to 50 SBS-standard microplates or up to 33 microplates when used for lidding/delidding protocols. "FlexDrop offers the unique ability to dispense volumes as low as 200nl into all SBS-standard formats, including 96-, 384- and 1536-well shallow and deepwell plates, all in one instrument," said Warren Bock, director of liquid handling systems for PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.
"With the addition of the EX series, the FlexDrop now provides capacity to enable full walk-away assay automation for low-volume and bulk-volume dispense protocols.
With its device integration capability, reagents can be dispensed and fed to automated liquid handlers for ultra high-throughput applications." In addition, PerkinElmer announced the integration of two leading automated liquid handling systems, the Multiprobe II and the Evolution P3 precision pipetting platform.
This integration of the Multiprobe II and the Evolution P3 represents an innovative solution for total assay automation in research and screening laboratories by providing both flexible dispensing with automatic variable probe spacing and liquid level sensing with high-throughput dispensing in one fully integrated package.
The 96- or 384-tip Evolution P3 and the four- and eight-tip Multiprobe II are benchtop systems designed to easily automate compound management and screening applications.
Integrated assays using the features of both systems are made easy using PerkinElmer's Winprep automation software.
The result is a powerful set of automation features that enable users to run both instruments as one integrated workstation or individually for separate assays without reconfiguration.
"This integrated system combines our best liquid handling capabilities, such as VersaTip Plus, for switching between fixed and disposable tips in any one assay, and Accusense, for liquid level sensing," said Bock.
"The result provides high-throughput processing for liquid handling protocols including 'cherry picking' and dilutions, and then easily integrates with our proven 96- or 384- disposable tip technology for reformatting or reagent transfers."
