System operates interchangeably across the range of micro-well plate formats without manual intervention and provides the high precision and accuracy required in today's screening laboratory
The Automation Partnership (TAP) announces the European launch of its fully integrated, low volume cell dispenser for Select, the company's automated cell culture system.
The dispenser is being unveiled at the 18th meeting of the European Society for Animal Cell Technology in Granada, Spain.
In order to facilitate assay miniaturisation, the new cell dispenser seeds cells into high-density 1536 format as well as the more conventional 384 and 96 micro-well plates for cell-based screening.
Many leading pharmaceutical companies now require the 1536-well format for cell-based screens in order to reduce assay volumes and reagent costs.
The system operates interchangeably across the range of micro-well plate formats, without the need for manual intervention and provides the high precision and accuracy required in today's screening laboratory.
The dispenser, designed with an upgrade path to existing Select units, was developed by TAP in association with existing system users. Select is the established tool for the supply of live cells from different cell lines to screening labs, with multiple units installed in the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. The new cell dispenser eliminates common liquid handling issues, such as air bubbles, splashing and variable dispense volumes across a plate and features automated tip washing to safeguard against cross contamination between cell lines.
It also features variable contact dispense speeds to accommodate fragile cell types and an enlarged dispense tip orifice which reduces shear forces exerted upon cells.
In order to eliminate syringe dead volume and to facilitate reliable priming, the dispenser has been developed with a unique, patented valve design.
According to Natalie Carrick, application manager at TAP, "The new multi-format dispenser is an exciting development that increases the functionality of Select for both existing and new users and ensures that Select will remain at the forefront of cell culture technology."
