Designed for applications in genomics and drug discovery, liquid handling system processes batches too small for large automation systems yet too demanding to perform manually
Tecan has made fully automated liquid handling available in a compact bench top system.
The new Aquarius is a multi-channel pipetting system that has been designed for a wide range of applications in genomics and drug discovery.
Aquarius is ideal for processing batches that are too small for processing on large automation systems, yet too demanding to be performed manually. Aquarius uses both 96- and 384-well pipetting heads and has the built-in flexibility to use fixed or disposable 96-well manifolds interchangeably.
The system performs medium-to-high throughput sample dispensing for compound logistics, assay development, primary and secondary drug screening processes, as well as PCR, PCR clean up and setting up sequencing reactions.
It offers many of the features found in larger liquid handling systems, but in a compact benchtop system that is ideal for the automated processing of small to medium batch sizes.
The two pipetting heads enable a wide range of volumes to be pipetted, spanning from 50 microlitres down to 200 nanolitres.
Although small in footprint, the system's three lanes with nine pipetting positions clearly demonstrate how Aquarius efficiently utilises deck space.
The flexibility of Aquarius plus the stacker carousel allows it to access every position of the instrument deck, extending its automation possibilities.
And with a capacity of 300 plates the system is capable of handling batch sizes that will be extremely useful to most laboratory scale applications. Nicolas Sandoz, product group manager at Tecan commented: "Aquarius is a perfect addition to Tecan's full suite of multi-channel pipettors.
Compact in size, Aquarius makes optimal use of laboratory space, while preserving many of the key features found only in larger pipetting systems.
Aquarius has the added benefit of being either used as a stand-alone or integrated in larger robotic systems." With Aquarius, scientists can automate liquid handling of smaller volumes without going through the tedious process of programming a large system.
