Biomek® FX Assay Workstation Solution for Sample Prep and ELISA Assay Automation

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A customer came to Beckman Coulter to obtain an automated solution for the processing of rodent sera used in their research. The automated solution needed was to provide for the dilution of the sera, distribution in 24- and 96-well plate formats and performance of ELISA assays to monitor for immune response in the rodent sera.

The project management team designed a Biomek FX Assay Workstation to satisfy the automation needs of the customer. At the center of the Assay Workstation was the Biomek FX with a dual-bridge hybrid set-up providing both a Span-8 and a 96-Multichannel head. An ELx405* washer and a PowerWave* Microplate spectrophotometer (both from Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc.) were integrated on the deck of the Biomek FX. A Cytomat 2C and a Cytomat Microplate Hotel were positioned on the right and left side of the Biomek FX deck, respectively. Both were set up with a barcode reader ALP and connected to the deck via a conveyor ALP.

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Figure 1. Biomek FX Assay Workstation for Sample Prep and ELISA Assay Automation.

The key to success for the customer was ensured due to the development of a pipetting technique that could accurately pipette the rodent sera while avoiding the wax plug in the vacutainer tubes (thanks to Lisa Knapp, Technical Support). The other challenge faced by our Project Management team was the customer need to input and track sample information and data throughout the process. The team utilized automation tools including SAMI variables, SAMI Read File and Labware Persistence along with Biomek FX datasets to achieve the introduction and tracking of sample information throughout the process.

The components used in this automated solution were chosen based on functionality, space and price. The customer is very happy with the automated solution that was developed by the team.

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For Research Use Only; not for use in diagnostic procedures.

For comments or questions about T³ Update, please contact David Daniels, Ph.D., editor.

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