Biomek® Fly-By Bar Code Reader For Initial and Confirmatory Bar Code Reading

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Positive sample identification, processing, and tracking of microplates

Positive sample identification and tracking is critical in collecting, transferring, and storing quality data with integrity. Tracking of samples by way of bar code registration provides historical identification of labware contents, e.g. tube or microplate, at any point in an assay or method, and allows decisions to be made during transfer or pipetting operations based on labware contents or worklist import files. Within Biomek Software, sample tracking is enabled via data sets, which store labware properties such as a bar code or lot number, and well (or tube) properties such as volumes and detector values.

Data sets allow information about a sample in an individual tube or well to be tracked when the sample is moved to another tube or well. During any transfer operation, all data sets associated with a plate (or tube) are automatically copied from the source labware to the destination labware. Only the wells in the data set affected by the transfer operation are copied to the destination plate. The information in the data set can therefore be used in decision-making for such applications as hit-picking and normalization.

Biomek NX and FX Workstations capture initial sample bar code information from microplates in several ways, including the Bar Code Reading ALP, Stacker Carousel plate hotel, Cytomat ALP, Automated Tube Bar Code Reader (once the microplates are formatted), or Hand-held Bar Code Reader. The Biomek Fly-By Bar Code Reader is an accessory, which not only allows the initial reading of a sample bar code, but also allows for confirmatory bar code reading to be conducted "on-the-fly" during a method. Confirmatory bar code reading checks -- or confirms -- the identity of a particular microplate prior, or subsequent, to any further plate processing steps, such as pipetting, washing, reading, or transporting, etc. Confirmation of the plate bar code means that the integrity of all sample tracking information and the associated quality of data remains intact.

Versatility

The Fly-By Bar Code Reader can be used on any Biomek NX or FX instrument that has gripper functionality; e.g. multichannel heads or Span-8 with gripper pod. The reader can scan a single plate or a stack of up to 4 microplates labeled with any of the following bar code formats: CODABAR, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, EAN, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPCA, or UPCE.

Error Handling

Extensive error handling in reading the bar codes of microplates ensures positive sample identification and traceability. Initial configuration of the Fly-By Bar Code Reader addresses read errors or mismatches of bar codes by allowing input for a number of retry attempts. If the read error or mismatch is not resolved during a retry, then the user can choose one of the following options:

• Ignore the error and continue the method
• Use a manually entered bar code 
• Prompt the user for further input 

Selection of "prompt the user for further input" will generate an error message screen during the method describing the error and asking for further input such as retry, ignore the error, abort the method, or manually enter a bar code.

The Fly-By Bar Code Reader can also be used for decision making in a Biomek method. The method is configured using "If" and Fly-By Read steps. Depending on the bar code being read, a microplate can be further processed in different ways; e.g. different plates may get different reagents, or be routed to perform different assays, etc.

Reporting

Bar code reads from the Fly-By Bar Code Reader can be logged to a special log file that records:

• Time of read
• Microplate name
• Initial bar code reading
• Final bar code reading
• Recovery action, if an error or mismatch occurred

At the end of a method, Biomek Software can generate a report of the complete method run, which contains all the sample preparation log entries, including the Fly-By Bar Code information. Results from this report can be exported to an LIMS or Microsoft* Excel spreadsheet for further data analysis and processing.

Ordering Information

For Technical Specifications, please contact your local Beckman Coulter representative.

* All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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

Additional Information:

• Biomek® Fly-By Bar Code Reader

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

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