Scientists and researchers rejoice as liquid handling robots continue to revolutionize laboratory settings, providing high accuracy and precision while reducing the need for manual labor. These automated devices have become an integral part of modern science, particularly in high throughput screening, bioassays, sequencing, and sample preparation.
There are different types of liquid handling robots, and all follow the same basic architecture. The design allows for maximum efficiency in the laboratory, increasing productivity while minimizing errors. The various types include:
Automated Pipetting Systems
The automated pipetting system is a popular type of liquid handling robot that works by dispensing liquid from one source to another, such as from a sample plate to a reagent plate. This system has provisions for multiple pipettes which can be used in parallel, increasing the throughput of experiments. Such systems can carry out operations like dilutions, cherry-picking, serial dilutions, and hit-picking.
Microplate Washers
Microplate washers are highly specialized liquid handling robots that have an automated system for washing microplates. They are designed with several washing cycles, different fluid dispensing parameters, varying pressure, and dispensing durations, all of which can be optimized to give the best results. They look similar to pipetting systems but have additional features for washing out microplates.
Workstations
Workstations are the most advanced liquid handling robots available, providing exceptional results. They can be customized for each user’s specifications, providing ultimate versatility. This system has modular components that can be configured to meet different needs, including plate sealing, tube-to-tube transfers, and integration with other third-party devices. They are ideal for assays that require large sample volumes and have a high degree of complexity.
In summary, all of these systems have several uses in laboratories, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and medical research. They provide a solution to the challenges experienced in liquid handling, including dispensing variability, contamination, and long turnaround times.
How do Liquid Handling Robots work?
Unlike traditional manual pipetting techniques that require human intervention at each step of the process, liquid handling robots carry out repetitive tasks automatically. These devices can dispense different volumes of liquids, modify pipetting protocols, and accommodate different types of containers. The devices are programmed with different liquid handling protocols, and the user inputs parameters, such as the sample size and the type of pipette.
The robot then takes over all the dispensing steps accurately, reducing human error and minimizing reagents’ waste. The devices are controlled using a central software program that ensures ease of use, intuitive and error-free pipetting, email notification of anomalies, and remote operation options.
The Benefits of Liquid Handling Robots
Some of the benefits of liquid handling robots include:
1. Precision and Accuracy: The precision of liquid handling robots ensures that experiments are accurate, repeatable, and deliver consistent results.
2. Increased Efficiency: Liquid handling robots are faster than manual pipetting, enabling more tests to be run in less time. This high throughput performance greatly helps increase the productivity of researchers and scientists.
3. Labor Savings: Choosing to automate the liquid handling process in a laboratory reduces the workload of technicians, saving them time while delivering consistent results.
4. Confident Results: By eliminating human error, liquid handling robots deliver reliable results, giving researchers more confidence in their experiments.
5. Customization: Liquid handling robots can be configured to meet a lab’s specific requirements, enabling a diverse array of experiments.
Conclusion
Liquid handling robots have become indispensable in the modern laboratory, bringing increased speed, accuracy, and consistency to a wide range of scientific processes. With their high precision and accuracy, increased efficiency, and diversity in application, these devices have become an essential tool for scientists and researchers.
The continuous development of liquid handling robots will likely see their adoption grow, extending into new fields of research and development. As such, it is essential for researchers to familiarize themselves with this technology, allowing them to lead the way in their respective fields with increased efficiency and the confidence to go forth and innovate.
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Post time: Jun-12-2023