Automation of sample preparation

In this infographic we review why automation is important as well as focusing on liquid detection and how to handle errors. The details of liquid handlers are also explored including Hamilton instruments such as the Hamilton STAR.

Why is automation important?

Automating sample preparation for complex assays pays dividends to scientists and project management, as liquid handlers can streamline workflows and provide audit trails documenting every step of the extraction. Q² Solutions was an early adopter of TomTec Quadra instruments. TomTecs significantly increased speed and throughput for solid phase extractions compared to inline-SPE. Similarly, more recent liquid handling platforms offer a similar jump in efficiency and productivity. In 2010, we purchased our first Hamilton STAR instruments and have increased our fleet to a total of 7 across three bioanalytical sites. Utilization of Hamilton robotics have allowed extraction analyst to prepare anywhere from 10-30 assays per day to support both large and small molecule sample analysis.

Automation of sample prep_info-min

[Illustrated by Hannah Morton]