Novel Laboratory Automation Platform at SLAS 2018

Formulatrix will feature its Rover Laboratory Automation Platform to support sample preparation during the SLAS 2018 conference in San Diego, CA, on Feb. 5–8, 2018, the company announced on Jan. 22, 2018.

The platform will use machine vision and mobile microplate “rovers” that carry microplates around the lab from instrument to instrument, providing researchers with scalability, according to the company. Automated sensors in various pipetting stations, starting with an eight-channel variable spacing air displacement model, will automatically sense liquid levels, liquid classes, and labware geometries. 

“The idea behind a results-oriented software interface is that you indicate how you would like your samples to be processed, and the instrument decides how to best perform the liquid handling tasks, sensing liquid levels, viscosities, and labware geometries along the way to ensure highly reproducible sample preparation,” explained Thomas Rawlins, marketing manager at Formulatrix, in a company press release.

When configured with the Mantis Liquid Handler, a microfluidic reagent dispenser with a 6-µL dead volume, and the Constellation digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, a plate-based digital PCR system, the pipetting platform will be released in July 2018 and provide researchers with a full workflow solution for sample preparation and analysis in miniaturized nucleic acid quantification workflows, as stated by the company.

The concept will be featured at booth #1335 of the SLAS 2018 conference during the Solution Spotlight presentation on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 at 3:30 PM in the Exhibition Theater.

Source: Formulatrix