Liquid Handling Automation Platform Five Crucial Factors to consider Before Buying

Liquid Handling Automation Platform Five Crucial Factors to consider Before Buying

Overview

  • Post By : Kumar Jeetendra

  • Source: Microbioz India

  • Date: 04 Feb,2023

Nonstop exploration of new technologies in the biotech, pharma, and life science research sectors with the goal of creating a secure sphere for humanity by removing all threats has resulted in the current bloom of these fields.

A global COVID 19 outbreak serves as a catalyst for this technical endeavour, initially due to the need for rapid but accurate diagnosis of large numbers of samples, followed by increased research in the fields of vaccine development and drug testing.

This technical march relies heavily on accuracy, speed, and adaptability.

Automated Liquid Handling (ALH) systems have been designed to meet each stage of this demand, proving to be a valuable tool for researchers to perform not only routine tasks but also diligently under increased work pressure.

Initially, the adaptation of the AHL in research sectors was also associated with two major impediments: the high cost of the instrument and the lack of skilled operators to run the system, particularly in developing countries.

With liquid handling options ranging from a simple pipet to a full-scale, multifunction workstation, determining the best system for your application can be difficult. ELISA, time-resolved fluorescence, nucleic acid preparation, PCR setup, next-generation sequencing for genomic research, TLC spotting, SPE, and liquid-liquid extraction can all be optimised using automated systems. Drug discovery, forensics, materials science, molecular biology, clinical research, and pharmaceutical development are just some of the applications.

Market Leaders for Automation Liquid Handling System

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tecan Group Ltd., Hamilton Co., Eppendorf AG, Gilson Incorporated, Danaher Corporation, Aurora Biomed, Inc., and Agilent Technologies currently dominate the market for ALH systems.

One interesting observation about the AHL market is the recent strategic collaboration between global players to develop even more advanced technology, as mentioned below.

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Hamilton Co. launched the NIMBUS Presto WorkStation in April 2020, based on the former’s NA purification strategy and the latter’s liquid handling expertise, providing an unparalleled competitive edge and a stronghold in the industry for both.

The accusation of Labcye by Beckman Coulter Life Sciences in January 2019 opened up a new path for both companies to explore advanced areas of ALH.

Pipette+, the result of a strategic collaboration between Andrew Alliance and Sartorius, was launched at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening trade show in Washington DC, providing improved reproducibility and simplification of the complex workflow.

Market for Liquid Handling Automation Equipment

The global automated liquid handling technologies market was worth USD 1.67 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.44% between 2022 and 2030. The market is expected to be driven by the introduction of novel automated liquid handling workstations for non-contact dispensing. Contact dispensing has gained popularity over the years due to its dependability, simplicity, and low cost. However, as sample volume decreased, the liquid handling requirements changed. The global COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for virus samples to be collected and prepared safely, accurately, and quickly. This places additional strain on laboratories to meet the demand for high-throughput and large-scale testing.

In this article, we will go through the top five most important factors to consider before buying Liquid Handling

Automation Platform

The first consideration is the desired level of automation. Is it possible to justify increasing the budget to include semi- or full-automation or an upgrade to the existing system? Consider the high cost of reagents and the number of operator hours saved. When looking for a manual device, don’t overlook the importance of good ergonomic design.

How many plates will be processed per day, and what speeds, precision, accuracy, and volume will be required?

You should consider how many plates will need to be processed in a single day, and what speeds, precision, accuracy, and volume requirements must be met? In your routine lab workflow.

What applications do you require liquid handling automation for?

Know your requirements: make a list of all the liquid handling applications performed in your lab.

Recognize how important it will be to your workflow

Examine the product’s history. Who makes the product? How well-known is this brand in your field? Will your new liquid handling automation robot be a workhorse for your lab, or will it require routine maintenance to avoid breakdowns and downtime? There is no point in investing in a system that is so delicate that it must be abandoned in favour of manual pipetting to avoid work stoppages.

If you anticipate increased requirements, carefully consider the system’s upgradeability.

If you believe that your needs will continue to grow, you should give serious thought to how easily the system can be upgraded.

Is there enough space in the lab for your proposed system?

Manufacturers are taking note of smaller lab sizes and developing instruments with a smaller footprint.

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