Automation & Robotics

Where appropriate robotic liquid handling systems are used routinely at YBS and a number of off-line and on-line options are available.

The MultiPROBE II HT EX is an 8-tip robotic liquid handling system, with capacity to hold up to 32 microtitre plates. The systems at YBS are fitted with liquid sensing VersaTips which can use disposable tips or Teflon coated fixed tips. These can be used to accurately and precisely transfer a wide range of liquids of differing viscosity and volatility (i.e. plasma to organic solvents) without cross contamination.

The Tomtec Quadra Tower (TQT) can be utilised for automatic solvent dispensing and aspirating, into or out of, 96-well plate formats. The system has a 96 well pipettor head, and like the Multiprobe, the TQT can be used to accurately and precisely transfer a wide range of liquids of differing viscosity and volatility without cross contamination.

Cohesive turbulent flow chromatography systems, directly linked to the mass spectrometers, facilitate the direct injection of plasma. This technology has been routinely used at YBS for both discovery and development studies, and are in routine use in the support of large clinical development programmes. Where applicable, the use of turbulent flow chromatography allows high degrees of efficiciency to be realised, without compromising the quality of the data generated.

Spark-Holland Symbiosis Pharma is another option for on-line automation.  This system is particularly suited to the on-line clean-up of urine samples and for the analysis of very low levels of therapeutic peptides.