Automation & Robotics

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

The Hamilton Microlab STAR Plus is a robotic liquid handling system with an 8-tip variable pipetting arm and a 96 well pipettor head. This system is 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.

In regulatory bioanalysis the Hamilton robotic system is used to support large clinical studies to increase quality, assay robustness, speed and capacity. The robot is used to automate protein precipitation and solid phase extraction procedures and can process two 96-well SPE plates in 20 minutes.

In the discovery group the Hamilton robots are used to automate discovery bioanalysis assays and routine in vitro ADME screening assays such as plasma binding and inhibition assays.

Spark-Holland Symbiosis Pharma is another option for on-line automation in our regulatory bioanalysis group and is primarily used to enhance sensitivity. This on-line solid phase extraction system is particularly suited to achieving ultra-sensitive (sub pg/mL) assays, the analysis of peptides, unstable compounds and urine samples.

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 can be used to accurately and precisely transfer a wide range of liquids of differing viscosity and volatility without cross contamination.