More and more laboratories are adding. Human error is always a concern, even for the most highly trained technician. Also, results are faster with automatic liquid handling. Tasks performed by humans are always tedious and take longer, thus making automated liquid handling a wise economical choice. Also, in modern times particularly, protecting technicians and lab employees from potential risks when analyzing samples. Read on to learn about liquid handling technology and what type of liquid handling robots you should have in your lab.
Automated Liquid Handling: Pipettes and Micropipettes
Manual pipettes and micropipettes are a staple in every laboratory. They can transfer small quantities of liquid, Below are common micropipette sizes, allowing you to test different liquid volumes.
Common Micropipette Sizes Volume RangeMicropipette
P2 0.2-2 uL
P10 1-10 uL
P20 2-20 uL
P100 20-100 uL
P200 20-200 uL
P1000 100-1000 uL
Automated Robotic Liquid Handlers can be used instead of manual pipettes and often cover similar or expanded volume ranges as those listed above.
Automated Liquid Handling: Microplate Washers and Disperse
Another must-have automatic liquid handling machine in any lab running non-homogeneous assays are microplate washers and dispensers. These are top choices for several applications because of how many processes they employ. Multi-mode washer dispensers have the capability to perform reagent dispensing and plate washing.
Automated Liquid Handling: Stackers
A stacker is a type of microplate storage that can process large batches of plates at one time. Stackers are a highly economical choice and greatly increase your walk-away time for automated liquid handlers of many types.
Robotic Plate Handlers
Automated microplate handlers allow you automatically feed samples and pipet tips to feed hungry automated liquid handlers that continuously process samples as long as they’re well supplied. An automatic liquid handler can pipet at nearly the speed of a human, but without taking breaks, so that work progresses at unprecedented rates. So, when it comes to automated liquid handling, automated plate handlers are also a must-have.
Washers
Washers are designed to wash well plates of multiple sizes. They can use centrifugal forces to remove the liquid from well plates, but this is all done without the use of pipettes or needles. Washers are optimal for bead-based nucleic acid purification and cell-based assays, among other applications.
What Are the Benefits of Automated Liquid Handling?
There are many benefits when it comes to automation in liquid handling systems. Provided you have the right equipment for your needs, you can expect:
- Optimization of your entire liquid handling workflow
- Reduction of sample-handling errors
- Measurement of volume during the dispensing process
- Increase of throughput
- Documentation of sample history for each plate
Overall, liquid handling systems can improve efficiency and accuracy and help keep your technicians and staff safe.
Hudson Robotics has been the leading supplier of automated products for over 38 years. To learn more on how your lab can benefit from automated liquid handling and robotics, speak to a representative today!
