Specifications for robotic pipetting instrument.pdf

Specifications for robotic pipetting instrument (USDA‐ARS, College Station, TX)

The system must be capable of using four or eight fixed washable or disposable tips at one time.

It should also be capable of using any number of lesser tips independently. All tips will be located on a single arm for high throughput sample processing. Each sampling tip will be capable of independent motion in the Z‐direction. Tips and arm must have positional accuracy to target a 384 well low volume PCR plate.

The system must be configurable with a choice of methods for eliminating carry‐over between samples. No manual intervention is required to switch from one tip type to another. Changing from disposable tips to fixed washable tip processing can be done within a single operation step in a protocol.

The Instrument should be equipped with 250µL syringes.

Instrument should be able to aspirate volumes ranging between 1µL and 2.5mL in a single aspiration step without changing the hardware configuration.

Systems must be capable of probe‐to‐probe spacing from 9 to 20 or 9 to 40mm.

The system should be able to utilize both standard and conductive disposable tips. Conductive tips should enable liquid level sensing.

Multiple disposable tip sizes should be compatible on single sampling probe including 10 uL, 20uL, 200uL, 1000uL and 5000µL tips. All disposable tips should be capable of being utilized in a multi‐ tip mode.

The system should have a capacity of up to 32 deck positions. The system should also allow for upgradeability of microplate and disposable tip storage device to be integrated to the system.

System should be compatible with a variety of automated temperature control options enabling both chilling and heating to occur on the deck. Multiple heating tiles can be operated automatically, simultaneously, and independently at different temperatures ranging from ambient to 100C.

The instrument should be able to include a technology allowing the movement of microplates without the need for a separate gripper.

The instrument should be equipped with a wash station and waste chute.

The instrument should be upgradeable or equipped with an enclosure.

The instrument must be capable of providing independent liquid level sensing in a multi‐tipped mode with fixed, washable sampling tips or disposable tips.

Liquid level sensing must be capable of detecting non‐ionic and organic solvents such as deionized water, DMSO or methanol.

When utilizing fixed tips or conductive disposable tips, the system’s liquid level sensing must be sensitive enough to detect sample volumes of less than 100 uL in test tubes or 50 uL in microplates with standard JANUS™ racks and in a multi‐tipped configuration.

The system must include electrical sensors to verify disposable tip pick up and disposal. Sensors should be capable of being turned on or off at users discretion.

Software should enable users to determine when to dispose of tips and when to reuse them.

System should be capable of re‐using a tip when performing duplicate transfers.

The system must include the ability to operate at the user discretion with fewer than total tips configured on the system at one time.

The system must allow any combination of labware to be included on deck for use in processing within a single protocol. Labware should include but not be limited to test tubes, microplates, deep well plates, troughs, micro centrifuge vials, etc.