LabAutomation 2006 - SLAS

MP87
Peter Greenhalgh
Astech Projects ltd
Runcorn, Cheshire, United Kingdom
peter.greenhalgh@astechprojects.co.uk
HTT Automation: The Big Picture
LabAutomation2006
Co-Author
Nigel McCoy
There are many pieces of laboratory equipment that are capable of carrying out High Throughput automation of discrete tasks. Most
High Throughput Technologies, however, require a combination of a number of these discrete tasks, each capable of high throughput, to
perform the full HTT process.
A fully automated HTT system must be capable of performing many experiments at high speed. To maximise the output of the discrete
components of the overall process, therefore, the fully automated HTT system must determine and utilise the optimum process and
eliminate bottlenecks. This requires the use of control software to schedule tasks while employing parallel processing and concurrency to
provide an efficient system.
The fully automated HTT system must be flexible. It must allow the operator to create new workflows and methods, while scheduling
and executing the methods in the most efficient manner but leaving the operator with a high level of control requiring the minimum of
intervention. The fully automated HTT system will operate unattended, leaving automation to carry out the required scheduling and
necessary transfers between discrete system components.
The fully automated HTT system must be capable of handling a range of materials, often liquids and / or powders. These materials
are commonly hazardous so must be handled in a safe and controlled manner. Full automation is intrinsically safer for the operator by
minimising operator interaction, however, there is always some need for operator interaction so operator safety and ergonomic factors
must be considered from design through to manufacture.
MP88
Danhui Wang
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
St. Louis, Missouri
dwang@sial.com
Co-Author(s)
Lukasz Nosek,
Jennifer Van Dinther
Rafael Valdes-Camin
GenomePlexâ Whole Genome Amplification Kit: A High Throughput Approach for
Rapidly Amplifying Genomic DNA from a Variety of Biological Materials
Genomic characterization has become the starting point for understanding biological systems. In many instances, this process is
hampered by the availability of sufficient quantities of genomic DNA samples, especially for rare and archived samples. The GenomePlex
Whole Genome Amplification Kit allows for a rapid and highly representative, ~500-fold amplification of genomic DNA from trace samples.
This system utilizes a proprietary amplification process in which genomic DNA is subjected to random chemical fragmentation followed
by a series of stepped, isothermal primer extensions to convert the resulting small DNA fragments to the PCR-amplifiable OmniPlexâ
Library. The OmniPlex Library is then amplified by PCR using universal primers and a limited number of PCR cycles. To meet the highthroughput
requirements for amplification of genomic DNA samples, an automated method has been developed using the Biomekâ FX
workstation with an integrated thermal cycler. The entire process from genomic DNA fragmentation, OmniPlex Library generation, and
PCR amplification are automated in a single method resulting in highly consistent amplifications across 96 samples. This method has been
successfully applied to a variety of sources including whole blood, blood cards, and formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.
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