omation mbers - Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening

TP090
Alain Truchaud
Center of Research in Biomedical Technology
Institut de Biologie
9 Quai Moncousu
44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France
a.truchaud@red-crtb.com
191
Co-Author(s)
D. Morin, F. X. Chobletf, S. Belsoeur, T. Le Neel
Center of Research in Biomedical Technology
Development of an Automated Workcell Around a Multicapillary Zone Electrophoresis
Instument for Human Serum Protein Analysis
P. Chauvin, Sebia
A new multicapillary zone electrophoresis instrument for human serum protein analysis, the Capillarys, was recently
launched by Sebia company. In this instrument, serum samples are arranged manually in racks which are loaded
by the technician inside the system; then, the analytical process (dilution in the buffer, injection in the capillaries,
detection and data processing) is fully automated. After analysis, the rack is collected manually by the operator.
We integrated the Capillarys in an automated workcell able to pick tubes from a sample transportation system
(Total Laboratory Automation), to arrange them in the right position for barcode reading on the racks of the
Capillarys. The racks are transported and loaded in the Capillarys by the robot. After analysis, racks are
automatically collected and disposed on a stacker, waiting for storage, waste management, or transportation to
another instrument.
It was not necessary to modify neither the software, neither the hardware of the Capillarys, thus avoiding eventual
conflicts about the maintenance of the instrument; we just added two external sensors for rack detection, and we
modified the cover to let an easy robotic access to the rack loading and unloading area. Safety of the operator is
insured by safety transparent doors equipped with sensors which stop the process if one door is opened during
the process.
Conclusion: we proved that the Capillarys is robot-compatible in an automated workcell, able to be connected to
a Total Laboratory Automation system, thus introducing serum protein electrophoresis as a basic fully automated
screening profile in Clinical Biochemistry, 24h/day, 7 days/week.
TP091
Kerstin Thurow
University of Rostock
Institute for Automation
R.-Wagner-Strasse 31
Rostock 18119 Germany
kerstin.thurow@uni-rostock.de
Automation Systems for Bioscreening – Development and Services
Co-Author(s)
Kristin Entzian
With the ending of important patents and the increasing resistance of micro organisms against currently available
antibiotics there is a great demand of the pharmaceutical industry for the development of new leading drugs.
Since the methods of combinatorial chemistry and the exploitation of new sources such as natural drugs deliver
a high number of potential drugs the development of automated HTS methods for the biological testing and
screening of these compounds is essential. Biological testing parameters include cell viability, cell proliferation,
the measurement of intracellular calcium, the determination of enzyme inhibition or even the determination of the
stability and metabolization of potential drug candidates. Different cell based and cell free assays can be used as
targets for the determination of the biological activity.
The presentation will give an overview about current and future developments in this field of high throughput
screening. A robot based high throughput screening system was assembled and programmed for different test
procedures. Examples for test results in enzyme inhibition, Ca determination and cell proliferation will be given.
The flexibility of the systems enables the easy adaptation to customer specific assays and requirements and thus
allows the use of the automated solution to provide screening services to pharmaceutical companies.
POSTER ABSTRACTS