Resource page for the "Liquid Handling Boot Camp" short course

To be taught at the SLAS 2012 Annual Conference, February 2012

This short course is designed to assist those who use liquid handling robots in the biopharmaceutical, and other life science fields. It teaches students to recognize and understand the variables associated with gaining maximum performance out of their liquid handlers.

The class will begin with a concise review of the science and theory of automated liquid handling. Students will then have the opportunity to apply this knowledge in hands-on exercises with a variety of robotic liquid handlers using various liquids, seeing immediate liquid delivery performance data, and experimenting with different techniques.

Course Outline

Introduction to liquid handling robots - types of laboratory automation and technology background
Safety issues - common safety risks and gross performance issues
Liquid handling terminology, issues and techniques - definitions of terms, failure modes and basic techniques
Reagent and chemical compatibility and handling issues - aggressive solvents, high viscosity liquids and "foaming"
Validation and QC techniques and options - definitions, why, when, suggestions and regulatory issues
Decontamination protocols - why, and recommended agents
Hands-on pipetting - 2/3 of total class time
- on real robots
- aqueous liquids of varying viscosities

Hands-on Lab Exercises

During the course, attendees have the opportunity to apply what they have learned on a number of actual liquid handling robots. The instructors are there to assist.

Dispense Speed (non-contact dispense)
Dispense Speed (contact dispense)
Dispense Speed for High Viscosity fluids
Aspirate Speed for High Viscosity fluids
Air Gaps for High Viscosity fluids
Mixing – varying number of mixes
if time, class suggested experiments

Instructors

Douglas Gurevitch
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, California, USA

Petar Stojadinović
National University

Justin Provchy
Amgen, Inc.
Thousand Oaks, California, USA

References

“Air-Displacement and Positive-Displacement Pipetting Techniques”, Gilson, Inc., website, file pdfid240.pdf
“Microarrays Methods and Applications”, Chapter 2: Laboratory Automation for Microarray Experimentation, Hardiman, Gary, DNA Press, 2003
“Marks’ Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers”, Avallone & Baumeister, McGraw-Hill Professional, 10th Edition, 1996
“Qualification of robotic laboratory equipment”, Caillet C, Pegon Y, Le Neel T, Morin D, Baudiment C, Truchaud A, Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation - February 2005 (Vol. 10, Issue 1, Pages 48-53)
“Comparison of Absorbance and Fluorescence Methods for Determining Liquid Dispensing Precision”, Petersen J, Nguyen J, Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation - April 2005 (Vol. 10, Issue 2, Pages 82-87)
“Critical Evaluation of the Mosquito (A Low Volume Liquid Handler): A Tool for Drug Discovery”, Mosser S, LabAutomation2006, Track 2, 11:30am, Palm Springs, CA, 2006

Equipment we are working on for the Experiments - with a special thanks to the Vendors providing the equipment.

Agilent Bravo

Caliper Zephyr^®

Eppendorf epMotion^®

Hamilton Nimbus^®

PerkinElmer MiniMDT

Tecan Evolution^®

Beckman Biomek^® NXp

and

Artel MVS^® systems for the performance reads

Liquid Handling Boot Camp:Resource Page

From LabAutopedia

Contents

Course Outline

Hands-on Lab Exercises

Instructors

References

Equipment we are working on for the Experiments - with a special thanks to the Vendors providing the equipment.

Related LabAutopedia Articles