Single Channel Pipetting Module Enables Hands-Free Transfers from Individual Tubes or Wells

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Mar 2022

Image: ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot with D-ONE single channel pipetting module (Photo courtesy of INTEGRA Biosciences)

A new single channel pipetting module for hands-free transfers from individual tubes or wells effectively automates tedious tasks such as serial dilutions, sample normalization, hit picking or pipetting of complex plate layouts, thereby increasing productivity and reproducibility in the lab while reducing hands-on time, processing errors and physical strain.

INTEGRA Biosciences AG (Zizers, Switzerland) has launched the D-ONE single channel pipetting module to overcome the challenges of manually setting different pipetting volumes during sample normalization and missing wells during hit picking protocols. D-ONE allows the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot to automatically perform individual sample transfers. The level of automation provided by the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot has already hugely benefited routine pipetting tasks in labs around the world. It works with any of INTEGRA’s VIAFLO and VOYAGER electronic multichannel pipettes to offer up to 16 channel parallel pipetting, including adjustable tip spacing for convenient tube-to-plate transfers.

The D-ONE single channel pipetting module has been designed as a convenient and cost-effective solution enabling flexible, hands-free transfers from individual tubes or wells on the ASSIST PLUS. This novel solution offers researchers more versatility, enabling the rapid switching between single and multichannel pipetting to suit their application. This makes D-ONE the perfect add-on for labs that want to go beyond the possibilities of multichannel pipetting to access unlimited applications on the ASSIST PLUS. Tedious tasks such as normalizations, hit picking or pipetting of complex plate layouts can now be automated to ensure consistent and accurate results, eliminating transcription errors to simplify day-to-day activities and offer longer walk-away times.

The D-ONE single channel pipetting module has been carefully designed to meet the needs of most customer workflows, and is available in two volume ranges – from 0.5 to 300 μl and 5 to 1250 μl. To ensure optimal pipetting performance throughout the whole volume range, each D-ONE module has two separate pipetting channels, using 12.5 and 300 μl or 125 and 1250 μl GripTips for high and low volumes respectively. Combined with a specially designed D-ONE tip deck that can accommodate two tip racks, this allows the ASSIST PLUS to automatically select and switch between 12.5 and 300 µl or 125 and 1250 µl GripTips without tedious manual intervention. This enables the system to perform hands-free transfers from individual tubes or wells across a wide volume range, without compromising performance or needing to change the pipette tool during a protocol.

Automatic, real-time liquid level detection ensures aspiration is always performed at the optimal height for high precision pipetting results, regardless of the filling volume of each tube or well. The D-ONE pipetting module senses the liquid level immediately before aspiration, and is compatible with all INTEGRA GripTips used for benchtop pipetting devices. This avoids the need for special tips, and saves time during program set-up. The D-ONE single channel pipetting module allows straightforward automation of normalizations, hit picking and master mix preparation, as well as worry-free set-up of complex plate layouts. The intuitive VIALAB pipette automation software simplifies complex tasks such as normalization, automatically performing the required dilution calculations to equalize sample concentrations using varying volumes of diluent and sample in each well. The system also makes it easy to automate master mix preparation, combining varying volumes of buffers, primers and enzymes according to your desired number of samples. Alternatively, it can be effortlessly programmed using imported worklists to transfer samples from single wells to a target plate for hit picking applications, minimizing the risk of transcription errors.

Related Links:
INTEGRA Biosciences AG