New Robotic System Automates Clinical Flow Cytometry Diagnostics

Flow cytometry analyzes a population of cells on a cell-by-cell basis, an essential feature for researchers and clinicians aiming to identify specific cells within a sample for disease or biological process studies. This technique is not only extraordinarily rapid, but it also enables the simultaneous measurement of multiple attributes of single cells, a process known as multiplexing. These benefits have transformed flow cytometry into a versatile tool for both researchers and clinicians, making it a critical instrument for clinical diagnostics, especially in diagnosing and managing diseases like cancer. Now, a new automated instrument that prepares samples for clinical diagnostics using flow cytometry offers a full "walkaway" workflow solution to enhance standardization and reproducibility in cellular diagnostics.

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) has launched the new BD FACSDuet Premium Sample Preparation System globally. This system employs liquid-handling robotics to fully automate the sample preparation process for both in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and user-defined tests. It handles tasks such as cocktailing, washing, and centrifuging, and then automatically transfers samples to the physically integrated BD FACSLyric Clinical Flow Cytometry System, eliminating the need for human intervention. Thanks to its integration with the flow cytometer, the BD FACSDuet Premium System offers a "walkaway" workflow solution that cuts down manual steps, resources, and user hands-on time compared to previous solutions.

Image: The BD FACSDuet Premium System enables a “walkaway” workflow solution that requires fewer manual steps (Photo courtesy of BD)

"Our clinical customers have long trusted BD and our best-in-class products to standardize every step of the clinical lab workflow – from panel creation to sample preparation to analysis to report," said Steve Conly, worldwide president, BD Biosciences. "The flagship BD FACSLyric Flow Cytometry System is one of the fastest adopted clinical instruments in the world and now together with the FACSDuet Premium System, which has achieved IVD status in the U.S. and Europe, we usher in greater levels of automation so that our customers can focus more of their valuable time on analyzing and interpreting samples and impacting outcomes."

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