Case Studies

In this case study, we demonstrate use of the Erenna® Immunoassay System with SMC™ Immunoassays integrated onto the Hamilton Microlab STARlet liquid handling workstation in order to create a hands-free, automated, assay-ready workflow.

The CAP (Clean Air Protection) system from Hamilton Robotics is an efficient alternative for those who require high throughput sample processing in a clean, positive-pressure environment. CAP is a HEPA-filtered hood that may be integrated with any standard, enclosed Microlab NIMBUS Personal Pipetting Workstation.

In this case study, we demonstrate use of the Microlab® STARlet automated liquid handler to automate the processing of up to 96 samples in approximately 90 minutes in the SenSATIVAx workflow, and up to 192 qPCR reactions in approximately 30 minutes in the PathoSEEK workflow, compared to approximately four hours for the same using manual methods.

In this case study, we demonstrate that the combination of [MPE]2 and MACHEREY-NAGEL's NucleoSpin® 96 Plasmid Kit provides an automated and high-throughput plasmid DNA purification solution with reliable performance and excellent yields.

Here, we demonstrate an automated dSPE sample preparation workflow (see Workflow at end) on the Microlab NIMBUS96 liquid handling workstation. The Microlab NIMBUS96 uses air displacement pipetting for high precision and accuracy when aspirating and dispensing volumes from 1–1,000 μL, while Compressed O-Ring Expansion (CO-RE®) Technology creates an air-tight seal between dSPE tips or other disposable pipetting tips and the pipetting channel mandrels to maximize performance. Cannabinoid levels from nine cannabis plant samples are determined using the automated sample preparation workflow followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. We show that the automated method is rapid and robust while enabling hands-free efficiencies.

An improved automated method for the extraction of testosterone in serum was developed using ZnSO4 and Low Porosity Filtration Tips-Ultra Pure (LPFT-UP) on a Microlab® NIMBUS96. The fully automated method incorporates a ZnSO4 solution with acetonitrile on a Hamilton Heater Shaker for improved recovery and precision during protein precipitation. LPFT-UP containing high purity filtration media are used to remove matrix interferences and achieve very low limits of detection. Using this quick (< 2 minutes) and effective, DPX patent-pending, Tip-on-Tip (ToT) technology, the LPFT-UP provide an automated filtration alternative to traditional centrifugation and filtration. This method allows for up to 96 samples to be protein precipitated, filtered, and ready for injection in under 5 minutes.

Performing ELISA testing manually opens the possibility for human error and can increase the turnaround time for crucial results, especially considering the current need to process large numbers of antibody testing samples. For this reason, Namida Lab has developed an automated system for high-throughput processing of thousands of serology samples per day to meet the testing demand of employers and large population studies. The system utilizes the Hamilton Microlab® STARplus and integrated devices to fully automate a commercially available anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA.

The Hereditary Cancer Solution (HCS) by SOPHiA GENETICS is the first capture-based application, which has received the CE-IVD mark. The automation of the HCS by SOPHiA GENETICS protocol is frequently requested in the field, especially in the clinical environment where minimizing human intervention is a plus.

Automation of the NGS assay helps to improve and enhance productivity by minimizing bias that might otherwise be introduced when preparing libraries manually. Moreover, the automated system is flexible enough to adapt and therefore easily meet evolving needs.

Molecular testing of clinical samples for viral pathogens has already long become standard in both research and diagnostic laboratories. Every molecular biological test relies on high-quality sample material to achieve the best possible sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the first step of sample analysis – the extraction of viral RNA and DNA – is of the utmost importance for the final result.

Immunoassays are one of the most common applications in Clinical Chemistry, and Immunosuppressants are one of these applications. Today’s laboratories are challenged with delivering high standards of laboratory services with fewer resources, so automating the full workflow is key, in order to deliver highly reliable results in the requested time. In particular, the sample pre-treatment is generally a bottleneck that requires several tedious pipetting steps that can leave the laboratory exposed to mistakes. In this Application Note automation of the sample pre-treatment for Immunosuppressant analysis on Roche Cobas e 411 is described in detail.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a multi-disciplinary clinical specialty, aimed at improving patient care by monitoring drug concentration levels in blood. It enables the adjustment of drug dosages, in order to improve patient outcomes. In this Application Note, we describe how the sample pre-treatment can be automated, in order to simplify both the TDM workflow and sample management.

Fentanyl and buprenorphine are potent analgesics making them medicinally appealing and easy to abuse. Thus, they are two of the most common analytes monitored in clinical and forensic laboratories. Due to their high potency and low dosages, urinary concentrations are much lower than other common opiates/opioids. This leaves most laboratories struggling to increase the sensitivity and speed of their methods. This method, using DPX INTip™ technology with Strong Cation Exchange (SCX) sorbent, promotes an easy, fast, and sensitive method to help laboratories increase efficiency of detecting these compounds and their metabolites.

Antibody detection assays, such as ELISA, immunoprecipitation, and radioimmunoassays are important tools to diagnose diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)1–3. When performed manually, these common yet labor-intensive assays can take up to 22 hours and are subject to inconsistency between technicians and laboratories.

As of April 16, 2020, there were more than two million confirmed infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), around the world. In the battle against this rapidly expanding pandemic, successful COVID-19 community screening programs are essential for assessing infection prevalence, aiding identification of infected patients, and enacting appropriate treatment and quarantine protocols.

Here, we report an automated method to isolate cfDNA using a magnetic particle-based assay workflow (see Workflow at end) in a high throughput format while accommodating volume requirements, and compare this method to a manual method.

Emerald Cloud Lab, together with Coastal Genomics and Hamilton Company, implemented a novel, fully automated PAGE system that eliminates time-consuming hassles and variability from PAGE workflows, and does so in a novel, remote-based lab environment where clients are in complete control over every detail and yet never have to step foot into the lab.

The BioAnalytica-Genotypos center in Athens chose to couple the Hamilton STARlet robot with the SOPHiA Clinical Exome Solution (CES) to deal with the increasing workload they were facing. In fact, over the past decade, the number of samples and types of analyses processed in the laboratory increased exponentially, leading to pressure to develop, optimize, and validate NGS high-throughput assays. To ensure high-quality results on the new workflow and facilitate its implementation, the automated protocol has been extensively tested by SOPHiA GENETICS and Hamilton on a smaller representative panel of 128 genes. The validation study ensured reliable and flexible automation, which has been efficiently applied on larger gene panels, including CES.

In this application note, we discuss the results and findings from a customer project to automate NEOonsite assays using Hamilton’s NGS STAR workstation, aiming for a reduction of hands-on time and number of user interventions, while keeping a high level of reproducibility.

This application note describes how Vitens automated the routine testing of drinking water for the presence of fecal contaminations.