Automated System verifies non-aqueous solution volumes.

Press Release Summary:



MVS® Multichannel Verification System verifies volumes of glycerol, ethanol, and DMSO transferred from automated liquid handling systems or handheld pipettes to microtiter plates. Able to function within volume range of 50-100 nL, it provides accuracy and precision data documenting volume dispense performance of each channel of automated liquid handler. System also provides automatic reporting of volume statistics on tip-by-tip and well-by-well bases within minutes of dispensing.



Original Press Release:



ARTEL MVS Verifies Non-Aqueous Solution Volumes Dispensed by Automated Liquid Handlers



Westbrook, ME (April 2, 2009) - Non-aqueous solutions such as glycerol, ethanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) play a prominent role in pharmaceutical, biotech, and life science laboratories. These solutions possess physical and chemical properties that make them useful for sample preparation and assays, and they are often combined with aqueous-based solutions for a wide range of experimental protocols.

Automated liquid handlers are frequently employed to transfer these solutions to the sample holder or assay plate. Accurate volume transfer is critical to the integrity of the assay, especially when dealing with complex reagents and small volumes. Many laboratories lack an easy and rapid method of verifying the accuracy and precision of liquid handling equipment, and thus risk jeopardizing the results of expensive and time-consuming research. To address this need, Artel has developed functionality for the ARTEL MVS® Multichannel Verification System to verify volumes of glycerol, ethanol and DMSO transferred from an automated liquid handling system or a handheld pipette to a microtiter plate.

The MVS is a rapid, user-friendly system that provides accuracy and precision data documenting the volume dispense performance of each channel of an automated liquid handler. Able to function within a volume range of 100nL to 50 µL, the system provides automatic reporting of volume statistics on tip-by-tip and well-by-well bases within minutes of dispensing. It can be fully integrated into existing automated quality control protocols and implemented by a technician of any skill level.

"With laboratories now relying more and more on non-aqueous reagents for their assays, scientists and researchers require a reliable method to ensure the quality of their liquid handling methods," said Kirby Pilcher, President, Artel. "Especially in the life science research environment where low-volume and volume-critical applications are increasingly typical, liquid handling quality is a high priority. The MVS is a simple, reliable method to verify the performance of an automated liquid handler."

The MVS incorporates ratiometric photometry, a technology that uses the absorbance values of two dye solutions to calculate dispensed volume in each well of a microtiter plate. It is portable and does not require rigorous environmental controls. The system is compatible with 96-well and 384-well microtiter plates and can verify automated liquid handlers with 1 - 384 dispensing tips.

About Artel

Artel is the worldwide leader in liquid handling quality assurance. Artel manufactures the most accurate, precise and easy-to-use systems for ensuring data integrity in any process requiring liquid volume measurement. Artel systems, based on proprietary Ratiometric Photometry, conform to ISO 8655-7 and provide NIST-traceable results to ensure reproducible data and regulatory compliance. In addition, Artel provides liquid handling quality assurance support and consultation services including on-site pipetting technique training and certification for pipette users and laboratory managers, and Liquid Handler Performance Verification services for automated laboratories. Since 1982, Artel technology has been proven in daily use in thousands of laboratories including pharmaceutical, clinical, forensic, public health and environmental. Leading institutions such as Amgen, ARUP, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Centers for Disease Control, DuPont, Eli Lilly, FBI, Genentech, Genomic Health, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Merck, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and U.S. FDA depend on Artel technology to help them meet their objectives for quality and productivity. For more information, contact Artel at 25 Bradley Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092; Tel: 207-854-0860; Fax: 207-854-0867; Website: www.artel-usa.com.

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