The brief
Automata needed to provide an automated ELISA system capable of running 110 microplates per 8-hour shift, while minimising manual interactions.
For the past 7 years, the CRO lab has been developing immunoassays for Biopharmaceutical companies. During this time it has relied on a partially-automated system of liquid handlers, reagent dispensers and plate washers, with lab technicians moving ELISA plates between processes.
However, the number of manual steps involved meant that the lab was limited in throughput with its existing team. As a result, the CRO wanted to add greater automation in the ELISA process to reduce these manual interactions with their instrumentation. With more automated workflows, the current team was able to focus on assay development as opposed to spending significant amounts of their valuable time moving microplates.
Since future-proofing their set up was a priority for the lab, it was important that the automated system they used would grow and develop as their clients’ needs evolved. This required:
- A solution with in-built flexibility, allowing the CRO to reprogram the automated system when needed
- A solution that was able to scale capacity over time
- A system that was able to fit within their existing lab space, with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations