The demand for quick and reliable DNA sample preparation for sequencing has risen dramatically during recent years. The long and complex pipetting protocols needed for DNA preparation have been a challenge for many laboratory automation systems.

The Vertical Pipetting Station is a high-speed precision pipettor and ideally suited for complex pipetting sequences, while at the same time achieving very high throughput. The pipetting station has been interfaced with the BioCel Automatic System, which has many applications for the molecular and cell biologist.

In this application, using three Vertical Pipetting Station pipettors, the source plate with DNA was split into two copies. The copied DNA was purified using magnetic beads, ethanol washing steps and magnetic nesting pads. Primer cocktail was added to the plates, before being centrifuged, sealed and then stored at 4 °C in an incubator.

The BioCel system with the Vertical Pipetting Station processes unattended 200 prepared plates in just four hours. Sample contamination was eliminated and the highest possible quality of sequencing preparations ensured. Agilent Automation Solutions (Santa Clara, CA, USA) manufacture the equipment.

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Agilent Automation Solutions