Custom Hit Picking Using Biomek® FX Wizard for Span-8

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Overview

This system will use a Biomek® FX liquid handler to perform custom hit picking operations. The wizard will be based on the existing Biomek FX Hit Picking Wizard (Part No. 719947) with the modifications listed below. Beckman Coulter will create the custom Hit Picking Wizard.

The warranty for this Custom Integration is one year from shipment. This includes Beckman Coulter-supplied hardware and software. This warranty applies for the integration to the version of third-party hardware, firmware, and software originally integrated. Any changes to the third-party component that cause the integration to no longer function properly are not covered under this warranty.

The warranty applies to the system and system software versions on which the original integration was installed. Although our goal is for this software to be forward compatible, this cannot be guaranteed for custom integrations. Any upgrades to the system that cause the integration to no longer function properly are not covered under the warranty for this integration.

Hit Picking

This wizard will create a Biomek FX method to perform hit picking by guiding the user through a series of screens which ask questions about options for gathering selected source wells into destination plates. The method created by the wizard will include instructions on how to position the plates on the deck. Barcodes can be entered for each source plate on the deck at the beginning of each method. The barcodes may be entered by hand or with the handheld barcode reader provided with this integration.

After each method is run, the user can unload the source plates from the deck and place new ones in their place. After entering the new barcodes, the user will be prompted for the well number on the destination plate in which to start each time the hit picking method is run. The first time the method is run the default setting will be well A1. The system will keep track of the number of hits transferred in each methods and suggest a starting point on the destination plate each subsequent time the method is run. The user may change this default well number if desired.

The available settings for the custom hit picking wizard are discussed below:

• Deck Settings - Any deck configuration currently defined in the Biomek FX software using the Deck Editor may be used to run the method.
• Source/Destination Handling - Any defined labware type may be used to run the method. All sources must use the same labware type for the method generated by the wizard. Likewise, all destinations must use the same labware type. The user will be prompted to scan the barcodes of the source plates at the start of the method. The destination plates will not contain barcodes.
• Tip Options - The user may select which of the probes on the Span-8 pod may be used in the method. The type of disposable tips to use may also be selected. If using a hybrid system (a Span-8 Pod and a Multichannel Pod), and the Multichannel Pod has access to a Slide Multichannel Disposal ALP, the user can elect to dispose of tip boxes after use.
• Hits File - A data file, which specifies wells to pick from the barcoded source plates, must exist. The wizard also allows for reformatting instead of hit picking, in which case the file will include information about source wells for logging. Sources may be identified by bar codes, case-sensitive bar codes, or source numbers. There is no need to scan the barcodes if source numbers are chosen. Well numbers may be specified by alphanumeric well addresses (for example, A1-H12 for a 96-well plate) or numeric well numbers (for example, 1-96 for a 96-well plate).
• Serial Dilution - Serial dilution may be performed on the destination labware after hits are transferred.
• Advanced Settings - The number of source plates from which to pick hits may be specified. The maximum number of allowed source plates depends on the deck selected. The user may also select which deck locations are to be used for tips, sources, and destinations.
• Reports - The user may customize the output log file created during the run. The standard Biomek FX logs and standard Hit Picking logs will also be available.

Integration Components

The integration package for the Boehringer Ingelheim Hit Picking Wizard includes the following items:

• Hit Picking Wizard software
• Installation Instructions
• User's Manual
• Handheld Barcode Scanner

For comments or questions about T³ Update, please contact David Daniels, Ph.D., editor.

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