In labs across Australia and around the world, researchers are constantly searching for ways to improve accuracy, speed, and consistency in their work. One tool making a massive difference in this effort is the automated liquid handler, a piece of equipment that can revolutionize pipetting in research and diagnostics. Automated pipetting systems, or liquid handlers, bring several benefits to the lab that can improve workflow and produce more reliable results. Let’s take a closer look at what these machines do and why they’re becoming essential in modern laboratories.
Precision and Accuracy
The one thing that makes a liquid handler preferable to pipetting by hand is its precision. The machine could pipette an extremely small volume of liquid with accuracy that no human, however skilled, can master. In genetics and diagnostics for instance, even the smallest variation represents a complete shift of result. This is why automated pipetting makes sure every experiment is set up with the volume needed which, subsequently, cuts down error rates and lends results much more dependability.
Time-Efficient and Effective
When you pipette by hand, an even relatively simple process can take much longer than you would expect. It becomes mind-numbing to repeat those same pipetting steps, and mistakes start creeping in as well. An automated liquid handler can do this repeatedly much faster, often completing hundreds or thousands of pipetting steps in the time it would take for a human to complete a fraction of that work.
Lower Risk of Contamination
Hand pipetting not only results in slow execution but also has a risk of contamination. Anytime a pipette is touched, there is a risk that the sample will get contaminated; microbes or chemicals from one sample could end up contaminating others. Automated liquid handlers work in clean, sealed environments. Often, models will have added features such as HEPA filtering or UV sterilization to ensure the workspace is even cleaner. This prevents contamination of samples and therefore protects their integrity.
Improving Reproducibility
The ability to obtain the same result on an experiment repeatedly is crucially important in scientific research. A human can pipette with some variation in technique from one day to another and therefore come out with different results. Of course, you can set very precise parameters when using an automated liquid handler so that the same amount of liquid is added every time, exactly as it ought to be.
Freeing Up Lab Staff for More Critical Work
Automating pipetting frees up staff in the lab to work on jobs that demand more brainpower and creativity. Researchers and technicians can no longer spend hours on routine work such as pipetting samples or compounds. They could take their time to do more critical tasks like data analysis, problem solving, and optimizing experimental methods.
The Future of Lab Work
One of the game changers in today’s research and diagnostic labs is automated pipetting. These machines are making scientific work so much more accurate and efficient because they augment precision, speed, and safety. The more these technologies are embraced by the labs, the more we can expect a big mileage in the progress and breakthroughs witnessed in various research and diagnostics fields.
