Affordable ELISA automation: performing ELISAs with the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot (video)
Affordable ELISA automation: performing ELISAs with the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot
Hey there, in this video I'm going to show you how the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot can automate and analyze the assay and vastly simplify your life. The Eliza test consists of multiple and repetitive pipette accepts, but they're time-consuming and tedious to perform. Using the ASSIST PLUS, helps fully automate this process. And not only increases the reproducibility of your results, but also gives you more time to focus on your science.
To demonstrate this, we'll be using an ASSIST PLUS to run a sandwich Eliza assay. Will need a 96-well Eliza strip plate, different INTEGRA's reagent reservoirs, for the several Eliza buffers and waste, and two type racks and tubes for our samples. And we will use a VOYAGER 8 channel, 1250 micro liter electronic pipette together with lower touching grip tips. That's the beauty of our ASSIST PLUS concept. You can mount any of our 25 electronic pipettes and our pipetting robot will automate them. And we're choosing a VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette. Reformatting samples from one lab wire to another, is done in the blink of an eye.
All the steps needed to run this Eliza protocol, are saved as a bio lab program on the pipette. Containing all the necessary settings to remove any guesswork. Simply choose the program corresponding to be Eliza step, install the lab wear and let the ASSIST PLUS do the work. After automatically loading grip tips, the ASSIST PLUS fills in the Eliza plate, with the coding buffer containing the pre diluted capture antibody. When the task is completed, the pipette informs you, that the plate is ready for incubation. After incubation the next step is to block the plate. The program is selected on the pipette and includes removing the coding buffer, as well as multiple washings of the plate and transferring of the blocking buffer.
The pipetting robot processes the plate systematically. The height of pipetting is set to be exactly one millimeter above the bottom of the plate and no lower. This is to prevent the tips from scratching the coated surface, which can lead to inaccurate or inconsistent results of our assay. Eliza buffers often contain surfactants, like tween 20, using low retention tips, reduces the residual volume and the tips for a maximum sample recovery. We use blood samples and EDTA collection tubes and we'll prepare 1 to 10 dilution of plasma and micro centrifuge tubes. The first row of the rack on seat is dedicated to standards and controls.
To prepare our samples the ASSIST PLUS we'll distribute 900 microliters of our sample diluent in the micro centrifuge tubes. Then the pipette will collect 100 microliters of plasma and mix them gently and thoroughly, with the diluent. And with choosing a VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette, reformatting samples from one lab wire to another, is done in the blink of an eye. The ASSIST PLUS ejects the tips automatically after use, before loading some new ones, avoiding any risk of sample cross-contamination.
After having selected the corresponding programme on the pipette, the ASSIST PLUS takes over the full process and treats the plate before adding the samples. Samples standards and controls are distributed in triplicates to the assay plate. Each pipetting step is done exactly the same ensuring the reproducibility of your assay from row to row and from plate to plate. After incubation and washing, the detection antibody is added to the plate.
And the process is repeated with the enzyme conjugates. Simply start the corresponding program on the pipette. The ASSIST PLUS automatically processes the plate regardless of all the multiple repetitive pipetting steps. It frees up time for you to concentrate on others tasks. Finally the substrate is transferred from the reservoir see Eliza plate. After sufficient color development, the ASSIST PLUS is added to stop solution into the wells.
And now the plate is ready for detection. Of course, if your particular Heiser a say it doesn't require processing 96 samples. The ASSIST PLUS is able to work with any number of columns. Simply adapt the viola program to fit your need and let the ASSIST PLUS process your partial plate with a smaller number of samples. So if you're performing Eliza and you think you can benefit from using the ASSIST PLUS plus let us know. The entire protocol is available for free download on our website.