Minimizing dead volume during qPCR set-up with the divided reservoir on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

  • Minimizing dead volume during qPCR set-up with the divided reservoir on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

    Save time and expensive reagents during qPCR set-up

    Overcoming high dead volume to save precious and expensive reagents is an important goal for laboratories. The assumption that only pipetting from single tubes guarantees the lowest possible dead volume holds up well. However, even with automated single channel pipettes, this is not an option when high throughput is required. INTEGRA has developed novel divided reservoirs to reduce reagent wastage when using the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette. Reagent transfer can be fully automated with high accuracy and low dead volume by mounting the VOYAGER onto the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot. Here we demonstrate the cost- and time-saving benefits when preparing master mixes with expensive SYBR® Green dye, TaqMan® probes and DNA polymerase reagents for multiplex qPCR using a divided reservoir.

  • Table of contents

    Overcoming high dead volume to save precious and expensive reagents is an important goal for laboratories. The assumption that only pipetting from single tubes guarantees the lowest possible dead volume holds up well. However, even with automated single channel pipettes, this is not an option when high throughput is required. INTEGRA has developed novel divided reservoirs to reduce reagent wastage when using the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette. Reagent transfer can be fully automated with high accuracy and low dead volume by mounting the VOYAGER onto the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot. Here we demonstrate the cost- and time-saving benefits when preparing master mixes with expensive SYBR® Green dye, TaqMan® probes and DNA polymerase reagents for multiplex qPCR using a divided reservoir.

Key benefits

  • Save expensive reagents like SYBR Green dye, TaqMan probes and DNA polymerase, and minimize the overall master mix dead volume down to 10 µl by using divided reagent reservoirs during automated multiplex qPCR set-up.
  • The divided reagent reservoir combines the SureFlo™ anti-sealing array with a unique surface treatment that spreads liquid evenly, offering even lower dead volume.
  • Hands-free time can be reduced by using a multichannel electronic pipette with a repeat dispense function, allowing multiple dispenses to be performed consecutively.
  • The ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot guarantees accurate and fast reagent and sample transfer, helping to ensure the reproducibility of multiplex qPCR results.
  • Up to four reagents can be processed simultaneously by using an ASSIST PLUS equipped with the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette and a dual reservoir adapter.
  • INTEGRA's dual reservoir adapter and PCR cooling block can be chilled prior qPCR set-up, improving on-deck reagent stability for precious DNA polymerase.

Overview: How to reduce dead volume during automated qPCR set-up

In this application note, we demonstrate how to carry out fast and accurate multiplex qPCR master mix transfers with the lowest possible dead volume using the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot equipped with a VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette and divided reagent reservoir.

When performing multiplex qPCR assays, SYBR Green dye, TaqMan probes targeting different genes of interest, a DNA polymerase and buffer are combined into the master mix, which is then transferred to a PCR plate. The method of transferring the master mix plays a crucial role in decreasing reagent waste and costs during automated qPCR set-up.

The divided reservoir is split into two compartments, with maximum volumes of 5 ml and 10 ml. The 5 ml compartment offers the lowest available dead volume, and can be accessed with the VOYAGER pipette by adjusting the tip spacing to the minimal distance. The SureFlo bottom allows aspiration from the very bottom of the reservoir to reduce the dead volume.

Downloads: App note and protocol for low dead volume qPCR set-up with the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot

Here you can download the complete protocol used in this application and use them on your ASSIST PLUS. The protocol can be customized with the VIALAB software.

Experimental set-up

Graphical representation of the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot deck set-up with INTEGRA dual adapter for divided reagent reservoirs, an INTEGRA PCR cooling block with a 96 well plate, and the VOYAGER pipette.
Figure 1: Deck set-up for qPCR master mix transfer from the divided reagent reservoir. Position A: source – dual reservoir adapter with INTEGRA's divided reagent reservoir and qPCR master mix in the 5 ml compartment A1 (blue). Position B: target - Sapphire 96 well PCR plate on INTEGRA's cooling block (pink). Position C: empty.

The 8 channel 12.5 µl VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette with 12.5 µl sterile, filter, low retention GRIPTIPS® is mounted on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot.

On deck position A (Figure 1), INTEGRA's divided reagent reservoir with SureFlo anti-sealing array is set up onto the dual reservoir adapter with qPCR master mix in the 5 ml compartment, A1. An INTEGRA PCR cooling block together with a Sapphire 96 well PCR plate is placed in landscape orientation on deck position B (Figure 1).

Step-by-step procedure

Select and run the VIALAB program 'Master_mix_transfer_from_reservoir'. The 8 channel 12.5 µl VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette aspirates 10 µl of the master mix from A1 of the divided reagent reservoir (Figure 2), and dispenses it into each well of the 96 well PCR plate. A pre- and post-dispense of 0.5 µl guarantees precision while pipetting expensive reagent.

Tips:

  • Pipetting height is crucial for accessing the last microliters of liquid. Set the Safety Bottom Offset to 0 mm, and pipette from the very bottom of the reservoir.
  • Setting a slow aspiration speed for the last aspiration step ensures that the correct volume of liquid will aspirate when the liquid level is low.
  • When using low retention GRIPTIPS, pre-wetting and pre-/post-dispense steps improve accuracy and precision while pipetting small volumes.
  • If focusing on higher throughput over low dead volume, the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette can be exchanged for a higher volume model for repeat dispensing.
A close-up view of INTEGRA's dual reservoir adapter on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot with two divided reagent reservoirs and master mix, which is accessed by the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette.
Figure 2: The dual reservoir adapter on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot accommodates two divided reservoirs.

Results

To highlight the time and cost savings of INTEGRA's divided reservoir when used with the VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette on the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot, we investigated how quickly filling a 96 well PCR plate with 10 µl of multiplex qPCR master mix could be achieved.

As shown in Figure 3, we compared the residual dead volume and hands-on times when transferring multiplex qPCR master mix in single dispenses (Figure 3a) or multiple dispenses (Figure 3b) with:

  1. a single channel pipette from a microcentrifuge tube

  2. a VOYAGER multichannel pipette from a standard or divided reservoir

  3. a VOYAGER pipette mounted on an ASSIST PLUS from a divided reservoir

 

As there are no comparable reservoirs on the market available, we chose a 25 ml reservoir and used a similar set-up as for the divided reagent reservoir during master mix transfer.

Using a single channel manual pipette, the 96 well plate was filled with 10 µl master mix in each well in 6 minutes, by individual transfers from a microcentrifuge tube filled with 970 µl of master mix. The excess volume needed was reduced to 1 % of the total volume of the master mix (1 reaction volume). The processing time was decreased by using a multichannel pipette and a reservoir, especially when using the repeat dispense function of an electronic pipette. However, the use of the standard reservoir led also to an increase in the dead volume up to 260 µl (26 reaction volumes), which equates to 23 % more master mix needed per 96 well plate compared to the microcentrifuge tube. When using the divided reagent reservoir and the VOYAGER instead, this issue was avoided completely, resulting in only a 1 % dead volume (1 reaction volume). This matched the advantage of using microcentrifuge tubes, while keeping the speed benefits of a multichannel pipette.

 

Illustration of dead volume and operating time of all methods in comparison after filling twenty 96 well qPCR plates with and without repeat dispensing.
Illustration of dead volume and operating time of all methods in comparison after filling twenty 96 well qPCR plates with and without repeat dispensing.
Figure 3: Illustration of dead volume and operating time after filling twenty 96 well qPCR plates (a) without and (b) with repeat dispensing.

Automating the VOYAGER on the ASSIST PLUS using INTEGRA's divided reagent reservoir led to additional hands-free time, and throughput was further increased by using the repeat dispensing function. Automation provided 2 hours of hands-free time while filling twenty 96 well qPCR plates with master mix, and successfully kept the dead volume down to 1 % (20 reaction volumes). Compared to the standard reservoir, the divided reservoir saved 480 reaction volumes (Figure 4). This emphasizes the potential cost savings of the reservoirs, particularly for performing multiplex qPCR with SYBR Green, large amounts of expensive TaqMan probes, and precious DNA polymerase.

Line plot showing the processed plates per saved reactions of the INTEGRA divided reagent reservoir and a standard reservoir.
Figure 4: More than 20 % qPCR reaction volumes saved with INTEGRA's divided reservoir.

Remarks

  • VIALAB software: The VIALAB programs can be easily adapted to your specific labware and protocols, for instance when partial plates are needed.
  • Partial plates: Programs can be adapted at any time to a different number of samples, giving laboratories total flexibility to meet current and future demands.

Conclusion

  • It is possible to decrease the dead volume of expensive multiplex qPCR master mix down to 1 % when using INTEGRA's divided reagent reservoir and VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette.
  • Pipetting reagents from the divided reservoir with a VOYAGER pipette is much faster, and achieves the same low dead volume as pipetting from a tube with a single channel pipette.
  • The ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot equipped with the VOYAGER is the optimal set-up when pipetting small volumes of expensive reagents like SYBR Green, TaqMan probes and DNA polymerase, enabling slow aspiration speeds and no interference from shaky hands.
  • Thanks to INTEGRA's dual reservoir adapter and divided reagent reservoirs, up to four different reagents can be processed under cooled conditions at the same time.

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  • Rebecca Bodmer

    Application Specialist

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Instruments and accessories

ASSIST PLUS, Pipetting Robot VOYAGER, 8 Channel, 12.5 µl Dual Reservoir Adapter PCR 96 well cooling block GRIPTIPS®, 12.5 µl, Sterile, Filter, Low Retention (for automation systems) Divided Reagent Reservoir, Sterile, SureFlo anti-sealing array, 25 ml, PP Greiner Bio-One: Sapphire microplate, 96 well, PP

ASSIST PLUS, Pipetting Robot

INTEGRA has developed the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot to streamline routine pipetting tasks at an affordable price. Using INTEGRA electronic multichannel pipettes, the system:

  • automates pipetting tasks,
  • eliminates physical strain and
  • ensures superior reproducibility and
  • error free pipetting.

Part No. 4505

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ASSIST PLUS Pipetting Robot

VOYAGER, 8 Channel, 12.5 µl

VOYAGER pipettes allow the tip spacing to expand anywhere between 4.5 mm and 33 mm at the push of a button.

  • Single handed operation leaves the other hand free to handle labware.
  • On the fly access to up to 3 user-defined tip spacings.
  • These user defined tip spacings are saved. No need to memorize spacings of different labware formats.

Part No. 4721

See it work
VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette

Dual Reservoir Adapter

The dual reservoir adapter makes this system ideal for assays that required sequential addition of several low volume reagent mixes. This adapter holds two 10 ml, 25 ml or divided reagent reservoirs side by side in an aluminum frame, and can be pre-chilled to keep reagents cool during processing.

Part No. 4547

Find out more about ASSIST PLUS accessories
Dual reservoir adapter with 2 didived reservoirs

PCR 96 well cooling block

Aluminium 96 and 384 well PCR cooling blocks that keep reagents chilled during sample preparation in a PCR plate. The cooling blocks feature a SBS footprint.

Part No. 6250

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PCR cooling block

GRIPTIPS®, 12.5 µl, Sterile, Filter, Low Retention (for automation systems)

GRIPTIPS® pipette tips perfectly match the multi-lobe tip fitting, snapping firmly on during loading. This guarantees a perfect seal on every tip, preventing them from loosening, leaking or completely falling off. All tips are precisely aligned horizontally, enabling accurate touch-offs, even when pipetting with 384 tips.

Part No. 6555 (standard)
Part No. 6505 (long)

Learn more about GRIPTIPS® pipette tips for Benchtop Pipetting Systems
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Divided Reagent Reservoir, Sterile, SureFlo anti-sealing array, 25 ml, PP

Lowest Dead Volume On The Market!

25 ml divided reservoirs are comprised of 5 and 10 ml compartments, while still nesting comfortably in the standard 25 ml reusable, sturdy base. 
Each reservoir features the SureFlo™ anti-sealing array and hydrophilic surface treatment providing especially low dead volumes.

Part No. 4356 / 4357

Find out more about Divided Reagent Reservoirs
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Greiner Bio-One: Sapphire microplate, 96 well, PP

  • Free of detectable DNase, RNase, human DNA
  • Non-Pyrogenic
  • Ultra thin polypropylene for optimal heat transfer from the thermoblock to the reaction solution
  • Are particularly suited for automation
  • They are both "robot-freindly" for grippers, and have sufficient space for the application of barcodes
  • Sealable with sealers "SILVERseal™", "VIEWseal™" and "AMPLIseal™"
  • Volume per well: 0.2 ml
  • Full-skirted

Source: Website supplier

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GREINER-BIO-ONE:SAPPHIRE MICROPLATE, 96 WELL, PP, FOR PCR - 652270

Customer’s voice

Great reservoirs. Used for cell culture - no sealing of tips when extracting the last volume from the reservoir and therefore very little wasted reagents! Great idea to have the reusable stand as well! Makes for a very sturdy reservoir.

Joseph Smith, University of Aberdeen