Formatter20 pages

TOMTEC Formatters™

The Formatter2™ is an automated workstation that transfers liquid samples from screw top cryovials to 96 well plate

assays with full "chain of custody" and GLP under LIMS control. The Formatted can handle biological samples,

polypeptides (RNA/DNA), reagents, or compounds. It brings together, within a single instrument, a wide range of

reformatting capabilities that were previously unavailable.

High level capabilities:

Will pick, open and scan the bar-code on a cryovial from a Peltier®

cooled (4°C) sample rack;

Place the cryovials in the Vortexer for homogenization prior to pipetting;

Unthread the cryovial top via a dedicated robot;

Via a superior air displacement pipetting head Aspirate a volume from

450|JL down to 10|JL from the cryovials and optically verify aspirated

volume (clot detector) prior to dispensing;

Dispense a volume into one of four target assay positions; three general

purpose assays and/or one dedicated chilled - deep well assay position

(chilled via - Peltier® cooler);

Re-thread the cap onto the cryovial and place it back in the chilled

sample rack (dedicated robot);

Shuck the tip and load new tip from one of two 96 tip jig fixtures and

At any point within the run, extract and dispense a fixed aqueous

reference volume which is gravimetrically measured to ensure

consistency of volume (calibration log).

In addition to the above, the Formatted also has a dedicated rack for housing reference samples. This 4x8 rack can be

used to hold either open or screw top cryovials containing standards which can be pipetted into any location within the

target assay. It also has a four-tray multipurpose open reservoir for holding organic or aqueous reference solutions.

Each of the above noted capabilities can be programmed by a LIMS system and monitored via a Graphical User Interface

provided by Tomtec. In the unlikely event of an error, the system will either set off an alarm and halt until the issue is

resolved or log the error, retry and then continue. In either case, no data is lost and the workflow remains intact. The

Formatted provides an automated "chain of custody" workflow that not only formats between cryovials and 96-well

assays but allows a lab to verify and log each step of the procedure, i.e., time of action, quality of procedure and do it

with zero human error and with minimal intervention by laboratory staff. As an example, legacy methods would require two

dedicated technicians; one to perform the formatting and a second to verify and record each step, the Formatted provides

full walk away automation with documentation, freeing up valuable laboratory resources.

At-a-Glance

Full 'Chain of custody' reformatting

from cryovials to 96-well assays

Built in verification and data-logging

for each pipetting operation

Seamless interface to legacy LIMS

system with GUI for programming

Two independent robot arms for

pipetting and handling of cryovials

Disposable tips to eliminate cross

contamination

Tomtec Life Science 1000 Sherman Ave., Hamden, Connecticut 06514 +1.877.866.8323