Major Research Centre Reduces PCR Setup Costs with the Nanodrop™

The Innovadyne Nanodrop II and Nanodrop Express liquid handlers from IDEX are market leaders in low volume, non-contact sample handling. These instruments can aspirate and dispense both samples and reagents across a wide range of biological applications.

The Nanodrop has a wide dynamic volume range from 50nl to 500µl allowing procedures to utilize both small and large volumes without compromising accuracy or precision.

Because of their unique combination of syringes and patented microsolenoid valves, samples are isolated, providing a valve-free fluid pathway that eliminates cross-contamination concerns.

The Nanodrop reduces sample volumes for DNA sequencing reactions, which provide significant cost savings of 2 – 5 fold. The Nanodrop increases accuracy and precision of pipetting applications, removing human error and automatically prepares hundreds of samples for analysis whilst releasing users to interpret results.

The instrument has successfully pipetted a range of solutions including glycerols, growth media containing antibiotics, lysis buffer and ethanol-based washes as demonstrated by existing customers.

The Biotechnology unit of the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) in Hertford use a Nanodrop II, with 2 plate stage and 8 probes. It is currently processing hundreds of fosmid library samples. TARRC anticipate reducing their sample volumes, offering significant cost savings as fewer reagents will be used.

Future applications also include quantification of gene expression and SNP analysis. TARRC are enjoying the significant benefits the Nanodrop has given them which includes:

• Wide Dynamic Volume range from 50nl - 500µl
• 2 plate stage for plate-to-plate transfers
• Sapphire lined washable tips eliminate cross contamination
• Intuitive, easy-to-use software