The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening’s (SLAS) 2013 conference took place January 12–16 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Orlando was the location of a past conference of the Society for Biomolecular Sciences, one of SLAS’s forebearers (see IBO 2/15/12). Alas, this is the conference’s last stop in Florida for the near future, as the event’s location will now alternate each year through 2019 between San Diego, California, and Washington, DC. Although this means colder temperatures every other year, it may help attendance. Figures for this year’s conference showed a 35% decrease in participants to 3,800 attendees.

The exhibit floor had many new products on display. In total, 310 companies exhibited, compared with 325 last year (see IBO 2/15/12). Among those exhibiting were companies solely focused on lab automation products, particularly for drug discovery screening applications. However, many such firms are striving to expand the use of their products into new markets, such as labs outside of screening or labs new to automation altogether.

Among these companies is LabCyte, the maker of acoustic energy–based nanoliter dispensing technology for liquid transfer. This year, the company introduced its first large-volume acoustic liquid handler, the Echo 525. The system allows for volumes up to 10 µL in 25 nL increments, enabling the technology’s use with larger-volume assays and assay reagents and, thus, in new applications. LabCyte stated that the system is geared to assay assembly applications, such as for PCR, where the typical assay volume is 5–10 µL. Other applications for which a larger-volume system is expected to increase use of LabCyte technology are next-generation sequencing, gene expression and molecular diagnostics. The flow rate is 5–6 nL per second. Pricing for the system is $250,000–$375,000.

Agilent launched its first multichannel liquid handler at SLAS this year. To provide a more differentiated product for this crowded market, the Encore Multispan Liquid Handling System combines a liquid handler and robotic arm in one system and features factory calibration, eliminating the need for on-deck teaching. The liquid handling system consists of two banks of four pipettes, each with an independent axis of motion, which can operate simultaneously doing separate tasks. In addition, the system’s liquid handling capabilities and robotic arm can operate simultaneously, allowing for faster throughput. The system has a pipetting range of 0.3–1,000 µL. At its press conference, Agilent discussed possible workflow solutions utilizing the system, such as nucleic acid–sample normalization, LC/MS sample preparation and ELISA preparation. Full release is scheduled for the second quarter. Agilent expects the system to expand the use of automation to new labs. The price for the Encore is $177,500.

Also aiming to make automation a mainstay in more labs is Gilson, which introduced the pipetmaX at the show. Small enough to fit in a fume hood and priced under $20,000, the liquid handler is positioned as an inexpensive, automated pipetting solution for life science applications, such as qPCR and next-generation sequencing sample preparation. It features nine deck positions, a two-cassette head with single- or eight-channel options, and a sliding bed. The system will begin shipping in the second quarter.

Also targeting labs that might be new to automation is Hamilton’s new Microlab 300 Series Pipettor, which is designed to bridge manual and automated pipetting. The handheld system with a graphic display and touchscreen dispenses 0.5–1000 µL without the need for new pipettes, using one probe and two tip sizes. A unique feature, according to Hamilton, is the ability to calibrate for atmospheric pressure. Software provides pre-programmed operations, Linked Methods to guide the user and security features. The system accommodates three liquid classes and allows for settings such as pipetting volume and speed. The price is $2,800.

Hamilton also displayed a number of other new products, including the Microlab next-generation sequencing platform for sample preparation for Roche’s next-generation sequencer. The company will soon introduce a system for Illumina’s sequencers. Also new was a 384-pipetting head for the MICROLAB NIMBUS Liquid Handling Workstation. It is scheduled to be released later this year. The company also displayed the new easyBlood STARlet workstation, based on the Mirolab STARlet platform, for blood fractionation in biobanking applications. In addition, the company presented its VANTAGE liquid handling workstation, previewed last year as the MICROLAB XRP, for contact-free dispensing of volumes from 100 nL to 1 mL. The system will ship this fall.

Like Hamilton, Thermo Fisher Scientific had a large booth with many new products. The Thermo Scientific VALet (vertical array loader) benchtop robot is a user-configurable benchtop robot for microplate hotels and instrument loading, with space for storage of up to 1,280 microplates. It features a four-axis plus servo-gripper. Also new was the Thermo Scientific Cytomat 10 automated incubator and storage module. The system features a new external water reservoir for humidity control, and improved shuttle system with an exit time of less than 10 seconds per plate. Among the other products on display were the MISA pipette tips (see page 8) and the Finnpipette pipettor and stand with which they work. Thermo also showed the Thermo Scientific Cell­Insight NXT HCS Platform, which combines brightfield and fluorescent microscopy for cell-based labs, featuring a four minute scan time.

Instrumentation and automation for cell-based assays continued to be a theme of the show. Debuting what it termed a flow cytometer for screening applications, IntelliCyte introduced the iQue Screener, designed for cell suspension or bead-based assays. The system can run a 96-well plate with as little as 1–2 µL sample per well in three minutes. The system has a six-and-a-half fold dynamic range and makes four color fluorescent and two light scatter measurements. It replaces the company’s HTFC system and offers software with reporting, and visualization features, as well as an interactive assay development environment. Pricing is under $200,000.

TTP Labtech launched the acumen hci (high-content imaging) system, which replaces the acumen eX3, a system that debuted in 2006. Like the previous system, the acumen hci is designed for rapid screening of multiplex cell-based assays. A 1536-well microplate can be imaged and analyzed in eight minutes, according to TTP. New to the system is the ability to export the images in open-source TIFF files for use in any software platform. Also new is the option for a 561 nm laser. The system is shipping.

Beckman Coulter showed the Biomek 4000 Laboratory Automation Workstation, which began shipping in September 2012. The modular platform features an 8–12 position deck and off-deck mounting for gripper and other tools, freeing up deck space. Using P1000 tips, the system can work with volumes up to 1050 µL or, when using with barrier tips, 1025 µL, with single channel and eight-channel pipetting. The MP 1000 tool accommodates normal and wide bore tips. The software is built on Windows 7. Later this year, Biomek FX and NX software will also be upgraded to Windows 7. The three methods currently available for the Biomek 4000 are PCR Reaction Setup, PCR Reaction Cleanup and Cell Staining.

PerkinElmer displayed its JANUS NGS Express and Biotix Pro liquid handling workstations, as well as its Sciclone NGSx Workstation. The company also showed its LabChip Gx capillary electrophoresis (CE) system. Kevin Hrusovsky, senior vice president and president of Life Sciences and Technology at PerkinElmer, told IBO that the system is used for quality analysis during biologics production, replacing other methods, including HPLC and other CE systems, due to its speed and accuracy. He also discussed the longer range plans for PerkinElmer in the areas of detection and therapeutics that span both the company’s research and diagnostics products. In detection, opportunities include companion diagnostics using imaging and microfluidic technologies. Therapeutic opportunities include the use of PerkinElmer research tools for chemoproteomics and regenerative medicine, as well as prevention, which is addressed by the company’s newborn testing technologies, Vectra imaging technology and products for use with next-generation sequencing.

Trinean’s new microspectrophotometer, the first for the company, whose previous product was a microplate reader, aims to address problems with current UV/Vis microspectrophotometers for DNA, RNA and protein quantification. According to Trinean, the Xpose system minimizes sample handling before analysis by employing a microfluidic slide (either a single micro-cuvette with a 0.5 mm optical path, or two micro-cuvettes with 0.1 mm and 0.7 mm optical paths) and sample preparation that can be done away from the reader, allowing for faster system access by multiple users. Sixteen samples are read in one minute. The touch screen displays the full spectrum, offering quantification by UV absorbance or by spectral profiling for quantification of specific impurities. Pricing is under $17,000.

A new protein purification system also debuted at the show. Practichem’s Arista Protein Purification System is designed with a narrow width for saving bench space. The company also noted its ease of use and flexible service contract as an alternative to more expensive systems. The one-channel system features four piston pumps, including two dual piston pumps, and a flow rate of 0–20 mL per minute. The list price is $38,000, and it is currently shipping.

SLAS 2014 will be held January 18–22, 2014, in San Diego. SLAS has also announced the establishment of what it called an “official presence” in Europe, with plans to eventually host a European event. Within Europe, the organization is targeting activities in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the UK.