Automating Kinetic Fluorescence Whole Cell Assays

Velocity11 has announced the application of its BioCel Automation Platform for use in high-throughput kinetic fluorescence assays. A recently presented technical poster describes how a labour-intensive, multi-step assay was automated, providing significant time savings and enhanced assay consistency.

Kinetic fluorescence whole cell assays are widely used in high-throughput screening laboratories, however a persisting challenge for this type of assay is in its automation. These assays frequently involve wash steps and multiple plate additions and ideally should be prepared entirely at 37ºC.

Using a Velocity11 BioCel Automation Platform the authors describe a protocol for performing the entire process in a controlled environment. An example of an HTS process using the developed protocol is given that demonstrates significant increases in throughput compared to a traditional workstation approach. Simultaneously the automated protocol enabled the screening scientist to run a much larger number of plates per day while maintaining assay standards and decreasing the amount of manual labour required. The BioCel was selected to automate this assay due to its flexible event driven software and abilities to undertake online compound plate preparation, cell plate dye loading, cell plate washing, and compound transfer to the cell plate for pre-incubation, all in a temperature controlled environment.