Germany's Zinsser Analytic has launched a sample preparation system - the Moss 2002 - that makes it easier to process the hundreds and thousands of compounds used in high-throughput screening laboratories.
The modular system combines modern weighing technology and sophisticated software to automate assay and storage plate preparation, according to Zinsser. It also has an integrated liquid-handling robot with a built-in vortexer for sample dilution in HTS, and is equipped with up to eight probes and a 350 degree rotating gripper.
As many library compounds cannot be weighed automatically - because their physical properties are unknown or they are crystals, jellies, oils, static charged powders etc - a system of computer assisted manual weighing has been developed for the Moss 2002.
"More than 88 samples can be weighed in, dissolved and transferred into mother plates or assay plates in less than four hours," according to Zinsser. The weighing software guides the operator through the process so that when the target weight is achieved, it will be automatically accepted and all data stored in the database.
All the tubes, microplates, Micronics racks etc are bar-coded and read automatically using a pick-up tool, while diluter syringes deliver the correct volume of solvent, calculated from the weight and molecular weight data. Dissolving is carried out on the built in vortexer and, once dissolved, the product can be distributed into any rack or plate format using disposable tips so as to avoid contamination.
For more information on the Moss 2002 system, contact Zinsser.