Lab of the future - Are tomorrows dreams already today’sreality?
Paul Lomax, Product Manager, SPT Labtech

introduction“Lab of the future” is a term that has
emerged in recent years to promote a visionof the future and challenge the communityfrom scientists to vendors to acceleratechange to reach faster outcomes.
Disruptive technology developments willplay a key role but equally important will bea focus to drive efficiency to new levels withfully traceable processes that can deliverrobust, qualified data faster than before.
This poster outlines how SPT Labtech hasrepurposed a technology that is over 200years old to transform the efficiency ofcritical workflows and accelerate research.

Samples aresent through toa remote
input/output
device, rackedand placed in ahotel ready foruse or return tostorage

3. end to end automation
In collaboration with Novartis, SPT
Labtech developed this pneumatictransport system further to provide end toend automation for the analysis ofsynthesized compounds. Samples are sent
directly from Chemistry Depts., to open
access labs for fully automated analysis
using HPLC, LCMS and NMR. Over timeadditional buildings across their site werebrought on line, with samples travelling up
to 600m from source to analyser.

1. mature technology
Pneumatic delivery
systems were once
commonplace and arestill used today in somebanks and hospitals

SPT Labtech developed a micro
pneumatic transport system, initially totransport 2D barcoded sample tubes in thecomPOUND storage system

1. Building has 6 chemistry labs equippedwith remote sending points connected
to an analytical suite in the basement
2. Building has additional labs with remote
access points connected to the same
analytical suite in building 1 600m away.

5. it’s all about the data!
So far we’ve considered the process
efficiency gains of automated sample
transport, but the biggest benefit is to dataquality. Submitting new therapies forapproval to bodies such as the FDA ischallenging and time consuming. Accessto quality, validated data is critical.
Building a submission can be hampered
by delays due to limited evidence. When
repeat experiments or sample quality
analysis is required, there’s a cost to theorganisation but potentially to patients too.
To circumvent this, organisations use
Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN),
Laboratory Information Management
Systems (LIMS) and try to restrict users tolocked validated methods, but complianceis a common problem. Integration withthese tools is key to SPT Labtech’s
automation solutions, thereby plugging
gaps that can call the integrity of data into
question or delay the progress of new
products to market.

Registration of each unique 2D barcodedsample tube requires an ELN reference. Only
validated locked analysis
methods are available
Samples are securely andrapidly transported to online
analysers. Barcodes areverified before analysis

Online analysers include LCMS and NMR

4. integrated biobanking

SPT Labtech‘s comPOUND stores up to200,000 2D barcoded tubes utilisingpneumatic transport.

2. evolution of capability
Initially used as reliable way to transporttubes within a -20 freezer, the remotedelivery capabilities presented new
possibilities
Pneumatics
connect multiple
comPOUND units
to form a single
access point
store in a remotelocation saving
lab space

More recently this technology has beenused to interconnect arktic -80 modular
stores to each other, to provide remoteaccess points or to integrate directly with
upstream and downstream devices.
Seamless workflows from sample
preparation to storage (that minimise thecritical time between processing andfreezing) and from storage to analysis are
now possible.
Samples
processed on
the 2nd floor
are sent direct
to the biobank.
Samplesrequested by
the NGS lab(top floor) aresent directfrom thebiobank.

Sample analysis occurs in a secure, managed
analytical suite. All analysers are calibrated
regularly to ensure data are consistent, traceable
and validated.

conclusions

Without a crystal ball it is impossible to knowwhat the lab of the future will look like.
Disruptive technologies will play their part,
resulting in many changes that few predict.
For all the riches that new solutions may
bring, there’s much more that can be done
now using proven technologies to accelerate
the speed and quality of drug discovery.
Getting it right first time with high integrity,
validated and traceable data, avoids
needless delays, enables rapid submission
to regulators and earlier benefits to patients.