The latest technique is to use encoded libraries that use a tagging option whereby detection methods compute to certain tags such as peptides. It improves quality and it provides labor savings. Quality improvement comes about because automation eliminates sort errors, reduces the likelihood of missed tests, reduces specimen dwell time prior to testing, and ensures priority testing is done first. Stevens states that SmithKline uses more than 1,500 different tests. So sorting by tasks manually would be close to impossible.
Automated sorters can sort down to work list level quite quickly.
In fact, one robot can sort for several different applications, such as hematology, chemistry, and immunochemistry, at the rate of 900 specimens per hour. That's four seconds per sample and no coffee break. Numerous tools, both multipurpose and application-specific, are available to provide lab automation solutions using AI and robotics to optimize throughput, accuracy, repeatability, and reliability. Biomek Biorobotics System combines intelligent automation with automated liquid-handling and HTS capabilities. The Biomek can be used for automated reagent pipetting, incubations, immunoenzymatic detection of oligonucleotide ligation assays, and automated retrieval of clone libraries.