Benefits of Using a liquid Handler over Manual Pipetting

Author: Mila Parker

 

Learning Objectives

  • Describe liquid handling and the development of the Liquid handler
  • Enumerate different examples of liquid handlers available in the market
  • List the benefits of using an automated liquid handler
  • Evaluate how the liquid handlers are consider High-Throughput robots
  • Predict what will the future of liquid handling looks like
  • Compare the use of a Liquid Handler versus manual pipetting

 

Graphical Abstract

What are the benefits of using a liquid handler over manual pipetting?
What are the benefits of using a liquid handler over manual pipetting?

Legend. The evolution of High-Throughput technologies like the Liquid Handlers have revolutionized the field of science. Liquid handlers have allowed to produce results in a more accurate and faster way. Here we will be exploring the benefits of using a liquid handler over manual pipetting. The picture at the top represents the multi-pipette tip head of a liquid handler. The picture at the bottom represents manual pipetting. Image created with Canva Pro.

 

Introduction/Background

Liquid handling is the moving of liquid from one place to another. This simple process of transferring liquid is the bases of most laboratory testing around the world. The volume of liquid needed at each step varies and it can be as little as 1 microliter. Furthermore, the liquid viscosity also varies, from sticky honey to fast-flowing petroleum depending on what is being tested in the lab. There are several ways the transfer of liquid can be perform in the laboratory setting. This can be done manually or automated using liquid handlers1.

Liquid handling started back in 1875 when Thaddeus M. Stevens, a professor in Analytical Chemistry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Indiana, described the first liquid handling system. This device was developed to assist humans improve performance by eliminating error in the control of water flux through a filter paper 2. The first automated liquid handler was not introduced until about the 70s. These first systems had a motor in the pipetting device. However, there were no controlling modules available at the time, so their utility was very restricted, therefore they were not adopted widely by the scientific population. It was not until the 80s that they were capable to perform more complex protocols. Some of the first companies to develop the fully automated liquid handler in the 80s were the Hamilton Company, Tecan, Beckman Coulter and PerkinElmer. These are still among the top companies that produces cutting edge liquid handler 2.

The development of the automated liquid handler was a key player in the 90s in making High-Throughput screening possible. High throughput screening is the ability to process or test a large number of samples efficiently in a very short period of time 3. As time passed, the automated liquid handler became better and better. The addition of more electronic components allowed the instruments to be more reliable and precise. By the 2000, the liquid handlers were even more sophisticated. They were able to have better accuracy, speed and more efficient. Also, they got customized to be able to handle different applications. Around 2010, with the incorporation of multiple components, the liquid handler changed from just a system to transfer liquid from one place to the other to perform more complete experimental tasks.

Some of the example of available liquid handlers are the Janus liquid handler from PerkinElmer, the Microlab liquid handler from Hamilton, the BioMek Liquid handler from Beckman Coulter and the Sciclone from Zymark Corporation3, just to mention a few. They are all great instruments.

Just like anything else, the major companies are always been working on making liquid handlers even better than they are today. PerkinElmer is trying to use artificial intelligence to assist in different stages of the process so that the instrument can be controlled remotely. They want to streamline the process even more so that the person can walk away from the instrument and do everything remotely. They also want the instrument to learn most of the protocol and eventually be able to so some problem solving in case something goes wrong with the protocol with the use of internet connectivity and artificial intelligence2.

Benefits of Using an Automated Liquid Handler

When compared to manual pipetting, liquid handler provided many benefits. Some of the benefits include higher throughput, better reproducibility, less repetitive stress injuries to humans, more protection from hazardous or infectious sample1. There is a higher throughput because in comparison to manually pipetting a few samples per hour, the liquid handler can pipette hundreds to thousands of samples per hour. This in turn saves time and money. Also, since the instrument is program and calibrated often it can pipette very precise volumes eliminating human error at pipetting the wrong volume. Using a liquid handler provides more protection from hazardous or infectious sample because this is usually done in an enclosed system where the risk of splashing is very minimum. When the samples are pipetted by hand, there is a higher risk of splashing of the hazardous or infectious material. Furthermore, they can also reduce the repetitive stress injuries to humans like carpal tunnel syndrome. There have been several studies that shows some of the health problems associated with repetitive task such as manual pipetting. Some of these health concerns are ther development of upper extremity musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), Carpal tunnel and tendonitis4. The president and CEO of Caliper Life Sciences, Kevin Hrusovsky, stated, “Automation is critical to the modern drug discovery laboratory because it increases the speed and accuracy of tests, saves time, and allows the scientist to focus on science and not manual tasks… The ability to do half a million test points in one day has opened up new strategies in exploring drugs3.” Although manual pipetting can be done, it is better to automate assay if possible, by using an automated liquid handler to have better accuracy, reproducibility, be more HT and at the same time protecting the wellbeing of employees.

 

References

  • “Hamilton Automated Liquid Handling Guide for 2020.” Hamilton, 2020, www.hamiltoncompany.com/automated-liquid-handling/everything-you-need-to-know-about-liquid-handling.
  • “Automated Liquid Handling Evolution: An Overview.” PerkinElmer Applied Genomics, 5 Nov. 2019, perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/2019/07/29/automated-liquid-handling-evolution-an-overview/.
  • “Advances in Liquid Handling for High Throughput Screening.” Advances In Liquid Handling For High Throughput Screening | Scientist Live, scientistlive.com/content/advances-in-liquid-handling-for-high-throughput-screening.
  • Wu, John Z., et al. “The Musculoskeletal Loading Profile of the Thumb during Pipetting Based on Tendon Displacement.” Medical Engineering & Physics, vol. 35, no. 12, 2013, pp. 1801–1810., doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2013.08.004.

 

Screencast

Part 1 (5:00 min)

Part 2 (5:00 min)

 

Questions

  • What is an Automated Liquid Handler? An Automated Liquid Handler is a robot that uses a motor to transfer very precise amount of liquid liquid from one place to the other.
  • How does an Automated Liquid Handler assist in High-Throughput Screening? In my opinion, without the development and constant improvement of the automated, HTS would not be possible. The Liquid handler allows for the processing of many sample at the time allowing for HTS.
  • List the benefits of using an Automated Liquid Handler. The Automated Liquid Handler helps provide results faster, with more reproducibility, and helps in preventing health problem to researcher associated with repetitive tasks.