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The idea is great in principle. But this is going to be a problem: "We need a mechanical device which can automatically sort the samples into well group" PCR
by svara 7y ago
The idea is great in principle. But this is going to be a problem:
"We need a mechanical device which can automatically sort the samples into well group"
PCR machines are actually not that complicated by comparison. Basically just a programmable heater.
Last time I looked into it (admittedly a while ago, so feel free to correct me), pipetting robots kind of sucked and weren't very precise.
Correctly handling tiny (microliter scale) fluid amounts without the slightest risk of cross contamination isn't going to be that simple.
But all that said, if you can solve this problem I think the idea is a real winner. Can be used for HIV and other PCR based testing as well.
- 0xfaded 7y agoYeah, liquid handling is not fun. However, I hoped this could be somehow bypassed by physically sorting the swabs into beakers before centrifuge and then deriving a well sample from each beaker. I'm admittedly not the right person to implement this, and ideas are cheap. I just want to make sure the idea is out there.
- momofarm 7y agoDo you have the full procedure? can you list here? I know there is a liquid handling machine made by CTC [1], which could handle very small volume of liquid, and do a lot of custom procedures. Still, cross contamination is still a issue. [1] https://www.ctc.ch/ https://www.ctc.ch/
- momofarm 7y agoalso there is a machine made by Roche Cobas 8800 and 6800, which can process 4k samples a day. I don't think some liquid handling machine can outperform this.