February 4, 2010

Automation boosts sample preparation for next-generation sequencing

Tecan has worked with Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies Corporation, to develop an off-the-shelf system for automated bead washing, based on Tecan’s Freedom EVO® 75 workstation equipped with a Te-MagS™ magnetic bead separation module. Automation of ePCR purification for the Applied Biosystems’ SOLiD™ System next-generation genetic sequencing platform reduces the manual sample preparation.

Preparation of templated beads for the SOLiD System is a multi-step process, requiring several washes of magnetic beads for ePCR product purification. In a collaboration between Tecan and Life Technologies, a new system based on the Freedom EVO 75 workstation has been carefully developed to reduce manual variation and improve consistency.

The Freedom EVO 75 bead washing station is equipped with a two-channel LiHa arm, a Te­MagS magnetic separation module and all the racks and carriers required for parallel preparation of 24 templated bead samples. In addition, the system’s Freedom EVOware® software features washing protocols specifically developed by Life Technologies’ Genetic Systems Division for optimal sequencing performance of the SOLiD System.


To find out more on Tecan’s Freedom EVO 75, visit www.tecan.com/freedomevo75

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics, and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. With its subsidiary REMP (www.remp.com), Tecan is the market leader in automated laboratory storage and logistics systems. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2008, Tecan generated sales of CHF 396 million (USD 366.7 million; EUR 250.7 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/Swiss security number: 1210019).

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