Recent advances in research are driving rapid growth in the life sciences sector, placing even greater emphasis on the importance of maintaining scientific precision. This creates additional challenges for laboratories tasked with conducting increasingly complex experiments and managing large volumes of data. Many companies are turning to laboratory automation and digital solutions to fast-track the discovery process and enhance their operational efficiency. QIAGEN, a global leader in molecular diagnostics and life sciences, relies on a range of automation solutions to deliver comprehensive molecular testing services, streamlining the entire workflow from initial sample handling to detailed analytical results.
Innovative biotechnology companies like QIAGEN are leading the way in using advanced automation to improve and simplify daily lab work. QIAGEN offers a wide range of products and services for the clinical diagnostics and life sciences sectors, including lab instruments and bioinformatics services. In addition, QIAGEN’s Genomic Services division provides its customers with ‘sample to insight’ services in the areas of nucleic acid isolation, digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) protocols, next generation sequencing (NGS), assay design and data analysis. Dr David Löper, Head of the company’s Genomic Services lab in Hilden, Germany, explained: “Our customers appreciate our innovative product offering, as well as the comprehensive services we provide. We often take on complex samples and provide customers with intensive support, from project planning to result interpretation and follow-up strategies. Due to the diversity of our workflows, we face the ongoing challenge of adapting our existing processes to accommodate different sample types and customer expectations, which means that not all lab procedures are standardized. Part of my role at QIAGEN is to evaluate existing methods and explore ways to enhance efficiency and reduce manual workloads. Often, the most appropriate solution to help optimize our processes is to integrate robotic systems or liquid handling platforms.”
The Genomic Services lab initially introduced automation solutions from Tecan during the COVID-19 pandemic, to swiftly scale up its PCR testing capabilities for employee screening. David commented: “We initially integrated automated equipment from Tecan into the lab in 2020, driven by an urgent need for high throughput PCR testing. We sought a versatile and user-friendly instrument that would allow us to adapt protocols for various projects without heavily relying on the manufacturer for programming. Tecan’s software impressed us with its accessibility and intuitive programming. We chose the Fluent® Automation Workstation for its user-friendly graphical interface and intuitive design, which made learning and implementing the system straightforward. Since then, we have successfully applied Tecan automation solutions to both PCR and NGS applications in our lab.”
The lab originally integrated a Fluent 1080 workstation into its qPCR protocols but, as the need for PCR testing diminished, the team saw an opportunity to repurpose the platform for other genomic services by incorporating devices for NGS sample preparation. David explained: “When the pandemic came to an end, we entered into a collaboration with Tecan to support protocol development on the Fluent Automation Workstation. The DreamPrep™ NGS – which is based on a Fluent 780 – soon became our primary automation platform for NGS services, as it could quickly handle complex library preparation protocols that would otherwise be labor intensive and time consuming. We also rely on a Fluent 480 workstation – equipped with an eight-channel pipetting head – for general liquid handling activities, including initial sample normalization steps and sample pooling before sequencing.”
Automation offers a range of benefits to the Genomic Services lab at QIAGEN, from enhancing the accuracy and consistency of results to improving throughput. “The Fluent platforms have proven to be a dependable and efficient choice for our molecular testing needs. While scientists working in our lab originally preferred manual methods for tasks such as RNA sequencing – because they believed that they could manage low sample volumes better – we have fine-tuned our library preparation processes with the Fluent platform over time to achieve results that surpass manual workflows. The benefits include minimal hands-on time, better scalability, increased reproducibility and lower risk of errors or contamination. Crucially, automation significantly enhances our productivity and consistency, which is crucial for managing high throughput genomics projects. It also reduces the need for extensive staff involvement in these protocols; our technicians can focus on other tasks while the instruments handle repetitive processes, improving our overall workflow while reducing physical strain. This shift not only benefits our customers – by speeding up project completion – but also contributes to a more comfortable and productive working environment for our team,” David concluded.