Key features
Overview
System Overview.
In 2008, Labman commissioned a second blood plasma reformatting robot for Sheffield University Medical Department. It decaps tubes containing blood sample, reformats the sample into chilled Micronic racks and recaps the sample tube. The system has capacity for 96 input vials and 20×96 output Micronic vials. The system uses barcodes to track each input and output tube allowing integration to a LIMS system. “Sheffield University has recently acquired state of the art bio-repository facilities as a result of phased refurbishment of the Henry Wellcome Research Laboratories at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The project is supported by a grant from the Wolfson Foundation and HEFCE through the University’s recent SRIF-3 bid. The bio-repository is a core facility for the medical school and will provide researchers with premium quality samples for translational research. Each blood sample from patients recruited into a variety of clinical trials can be processed from a single tube into the standard 96 tube format using bespoke automation designed and made by Labman Automation Ltd. The main exercise will be to split serum and plasma samples into 100ul aliquots thus ensuring the most efficient use of each sample whilst removing the need for unnecessary freeze thaw cycles. A screw cap ensures safe storage in either mechanical or liquid nitrogen freezers. It is anticipated that the samples in the bio-repository will be stored for a minimum of 15 years; therefore the utmost importance has been placed on maintaining sample quality. For efficient retrieval of samples, the bio-repository database records a plethora of information on the location of each tube. Each sample has a unique identity and address which comprises a combination of barcodes, colour codes and geographical location. Each tube has a unique 2D barcode, and has coordinates within the rack, a unique barcode identifier on the rack and a unique identifier for the location within the freezer/nitrogen tanks where the racks are stored. In its present form the bio-repository database contains two main components. The first tracks the movement of the processed samples from the robot to a temporary location in Sheffield. The second extends the functionality of the database and tracks the movement of samples from the temporary storage area in Sheffield to a long term storage area. Some researchers will split their samples between storage sites for greater security.“ - Excerpt from Sheffield University Press