Automated non-contact Volume Checker for microplates and tubes

Micronic BV has announced VolumeCheck - a new range of innovative automated systems that enable fast and reliable determination of sample volume in unsealed 96-well deep or shallow-well microplates, 96-tube racks, and high-volume test tube racks.

Using proprietary acoustic sensor technology the VolumeCheck is able to provide high accuracy non-contact sample volume determination, for example +/- 12.5 µl / well in a 2 ml deep well plate. Sample volume is derived from the acoustic sample measurement compared against a calibration data set generated from previously collected known sample volumes.

The VolumeCheck is available in 3 configurations - a standard system, a high-speed model capable of scanning a complete 96-well plate in only 1 minute, and a large volume model optimised for handling test tube volume measurements above 2 ml.

Designed for ease-of-use an operator simply places a microplate or tube rack onto the input tray that is then automatically retracted into the VolumeCheck. Intuitive software is used to initiate scanning and data collection before measured volumes are displayed graphically for each microplate well or tube in a tube rack. To ensure traceable sample management displayed volume data is automatically associated with microplate / tube rack I.D and well / tube position, and saved to an output file. The software includes a calibration plot utility to collect sensor and data. Optional ActiveX control software is available to enable full integration of the VolumeCheck with laboratory automation systems and LIMS.

The VolumeCheck provides a valuable new automated tool for applications including sample volume verification, minimum volume measurement and sample volume measurement in compound libraries.