Phenomenex and Tecan to Co-Market Automated Sample Preparation Solutions

8 Sept 2015
Lois Manton-O'Byrne, PhD
Executive Editor

Industry news

Phenomenex, Inc. and the Tecan Group today announced a collaboration to co-market automated solid phase extraction (SPE) sample preparation solutions. The two companies will jointly market Phenomenex Strata™ and Strata-X SPE sorbents adapted to Tecan’s Freedom EVO® series of robotics workstations.

The solution is especially geared to high-throughput customers in pharmaceutical research, clinical and food testing environments using mass spectrometry detection methods. As part of the global agreement, Tecan will provide the instruments and automation support, and Phenomenex will provide the extraction chemistries as well as application and method development through its PhenoLogixSM group.

Solid phase extraction is a widely used sample preparation technique by which compounds in mixtures are separated, prior to chromatographic analysis. Phenomenex Strata and Strata-X SPE sorbents remove unwanted contaminants, including phospholipids, and are offered in a number of unique selectivities to cover a diverse range of analytes. SPE can be a time-consuming manual process that is prone to human errors resulting in additional time and costs for laboratories to confirm or repeat tests. Execution of this process on Tecan automated platforms combined with optimized conditions from PhenoLogix will decrease implementation efforts in the lab, increase throughput while reducing human error and enable sample traceability for regulated environments.

“We created this agreement with our high-throughput customers in mind,” commented Michael McGinley, core products manager for Phenomenex. “We can now bring them complete, automated solutions, simplifying the previously daunting task of adapting a manual method to laboratory automation. The engineers at Tecan have an amazing insight on how to optimally automate liquid handling and the Freedom EVO is a proven platform with an established track record for reliability.”

“Phenomenex has a large customer base using their SPE products,” explained James O’Brien, Head of Clinical Diagnostics for Tecan. “By co-marketing our robotic workstations with their chemistries, we expect to expand our reach in these high-volume industries. The experts at Phenomenex and PhenoLogix have enhanced our knowledge of chromatography and enabled us to bring to market a product for mid- to high-throughput laboratories that increases the ROI of their high capital investment in mass spectrometry detection systems.”

Freedom EVO® NGS Workstation

Tecan

The Freedom EVO NGS workstation combines Tecan’s expertise in laboratory automation with sequencing-verified protocols to offer hassle-free NGS sample prep at the touch of a button. NGS is the fastest growing application in genomics, yet many sample preparation protocols can be labor intensive and time consuming. The Freedom EVO NGS workstation has been developed to offer robust and reliable automation of library preparation, quantification, qPCR set-up, normalization, pooling and capture. Offering user-friendly, walkaway automation at the touch of a button, it eliminates the need for extensive manual processing, helping to simplify day-to-day activities and ensure high quality results. Freedom EVO NGS workstation includes all the modules required for precise set-up of NGS sequencing libraries and, with one-touch method selection and step-by-step user instructions via Tecan’s intuitive TouchTools™ graphical interface, it reduces hands-on time and increases productivity – even for inexperienced users. The system’s key benefits include: Precise pipetting – from 1,000 µl down to 0.5 µl using eight pipetting channels and innovative air displacement pipetting technology Integrated temperature control – to keep reagents cool and provide optimal enzymatic conditions Efficient bead clean-up –  using a 96-position magnetic plate separator (Alpaqua 96S Super Magnet Plate) Walkaway processing – with on-board consumables storage for long unattended runs Straightforward operation – with step-by-step set-up instructions To further streamline processing, Tecan has worked with leading industry partners to supply ready-to-run protocols for a number of popular NGS technologies. Protocols for Illumina’s TruSeq™ Nano DNA, TruSeq Stranded mRNA* and Nextera™ Rapid Capture Exome* chemistries have been developed in collaboration with Illumina and the High-Throughput Sequencing Facility, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with thorough testing and sequencing data analysis to ensure high quality results. In addition, the system is supplied with protocols covering the Ion Torrent™ library preparation workflow for Ion AmpliSeq™ panels, developed and supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific. *Illumina-qualified protocol.

(0)

Links

Tags

Mass SpectrometryMass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique used to identify and quantify molecules based on the mass-to-charge ratio of gas-phase ions. It provides detailed information about the structure, composition, and properties of compounds and is widely used across fields such as environmental monitoring, materials science, drug discovery and development, food and beverage testing, and wider chemical research. Key MS techniques include tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LS-MS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Choosing from these wide range of techniques and technologies can be a daunting task, so keep up to date with scientific applications, performance expectations, and customer reviews here all in one place. Visit our product directory to receive quotes direct from the manufacturer. High-Throughput ScreeningHigh-throughput screening (HTS) is an automated drug discovery technique for identification of active compounds against a compound library. Use HTS readers and integrated assay preparation / analysis workstations to screen your compounds. Identify active compounds against various HTS libraries, including membranes, proteins and peptides and HTS cell lines. Find the best high-throughput screening products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Solid-Phase ExtractionSolid-phase extraction (SPE) is used for clean-up, extraction and concentration of semi-volatile or non-volatile analytes from complex mixtures including blood, urine and food samples. Multiple formats are available for conducting SPE, including prepacked SPE cartridges, disks and microplates, as well as SPE sorbent powders for manual packing. SPE systems can be used to automate the process and extract multiple samples at once. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and supported liquid extraction (SLE) products are also available in the same formats. Find the best SPE, SLE and SPME equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Sample PreparationSample preparation can improve the quality and speed of separation techniques. Products to assist sample preparation include filtration equipment, evaporators, membranes and sieves.AutomationAutomation in laboratories and manufacturing processes enhances efficiency, precision, and scalability by reducing the need for manual intervention. It plays a critical role in improving productivity, minimizing human error, and accelerating workflows in fields like diagnostics, drug development, and industrial testing. Automation technologies include robotic systems, automated liquid handlers, and process control systems that streamline complex tasks and ensure consistent, reproducible results. Explore our peer-reviewed product directory to discover the best automation solutions, compare options, read user reviews, and get prices directly from manufacturers.Contamination PreventionContamination prevention aims to control and minimize the risk of contamination during experiments. Biological safety cabinets and sterilization equipment are examples of technologies used to prevent contamination.High ThroughputHigh throughput experiments allow the simultaneous processing of several samples. This parallelization reduces the cost per experiment and increases reproducibility and output volume of data.LipidsLipids are a diverse group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water, including fats, oils, and hormones. They are critical for cellular structure and energy storage. Explore lipid analysis tools in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)Solid phase extraction (SPE) is a sample preparation technique used to separate and concentrate analytes from complex mixtures. It is widely used in environmental, pharmaceutical, and clinical analysis. SPE provides higher sensitivity and selectivity compared to traditional liquid-liquid extraction methods, making it essential for accurate and reproducible results. Explore SPE tools and systems in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.
Phenomenex and Tecan to Co-Market Automated Sample Preparation Solutions