Simultaneous 96-well Extraction of Urine Samples for Drugs of Abuse Analysis

18 Feb 2016
Alex Waite
Editorial Assistant

Product news

INTEGRA, in conjunction with DPX Labs LLC, has produced an application note that describes a novel high throughput semi-automated sample method for processing urine samples ready for drugs of abuse analysis by LC-MS/MS.

Using an INTEGRA VIAFLO 96 electronic pipette with DPX mixed mode tips, a single 96-well plate loaded with samples can be extracted and ready for LC-MS/MS analysis in less than ten minutes eliminating the need for a time-consuming evaporation step.

Sample preparation is required to remove matrix interferences from urine samples prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. This procedure is typically very time-consuming and is generally the “bottleneck” for laboratory analysis. DPX extraction is a highly reproducible and sensitive dispersive SPE method that requires much less solvent compared to other SPE techniques.

The application note describes how an INTEGRA VIAFLO 96 electronic pipette was used to simultaneously undertake, in each well of a 96-well plate, the various steps of the DPX protocol (analyte binding, resin washing, analyte elution). Results from this semi-automated method are shown to be linear, accurate, and reproducible. All correlation coefficients for the protocol were greater than 0.99 for the range of 12.5 – 400 ng/mL.

The INTEGRA VIAFLO 96 is a handheld 96-channel electronic pipette that enables fast, precise and easy simultaneous transfer of 96 samples from microplates without the cost of a fully automated system. The VIAFLO 96 requires no special skills or training to operate it. Fast replication or reformatting of 96-well plates and high precision transferring of reagents, compounds and solutions to or from microplates with the VIAFLO 96 is as easy as pipetting with a standard electronic pipette into a single tube. Four pipetting heads with pipetting volumes up to 12.5 µl, 125 µl, 300 µl or 1250 µl are available for the VIAFLO 96. These pipetting heads are interchangeable within seconds enabling optimal matching of the available volume range to the application performed.

To download this application note from the SelectScience website follow the link here.

VIAFLO 96 – Electronic 24 and 96 Channel Handheld Pipette

INTEGRA Biosciences

VIAFLO 96 increases productivity of sample preparation in microplates. It is used like a standard handheld pipette. It is hand-controlled but movements are supported by motors for an effortless workflow and precise targeting of the microplate wells. The working volume range of VIAFLO 96 can be quickly adapted to the application’s requirements by changing the pipetting heads. The 24 channel heads are available in the volume ranges 10-300 µl and 50-1250 µl and the 96 channel heads in the volume ranges 0.5-12.5 µl, 2-50µl, 5–125 µl, 10–300 µl and 50–1250 µl. VIAFLO 96 benefits from the innovative GripTip system. The special pipette tips, together with the unique tip fitting, form an integral system. It guarantees tips will not fall off during pipetting and provides a reliable sealing of every tip. VIAFLO 96 can be used for sample transfers from reservoir to plate, plate to plate or within plates. Features and Benefits:  • VIAFLO 96 is used like a handheld pipette and has an intuitive user interface, freeing staff from training time. • Pipetting heads can be changed for an optimal instrument adaption to different volume ranges, increasing accuracy and precision. • The innovative GripTip system provides a reliable sealing of every tip and guarantees that tips will never fall off, providing safe and reproducible assay preparation. • Various pipetting modes are available for increased productivity and application customization.

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