I recommend checking out the ISO 23783 documents for guidance on volume checks. The ISO 23783 guidelines consist of three parts that are specific to automated liquid handling systems (ALHS):
- Part 1: Defines ALHS terminology and general requirements
- Part 2: Provides instructions for pipetting measurement procedures for ALHS
- Part 3: Outlines specifications and reporting of ALHS pipetting performance
The ISO 23783 Part 2 document is most pertinent to your questions as it applies to all ALHS accounting for a wide variety of technologies and tests that can be performed to assess pipetting performance. There are a lot of approaches, each has its pros and cons, sensitivities, volume ranges, etc.
At Hamilton, we employ several of these measurement methods depending on the pipetting technology and needs.
- Liquid Verification Kit (LVK) - gravimetric verification and liquid class development tool
- Field Verification Kit 2 (FVK2) - hybrid photometric/gravimetric that is used as an internal tool for testing all pipetting devices as part of the IQ/OQ testing at the time of installation and PMs
- VeriPlate - optical image analysis of liquid-filled capillaries for routine tests
The VeriPlate is something new we showcased at SLAS that will launch soon and is part of our larger Hamilton Pipetting Excellence initiative. This link will get you access to the whitepaper I recently co-authored with my colleagues. Also, see here for the Liquid Handling Reference guide that includes a section on measuring liquid transfers.
Liquid handling in general and verification of said liquid handling as it pertains to automation are topics that have been of great interest and even passion of mine throughout my career. In addition to the tools Hamilton provides, we also have active collaborations with vendors such as Artel so our customers have many options based on their specific needs. I am very eager to hear everyone’s thoughts in this thread!