Executing a worklist with different source plates not on the worktable

Tecan
1

I have a Tecan Fluent 1080 with a full worktable. This assay requires 500uL tips from the MCA, which do not come in stacked/nested versions, and thus occupy a fair amount of real estate. In my photo below, marked with a RED “X”, I have a single 384-well source plate on top of a blue (Apolo apilo) spring loaded plate cushion.

Does anyone have experience working with a worklist, which may call for different source plates, and be able to utilize the RGA “on-the-fly” to swap out plates as needed?

My worklist would be simplified, whereby various plates would only be called out sequentially. I’m curious if there is a way to have the RGA call the “Transfer Labware” function while processing.

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2

Do you use that Active Nest?

3

The only way I know of switching out source plates, on the fly, in a worklist is to built a short script to loop generate the worklist or cab to convert to worklist before and also labelling the source plate with a new ID.

It helps if your variable source plate is in the same position on the deck or you are able to use the RGA to move it from hotel positions and relabel/rebarcode it otherwise your worklist will stall.

The other challenge is this loop worklist generator is easier to setup if your pipetting action is the same structure. If you are doing a cherry pick/hit pick this will be more complicated!