Wondering if anyone has experience integrating a switch valve to a reagent dispenser with a cassette to allow for automatic reagent switching? If so, what was the total cost and general setup? Thanks!
Could you specify what instrument you are using?
BioTek EL406
I used a ViCi valve ($1,200 a few years ago) :Cheminert Low Pressure Selectors - 1/4-28 fittings for 1/8" tubing
Command set: https://www.vici.com/support/manuals/universal-actuator.pdf
I wrote a command line exe that would take input line in as command line args.
That worked ok - we used it for ELISA reagents and cleaning after cell culture media. You just have to pump a lot of cleaning solutions through. The cleaning cycles and dead volume meant that it was one-time switch per run, ie you don’t want to switch back and forth.
These folks have some clever tools: Addimus Bio | Automation for 3D cell culture liquid handling
We’re looking into a new system now, and probably just going to get a lot of WellJets.
We’ve also been looking into adding a few more dispensers lately. May I ask what made you choose the WELLJET over a Multidrop or MultiFlo FX?
I can see the stacker being a plus, and perhaps also the patented tubing system—assuming it works as advertised. As far as I know, they don’t offer angled dispensing tips, do they?
Given INTEGRA’s pricing for standard pipette tips, both for single-channel pipettes and 96-/384-channel devices, I assume a lower-priced dispense head wasn’t the deciding factor? ![]()
/edit - Okay, they got some pretty good prices on both the instrument and the consumables. I can see where you’re coming from!
Actually, the WellJets are pretty inexpensive - I think ~<$15k. So a bank of them might be cheaper than getting a single dispense-all-the-things unit. And avoids workflow bottlenecks on an integration.
But they do take up space, that’s why we’re considering the WellJet over the Combis - we can lay them out a little more densely.
exactly - just figured that. you can almost run two on the footprint of one multidrop which makes people cry for joy if working with a clean bench ^^