You’re looking to save time and money in the lab. What tools can help you achieve that?

1 What is laboratory automation?

Laboratory automation is the use of technology to perform tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention, such as sample preparation, analysis, data processing, and reporting. Laboratory automation can improve the speed, accuracy, consistency, and reliability of your results, while freeing up your staff for more creative and complex activities. Laboratory automation can also reduce human errors, waste, and contamination, as well as enhance safety and compliance.

2 What are the benefits of laboratory automation?

Laboratory automation can offer many benefits for your lab, such as saving time and money by automating repetitive tasks and reducing rework and delays. Additionally, it can improve quality and performance by standardizing protocols and procedures, while also reducing variability from human factors. Furthermore, it can enhance safety and compliance by minimizing human exposure to hazardous materials and environments, as well as ensuring secure data and records that meet regulations and standards.

3 What are the challenges of laboratory automation?

Laboratory automation is not a one-size-fits-all solution and requires careful planning, implementation, and maintenance to achieve the desired outcomes. When adopting laboratory automation, you may face high initial costs such as expensive equipment, software, and infrastructure, as well as training and support for your staff. Additionally, technical issues can arise such as software bugs, hardware breakdowns, or network disruptions that require backup systems and contingency plans. Human factors must also be taken into account, including managing expectations and motivation of staff and fostering a culture of collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement among stakeholders.

4 What are the types of laboratory automation?

Laboratory automation can be classified into different types, depending on the degree of automation, the scope of automation, and the function of automation. For example, the degree of automation may refer to how much human intervention is required or allowed in the automated process - semi-automated systems may require human input or supervision at certain stages, while fully automated systems may run without any human involvement. The scope of automation may refer to how many steps or tasks are automated within a process or workflow - modular automation may automate only one or a few steps, such as pipetting or centrifuging, while integrated automation may automate the entire process, from sample to report. The function of automation may refer to the purpose or goal of the automation - analytical automation may automate the measurement or detection of a parameter or substance, such as pH or glucose, while informatics automation may automate the collection, processing, or reporting of data, such as barcodes or graphs.

5 How to choose the right tools for laboratory automation?

When deciding on a tool to automate your lab, it's important to consider your goals, processes, resources, and stakeholders. Your objectives should be clearly defined; what are you trying to achieve with automation? Additionally, you should evaluate your current workflows and procedures, the available resources in your lab, and the people involved or affected by your automation. Furthermore, you should consider how to optimize, integrate, or upgrade the resources in your lab and how to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders. Taking these factors into account will help you make an informed decision and select the best tool for your situation.