Automation of Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting Sample Prep

Automating FACS sample prep involves using specialized technologies and systems to streamline the process:

• • Tissue Dissociation or Cell Harvesting:Robotic systems process tissues or cultures into single-cell suspensions using enzymatic or mechanical methods.
  • Cell Counting and Viability Assessment:Automated analyzers assess cell concentration and health to standardize input.
  • Buffer Exchange and Washing: Liquid handling robots perform washes and resuspend cells in appropriate buffers.
  • Staining with Fluorescent Antibodies: Robotic pipetting systems add antibodies and incubate under controlled conditions.
  • Filtration: Automated filtration systems remove clumps to prevent clogging in the flow cytometer.

Automate FACS Sample Prep with Opentrons:

Interested in automating the buffer exchange and washing steps in your lab’s FACS sample prep workflows? Enter the Opentrons Flex, a walk up, no-code pipetting robot that scales with your lab. Let us handle the pipetting while you spend more time on science.

Benefits of Automation Over Manual Methods

• Increased Speed:Automated systems significantly speed up the sample preparation process, allowing for higher throughput and faster turnaround times, which is especially valuable in large-scale studies.
• Improved Reproducibility: Automation ensures consistent sample preparation by minimizing human error and variability between different samples or operators, leading to more reliable results.
• Higher Throughput: Automation allows for handling larger sample volumes simultaneously, ideal for high-throughput projects.
• Better Accuracy and Precision: Robots perform tasks with higher precision, reducing contamination and errors.
• Cost Savings: Though the upfront cost can be higher than manual methods, automation reduces labor and reagent waste in the long run.

Methods of Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) Sample Prep

Mechanical or Enzymatic Tissue Dissociation

Breaks down solid tissues into single-cell suspensions using physical force or enzymes like collagenase or trypsin.

Cell Culture Harvesting

Collects cells grown in vitro using trypsinization or scraping for downstream staining.

Density Gradient Centrifugation

Isolates specific cell populations (e.g., PBMCs) based on density differences.

Antibody Staining

Labels cell-surface or intracellular markers with fluorescent-tagged antibodies for identification and sorting.