Sample Processing and Storage for Biobanking‘The third eBook of the Hamilton series’

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ForewordBiobanking activities have increased dramatically in the last decades, thanks to three main technological advances: (i) the completion of the human genome sequencing project in 2003, (ii) the arrival of the -OMICs sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) and (iii) the ability to store and analyze large sets of data.

The explosive growth in the biobanking sector changed its organization and dynamics. Biobanking has evolved into decentralized complex infrastructures with large repositories of heterogeneous samples . Biobanking workflows need to be standardized and scaled up in order to harmonize biobanking activities among laboratories and ensure the quality of the samples. Automation allows for both, while also catering for various levels of regulatory compliance.

In this eBook, we discuss the evolution of biobanking activities, the drivers behind the need for automation during sample processing and storage, and the solutions that Hamilton Robotics and Hamilton Storage offer to customers working in this field.

This eBook is part of a dedicated campaign in the field of biobanking, where we aim to provide our readers with interesting educational resources and a close up view into the way our customers are using our solutions in order to accomplish their tasks. You might also be interested in our previous eBooks “NGS in the field of precision medicine oncology” and “Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) Analysis in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring”.

We hope you find the content beneficial.

Your kind feedback is always highly appreciated.

Your sincerely,Dr. Gabriela Boza-MoranScientific Content ManagerHamilton Robotics Direct Salesmboza-moran@hamilton.ch

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Table of ContentsThe Evolution of Biobanking Activities ..............................................04

Sample Processing and Storage: Why Do We Need Automation? ............................................................07

What Can Hamilton (Robotics and Storage) Offer? ...........................10

easyBloodTM STARletAssay-Ready Workstation for blood fractionation

BiOS®

Large capacity storage solution at -80 ºC

See page 11

LabElite®

Dedicated module for capping and decapping of microtubes and cryovials

See page 14See page 13

Verso®

Large capacity storage solution between -20ºC and ambient

See page 13

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EVOLUTION OF BIOBANKING

The Evolution of Biobanking ActivitiesThe term “biobank” can be traced back to a scientific paper published in 1996.1 Since then, the term has been used in different ways, which has led to much confusion regarding its exact definition – particularly in reference to its purpose, size and level of access.2 In a broad sense, biobanks are repositories of biological samples (e.g., blood, urine, tissue, cells and DNA), including digital material (i.e., bioimages), along with associated sample/patient data (e.g., patient clinical data).2,3 It is common to distinguish collections of human samples from collections of other biological specimens by limiting the term “biobank” to the first group and employing the term “repository” for the second group.4

The primary role of biobanks is to improve the understanding of the different factors influencing human health (ultimately using them for preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic interventions) by studying large sets of data. A recent example showing how this can be successfully accomplished is the case of the Stockholm3 test – a new blood-based test for predicting the risk for aggressive prostate cancer that is much more accurate than the classical prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.5 The Stockholm3 test was developed in record time by accessing patient registers and performing retrospective studies with biobank material from the Karolinska Institute Biobank in order to identify the right biomarkers.6

In the most basic sense, biobanking activities have been performed for decades in most institutions doing human (basic or clinical) research, given the fact that most of them regularly store human samples. Hospital pathology units in particular, have been storing harvested samples for a long time.7 The term biobank is, however, most commonly employed for

institutions and organizations with complex infrastructures that hold a large number of samples.8 Furthermore, these institutions can be managed and funded by government healthcare agencies, academic research medical centers, disease-focused non-profits, project consortiums, or for-profit companies.4

Biobanks are classified according to whether they are disease-oriented or population-based.9 Disease-oriented biobanks collect samples from patients with a specific disease in order to find biomarkers related to their pathology that can be used for potential treatments (e.g., the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) biobank).10 Population-based biobanks collect samples from volunteers in order to perform association studies that link genomic traits and lifestyle characteristics to the development of various diseases (e.g., All of Us11 and LifeLines12).

Biobanking activities have increased dramatically in the last decades, thanks to three main technological advances:9

1. The completion of the human genome sequencing project in 2003

2. The arrival of the OMICs sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics)

3. The ability to store and analyze large sets of data

One of the most well-known research projects exploiting these technological advances is “All of Us,” which started in 2018. All of Us is an American population-based research program (more concretely a precision medicine initiative) that collects samples and data from one million volunteers.11 Similar projects are underway in several other countries.13

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The explosive growth in the biobanking sector changed its organization and dynamics. Biobanks went from being local units supporting specific research projects to complex decentralized organizations, where each laboratory often follows its own procedures for sample collection, transport, processing and storage.9,14 These complex organizations, along with the sensitive nature of the data, led to the need for standards and regulations.

Currently, some countries have non-binding national guidelines regulating biobanking activities and a few others have a legal framework.15 In France, for example, there is a specific regulation applying to all biobanks country-wide embedded in the “Code de la santé publique”.16 In Europe, and independently of whether or not there are biobanking-specific national regulations, countries must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR-2018), which “sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the European Union” (EU).17 The most prominent European organization for

biobanking is the Biobanking and BioMolecular Resources Research Infrastructure-European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC). The BBMRI-ERIC aims to improve the accessibility and interoperability of existing comprehensive collections from different (sub-)populations of Europe.3,18 Another important biobanking organization in Europe is the European, Middle Eastern & African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB).19

From an international perspective, there is one essential standard in the biobanking industry, the ISO 20387, which provides comprehensive guidelines for the complete biobanking workflow.20 Additionally, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) have developed two of the most important guidelines for biobanking worldwide.21,22

1. Loft, S. and Poulsen, H., 1996. Cancer risk and oxidative DNA damage in man. Journal of Molecular Medicine, [online] 74(6), pp.297-312. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8862511/

2. Hewitt, R. and Watson, P., 2013. Defining Biobank. Biopreservation and Biobanking, [online] 11(5), pp.309-315. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24835262/

3. BBMRI-ERIC. About Us | BBMRI-ERIC: Making New Treatments Possible. [online] Available at: https://www.bbmri-eric.eu/about

4. McCormick, D., 2019. National Biobanks: Understanding All of Us. [online] Biocompare. Available at: https://www.biocompare.com/Editorial-Articles/518242-National-Biobanks-Understanding-All-of-Us/

5. Sthlm3. 2020.  Sthlm3. [online] Available at: https://sthlm3.se/stockholm3-in-english/

6. EIT Health Scandinavia. 2020. Prostate Cancer Test Developed In Record Time Thanks To Biobank Access - EIT Health Scandinavia. [online] Available at: https://www.eithealth-scandinavia.eu/prostate-cancer-test-developed-in-record-time-thanks-to-biobank-access/

7. Paskal, W., Paskal, A., Dębski, T., Gryziak, M. and Jaworowski, J., 2018. Aspects of Modern Biobank Activity – Comprehensive Review. Pathology & Oncology Research, [online] 24(4), pp.771-785. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12253-018-0418-4

8. BBMRI-ERIC. n.d. BBMRI-ERIC Directory. [online] Available at: https://directory.bbmri-eric.eu/menu/main/app-molgenis-app-biobank-explorer/biobankexplorer

9. Coppola, L., Cianflone, A., Grimaldi, A., Incoronato, M., Bevilacqua, P., Messina, F., Baselice, S., Soricelli, A., Mirabelli, P. and Salvatore, M., 2019. Biobanking in health care: evolution and future directions. Journal of Translational Medicine, [online] 17(1). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31118074/

10. Autism Speaks. n.d. AGRE - Autism Genetic Resource Exchange | Autism Speaks. [online] Available at: https://www.autismspeaks.org/agre

11. National Institutes of Health (NIH). n.d. National Institutes Of Health (NIH) — All Of Us. [online] Available at: https://allofus.nih.gov/

12. Lifelines. n.d. Lifelines: A Unique Biobank And Databank. [online] Available at: https://www.lifelines.nl/researcher

13. Lee, J., Hamideh, D. and Nebeker, C., 2019. Qualifying and quantifying the precision medicine rhetoric. BMC Genomics, [online] 20(1). Available at: https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-019-6242-8

14. Lommen, K., Odeh, S., de Theije, C. and Smits, K., 2020. Biobanking in Molecular Biomarker Research for the Early Detection of Cancer. Cancers, [online] 12(4), p.776. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32218259/

15. Swiss Biobanking Platform. 2018. Regulation Of Biobanks In Europe – Swiss Biobanking Platform. [online] Available at: https://swissbiobanking.ch/regulation-of-biobanks-in-europe/?cn-reloaded=1

16. Legifrance. n.d. Code De La Santé Publique | Legifrance. [online] Available at: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006072665&dateTexte=20180118

17. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). n.d. General Data Protection Regulation (GwDPR) – Official Legal Text. [online] Available at: https://gdpr-info.eu/

18. ESFRI. n.d. BBMRI ERIC | ESFRI Roadmap 2018. [online] Available at: http://roadmap2018.esfri.eu/projects-and-landmarks/browse-the-catalogue/bbmri-eric/#:~:text=The%20Biobanking%20and%20BioMolecular%20Resources,coordinated%20by%20the%20National%20Nodes

19. ESBB. 2020. European, Middle Eastern & African Society For Biopreservation And Biobanking. [online] Available at: https://esbb.org/

20. ISO. n.d. ISO 20387:2018 Biotechnology — Biobanking — General Requirements For Biobanking. [online] Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/67888.html

21. ISBER. n.d. ISBER. [online] Available at: https://www.isber.org/page/BPR

22. Guidelines for Human Biobanks and Genetic Research Databases (HBGRDs) - OECD. Retrieved 20 August 2020, from http://www.oecd.org/sti/emerging-tech/guidelines-for-human-biobanks-and-genetic-research-databases.htm

References

WHAT IS BIOBANKING?

Biobanks are repositories that accept, process, store and distribute biological samples for future use in research and clinical care. Samples can be fixed, frozen or fresh, however the method of sample storage depends on the sample type.1,2

Types of biological samples include:

Blood TissueUrine Cells DNA

Biobanking has changed significantly over time in response to the increasing complexity of data associated with biospecimens, the emergence of the OMICS sciences, the adoption of automation technologies and the increase in regulatory standards.1

Despite this complexity, biobanks can be classified in two main groups:3

References:1. De Souza Y, Greenspan J. Biobanking past, present and future. AIDS. 2013;27(3):303-312. doi:10.1097/qad.0b013e32835c12442. Sims J. Introduction to Biobanking - The UKCRC Tissue Coordination Centre. UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre. https://biobankinguk.org/introduction/. Published 2020. 3. Coppola L, Cianflone A, Grimaldi A et al. Biobanking in health care: evolution and future directions. J Transl Med. 2019;17(1). doi:10.1186/s12967-019-1922-3

Disease-centricCollect samples from patients with specific diseases to find

biomarkers for potential therapeutics

Population-basedCollect samples from volunteers for association studies linking genetic and lifestyle factors to various diseases

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AUTOMATION IN BIOBANKING

Sample Processing and Storage: Why Do We Need Automation As mentioned previously, biobanking has evolved into decentralized complex infrastructures with large repositories of heterogeneous samples.1 In order to harmonize the biobanking activities among laboratories and ensure the quality of the samples, biobanking workflows need to be standardized and scaled up. Automation allows for both, while also catering for various levels of regulatory compliance.

Standardization and quality assurance

Biobanking activities include sample collection, processing, transport, storage and retrieval. This eBook focuses on the steps for sample processing and storage, where our automation expertise lies.

The way samples are processed and stored plays a critical role in the quality and reliability of the results obtained from the analysis of those samples. Three of the most critical parameters in this respect are (i) the time between the harvesting/collection of the sample and its processing (e.g., a few minutes vs. hours), (ii) the type of sample processing and (iii) the storage conditions.1,2 There is not, however, one unique biobanking workflow. Depending on the type of sample collected, the planned downstream analyses and the length of time that samples will be stored, the conditions for sample processing and storage will vary.

Although blood, urine and tissue are the most common type of biospecimens collected in biobanks, samples are usually processed into – and stored as – plasma, serum and DNA.3,4

The fractioning of the blood components and the extraction of DNA can be performed in a relatively short time and with highly standardized procedures through automation. Furthermore, liquid handlers can perform tedious, repetitive activities such as aliquoting and capping/decapping of tubes.

Sample storage can also be automated and fully integrated with pre-analytical automated solutions for sample processing and laboratory information management systems (LIMS). The storage conditions are mainly dependent on the type of sample to be stored and the time of storage. Whereas tissue, cells and blood fractions are usually stored between -80°C and -196°C, DNA samples are usually stored at 4°C and -20°C for short- and long-term storage, respectively.5-7

Independent of the specific storage temperature, the integrity of the samples during storage is dependent on stable temperature conditions. Temperature fluctuations, such as those typically observed in manual freezers, compromise the quality of the sample (e.g., viability of the cells, degradation of the target molecules). The negative impact of temperature fluctuations is also the reason why samples are kept in aliquots (often single-use aliquots), in order to avoid freeze-thaw cycles.8 There are automated storage solutions for every need and budget, from compact low-medium throughput instruments fitting next to the laboratory bench to modular units in large rooms. High quality automated solutions ensure compliance with ISBER’s best practices, including full sample traceability (using barcodes and sample IDs), user access control, tracking of storage temperature and availability of

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reliable backup power/alternative cooling system, among others.8

Standardization and compliance allow interoperability between biobanks (thus permitting sample pooling and increase of statistical power) and promotes of use of biobanks by researchers, as well as the willingness of participants to donate samples.9

Scaling up

As of 2016, there were over 500 biobanks that (combined) store an excess of 60 million biological samples.10 Some of the largest biobanks store (or aim to store) various samples from more than half a million participants (e.g., Biobank Graz in Austria, Shanghai Zhangjiang Biobank in China, “All of Us” biobank in the US, the UK biobank in the UK, the International Agency For Research On Cancer (IARC) Biobank).11 The management of this level of throughput can only be achieved through automation.

As biobanks increase in size, the need for automated solutions become greater. Manually managing a large number of samples significantly increases the risk of errors and can lead to a reduction in quality. Automation drastically reduces the probability of these errors by standardizing the performance of each of the steps in the biobanking workflow. The benefits are a clear advantage for any biobank, independent of its size.

1. Coppola, L., Cianflone, A., Grimaldi, A., Incoronato, M., Bevilacqua, P., Messina, F., Baselice, S., Soricelli, A., Mirabelli, P. and Salvatore, M., 2019. Biobanking in health care: evolution and future directions. Journal of Translational Medicine, [online] 17(1). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31118074/

2. ISBER. 2020. ISBER. [online] Available at: https://www.isber.org/page/SPREC 3. Zika, E., Paci, D., Braun, A., Rijkers-Defrasne, S., Deschênes, M., Fortier, I., Laage-Hellman, J., Scerri, C. and Ibarreta, D., 2011. A European

Survey on Biobanks: Trends and Issues. Public Health Genomics, [online] 14(2), pp.96-103. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20395653/

4. BBMRI-ERIC. n.d. BBMRI-ERIC Directory. [online] Available at: https://directory.bbmri-eric.eu/menu/main/app-molgenis-app-biobank-explorer/biobankexplorer

5. Hubel, A., Spindler, R. and Skubitz, A., 2014. Storage of Human Biospecimens: Selection of the Optimal Storage Temperature. Biopreservation and Biobanking, [online] 12(3), pp.165-175. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24918763/

6. Wu, J., Cunanan, J., Kim, L., Kulatunga, T., Huang, C. and Anekella, B., n.d. Stability Of Genomic DNA At Various Storage Conditions. [online] SeraCare Life Sciences. Available at: https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/sites/default/files/attached-files/seracare_stability_of_genomic_dna_at_various_storage_conditions_isber2009.pdf

7. Shabihkhani, M., Lucey, G., Wei, B., Mareninov, S., Lou, J., Vinters, H., Singer, E., Cloughesy, T. and Yong, W., 2014. The procurement, storage, and quality assurance of frozen blood and tissue biospecimens in pathology, biorepository, and biobank settings. Clinical Biochemistry, [online] 47(4-5), pp.258-266. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3982909/

8. ISBER. n.d. ISBER. [online] Available at: https://www.isber.org/page/BPR 9. Lommen, K., Odeh, S., de Theije, C. and Smits, K., 2020. Biobanking in Molecular Biomarker Research for the Early Detection of Cancer.

Cancers, [online] 12(4), p.776. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32218259/ 10. Holub, P., Swertz, M., Reihs, R., van Enckevort, D., Müller, H. and Litton, J., 2016. BBMRI-ERIC Directory: 515 Biobanks with Over 60 Million

Biological Samples. Biopreservation and Biobanking, [online] 14(6), pp.559-562. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5180080/

11. Orchard-Webb, D., 2018. 10 Largest Biobanks In The World - Biobanking.Com. [online] Biobanking.com. Available at: https://www.biobanking.com/10-largest-biobanks-in-the-world/

References

THE BIOBANKING WORKFLOW

Collection and labellingBefore the collection of samples, consent needs to be acquired.1 Different samples may require special standard operation procedures for collection. The laboratory must ensure that their staff are aware of these procedures and follow them accordingly.

TransportSamples require transportation from the collection site to the processing area. This transportation journey may be within the building, or it could require vehicle transport. In both cases, samples need to be transferred with the correct documentation and using the appropriate containers.2

RegistrationEach biospecimen should have a unique identifier to ensure effective tracking. The ID should be found on the biospecimen itself and in a biospecimen management programme. The sample data within the biomanagement system should eventually include details such as date, location, quality, and type of sample processing.3

ProcessingSamples need to be aliquoted and processed. Different samples may require different processing protocols (e.g. blood may require fractionation and tissue samples may need to be snap frozen before storage). These protocols are normally standardized and follow the biobank specific regulations.2 Downstream sample processing can occur in parallel or after sample storage.

StorageThe storage requirements depend on the sample itself. In general, blood samples may be stored at -80oC and tissues that have undergone fixation and paraffin wax embedment can be kept at room temperature. Once stored, the final details are placed into the biomanagement system, so the samples can easily be retrieved.2

References:1. Thompson R, McNamee M. Consent, ethics and genetic biobanks: the case of the Athlome project. BMC Genomics. 2017;18(S8). doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4189-12. Elliott P, Peakman T. The UK Biobank sample handling and storage protocol for the collection, processing and archiving of human blood and urine. Int J Epidemiol.

2008;37(2):234-244. doi:10.1093/ije/dym2763. Thompson R, McNamee M. Consent, ethics and genetic biobanks: the case of the Athlome project. BMC Genomics. 2017;18(S8). doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4189-1

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HAMILTON SOLUTIONS

What can Hamilton (Robotics and Storage) offer?Hamilton Robotics and Storage specializes in the develop-ment, manufacturing, and customization of automated liquid handling workstations and sample management systems. The clinical sector is one of our core markets and many of our standard platforms have been explicitly designed based on the needs of the clinical end-users. To provide comprehensive solutions covering entire biobanking workflows (i.e. blood fractioning, sample aliquoting, DNA extraction and sample storage), Hamilton Robotics and Hamilton Storage work closely together to integrate their automation solutions during customized projects. Our instruments and workflows can be integrated with LIMS to provide full audit trails. Additional devices such as decappers, readers, centrifuges, sealers, shakers, HEPA hoods and 2D barcode scanners can be integrated as well, providing a wide range of custom solutions. Moreover, Hamilton manufactures its own range of high-quality consumables, including tips, microplates, cryotubes and high-density storage racks.

We can provide our customers with various options, specific-ally designed to their needs: from low throughput solutions to automate the aliquoting of samples, to comprehensive solutions to fully automate high throughput workflows for sample processing and storage.

Blood fractioning and aliquoting

A blood sample can be stored for many years or even decades. Before it is sent for storage, the sample must be split into different fractions. The isolation of the DNA-rich buffy coat, in particular, is a labor-intensive and tedious task for most operators. To facilitate and automate this process, Hamilton Robotics developed the easyBloodTM STAR and the

easyBloodTM STARlet workstations, a standard deck layout based on our STARline platforms (Microlab® STAR™, STARlet and STARplus). The easyBlood workstations are equipped with a mirror system, a high-resolution industrial camera and processing software that allows the detection of the layers in the centrifuged blood sample (e.g., red blood cells, buffy coat and plasma). Using Hamilton’s reliable pipetting technology, the fractions are split into one or multiple aliquots and pipetted into any kind of storage or processing container. The system is completely automated and can be equipped with our easyCode carrier to perform 2D barcode reading of standard tube rack and tube codes for sample storage. The standard configuration of the easyBloodTM STAR can process a maximum of 192 samples in 140 minutes, including aliquoting.

In the near future, Hamilton Robotics will offer a new work-station dedicated to sample aliquoting, including automatic decapping of source sample tubes (e.g., vacutainers) as well as sample mixing, aspiration and dispensation into multiple target tubes.

DNA extraction

In addition to plasma or serum, biobanks can store samples after nucleic acid (NA) extraction, most commonly as DNA samples.

Hamilton Robotics has developed three ARWs for NA extraction (DNA and RNA): the NIMBUS® Presto, the MagEx STARlet and the Genomic STARlet™. The first two ARWs are designed to be used with magnetic bead-based kits and the latter is designed to be used with silica-based filter plate kits. All ARWs can process up to 96 samples at the same time

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and they are all integrated with modules for incubation and shaking. The Nimbus Presto®, in particular, is integrated with ThermoFisher Scientific’s KingFisher™ Presto Purification System.

Through our application team and partners, we have developed automated workflows for commercial solutions from various kit manufacturers.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to our automated solutions for DNA extraction, we also provide standard automated solutions for sample processing before LC-MS analysis, as well as for (q)PCR set-up, NGS library preparation and ELISA assays.

Sample storage

Hamilton Storage offers automated sample storage

solutions catering to various levels of sample throughput, storage temperatures and storage capacity: The SAM HD, the BiOS®, the Verso Q20® and the Verso®. All systems are compatible with most SBS-format labware. The compact SAM HD and the modular BiOS® store samples at -80°C, which is the preferred temperature by many biobanks. Both systems offer backup cooling options. For SAM HD, a two-stage option is available; for BiOS®, three stages of backup cooling are available. The compact Verso® Q20 and the modular Verso® are storage systems for high throughputs at temperatures as low as -20°C.

The NIMBUS® Presto MagEx STARlet Genomic STARlet™ 2.0

Hamilton's platform Nimbus® HD Microlab® STARlet Microlab® STARlet

Throughput* 96 samples in 1.3-1.7 hours 96 samples in 1.7-2.0 hours 96 samples in 2 hours

NA extraction technology Magnetic bead-based Magnetic bead-based Silica-based filter plate

Development partner ThermoFisher Scientific - Macherey-Nagel

Kit providers from which there are available or qualified methods applicable to the field of infectious diseases

Macherey-Nagel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Omega Biotek

Macherey-Nagel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Omega Biotek, Promega, Zymo, Molg3n

**Macherey-Nagel

Figure 1: easyBloodTM STARlet, deck Layout. (1) Camera Channel, (2) iSWAP®, (3) Mirror Carrier, (4) Sample Carriers, (5) Target Containers, (6) 2D Barcode Reader, (7) Tips, (8) CO-RE® Gripper, (9) Autoload, (10) 1D Barcode Reader.

Table 1: Hamilton Robotics’ Assay-Ready Workstations for DNA extraction

*Depending on the chosen kit and starting point of the workflow **Method to be requalified (deck layout not yet available)

1

3 4

5

9

2

6

78

10

12

Figure 2: NIMBUS® Presto, Deck Layout. (1) KingFisher™ Presto and Turntable, (2) 5X Deep Well Plates Stacks (storage), (3) 3X Tip Modules, (4) Sample Loading Area, (5) Carrier with Multitube Adapter Tube, (6) 2X Deep Well Plate Modules (working area), (7) 6X 60 ml Trough Modules, (8) 3X 200 ml Trough Modules, (9) CO-RE® Gripper Paddles, (10) Barcode Scanner.

Figure 3: MagEx STARlet, Deck Layout. (1) Shifted Tip Pickup Adapter, (2) Hamilton Heater Shaker™, (3) Magnetic Stand, (4) Gravity Liquid Waste for MPH 96, (5) 2x Tip Carriers, (6) Sample Carriers, (7) 3X 120 ml Trough Modules, (8) 2X Deep Well Plate Modules, (9) Microtiter Plate Module, (10) 6X 60 ml Trough Modules, (11) Tip Module, (12) CO-RE® Gripper Paddles, (13) Barcode Reader.

12

3

4

6

7

5

8

9

10

1 2

3

4 5

6 7 6

11

98

10

12

13

13

Tube capping and decapping

Samples for biobanking are most commonly aliquoted in microtubes and cryovials. To automate the capping and decapping of these tubes before processing the aliquots stored in them, Hamilton Storage developed LabElite® – a product line of benchtop devices that can be integrated with automated sample storage and liquid handling instruments, or

simply used as standalone devices. All LabElite® decapping devices can decap tubes in 24-, 48-, and 96-format tube racks and they all allow for the processing of tubes in full, selected column or row orientations. The LabElite® can decap and cap an entire 96-rack of tubes in as little as 75 seconds. The main differences between the LabElite® decappers are described in Table 3.

Table 2: Hamilton Storage’s automated sample storage solutions

SAM HD BiOS® Verso® Q20 Verso®

Storage temperature -80°C -80°C Ambient to -20°C Ambient to -20°C

Storage capacity (in 0.3 ml tubes) 59k-86k 457k-22.3M 28,000–36,000 264K to 18.8M

Dimensions (height x width x length) 1.45m x 2.21m x 1.5m 2.9-4.85m x 5-5.4m x

3.5-7.1m 1.98m x 0.8m x 0.8m 2.3-4.8m x 2.2-2.4m x 2.5-22.5m

Processing speed Up to 100 tubes/hour up to 400 tubes/hour up to 500 tubes/hour up to 1,500 tubes/hour

Ease of integration with Hamilton's automated liquid handlers

+ + +++++ +++++

Figure 4: Hamilton Storage’s automated sample storage solutions

Verso® Q20 Verso®BiOS®SAM HD

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All our systems are compatible with the most common commercial labware used in the biobanking industry, however, to ensure maximum reliability and stability, Hamilton Robotics and Hamilton Storage manufacture their own range of high-

quality consumables. Contact your local representative to learn more about our options and about the configurations that are more suitable to your needs. See some examples of the integration of our systems in Figure 6.

DeCapper DeCapper SL I.D. Capper Integrated I.D. Capper

Performs 1D and 2D scans of the tubes

No No Yes Yes

Multiple tube heights can be read within the same rack

No No Yes No

Ease of integration with Hamilton's automated liquid handlers

+ +++++ + +++++

Ease of integration into LIMS + + +++++ +

Table 3: Hamilton Storage’s LabElite® decappers

Figure 5: Integrated I.D. Capper LabElite®, main features. (1) Touchscreen, (2) Swappable head, (3) Extended CASCAD rail, (4) Tube Rack, (5) Capholder, (6) Barcode Scanner.

12

3

45

6

Figure 6: Examples of various products from Hamilton Robotics and Hamilton Storage integrated into automated biobanking workflows.

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Freezer farms have long been the cornerstone of biobanks, though they come with inherent issues – jeopardized sample integrity, slow

processing speeds, and questionable reliability, to name a few. It has become clear, due to these risks, that an automated approach is a

much safer option for biobanks.

The Sample Storage Showdown

Download this infographic to compare a common freezer farm to the BiOS® system

Automation Solutions for BiobankingHAMILTON SYSTEMS FOR SAMPLE PROCESSING AND STORAGE

Transport Collection & Labelling

Registration Sample Processing

Sample Storage

SAM HD For low/medium

capacity storage

at -80 ºC

BiOS® For large capacity

storage at -80 ºC

Verso® Q20 For low/medium

capacity storage

between -20 ºC

and ambient

Verso® For large capacity

storage between -20ºC

and ambient

Aliquot STARlet For sample aliquoting,

including capping

and decapping of

vacutainers

(not yet available in EMEA)

LabElite® For capping and

decapping

of microtubes and

cryovials

easyBloodTM For blood fractionation

Nimbus Presto®, MagEX STARlet,

Genomic STARletTM 2.0

For nucleic acid extraction

MassSTAR,

Dual MassSTAR For extraction of proteins

and small molecules

We also offer solutions for downstream sample processing

Sam

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Europe, Middle East, Africa & AsiaTel: +41 58 610 10 30

Americas & Pacific RimTel: +1 508 544 7000Web: www.hamiltoncompany.com/automated-sample-management

©2020 Hamilton Bonaduz AG. All rights reserved.Disclaimer: throughout this eBook, protected product names may be used without being specifically marked as such.

United StatesTel: +1 775 858 3000

United Kingdom & IrelandTel: +44 121 272 92 80

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Germany, Switzerland, Austria, BeneluxTel: +49 89 248 804 804Web: www.hamiltoncompany.com/robotics

ROBOTICS