Tecan Journal Edition 01/2003

English Edition 1/2003 - April 2003

Tecan JournalEfficient, Accurate and Very HungryProTeam Advanced Digest:Champion in Throughputand Sensitivity Page 7

Increased DrugSafety throughGenotypingPage 4

ISSN 1617-7967

The Right Choice for the JobThe QUADRIGA™- System in Blood Donation Analysis Page 10

www.tecan.com

Contents

Tecan Journal 1/20032www.tecan.com

Editorial

GenomicsSafe Pills - Increased Drug Safety through Genotyping Page 4

Page 7

ClinicalDiagnosticsThe Right Choice for the Job

Page 10

Tecan PlusTecan Customer Support offers acomprehensive package of services

Page 12

New Products

Page 13

EventsPreview on Conferences and Trade Shows 2003

Page 14

Global News

Page 3

Drug DiscoveryThe Genius for Fast Kinetics

Page 8

Local News

Page 15

ProteomicsEfficient, Accurate and Very Hungry

Information that helps you to remain efficient

Dear Customer

I am very pleased and proud to introduce the firstworldwide issue of Tecan Journal, our customermagazine. We hope this journal will give you a broad overview of innovative solutions in laboratoryautomation and will show you new technologies and applications.

In each issue you will find articles on applications of Tecan instruments in our customers’ laboratories. In this issue we give examples of two interestingapplications: the method of genotyping for improving drug safety (page 4) and the Quadriga system for sample analysis in the Blood-Donation Center laboratoriesin Bern (page 10).

We want to help you improve the efficiency of your daily laboratory work. With thisin mind, Tecan Journal will keep you up to date with our latest products. Last year,Tecan developed and launched more products than ever in its 20 year history and weare continuing our efforts in research and development at the same level. So you canlook forward to a whole range of new products’ which will help make your daily lifein the lab run faster and more efficiently.

In addition, each Tecan Journal contains further useful information such as details of the extensive range of services our customer support team offers, or news andtips related to laboratory automation. Tecan’s customer magazine will also keep youup to date with opportunities to meet us at conferences and trade shows, where youcan see demonstrations of our instruments and solutions.

We hope that you will find this journal a source of invaluable information.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Emile C. SutcliffeChief Executive Officer (CEO) Tecan Group Ltd.

Global News

Tecan Journal 1/2003 3www.tecan.com

Rapidly rising drug development costs,

increasing competition, and changing

healthcare and regulatory environments

continue to be important reasons for

pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms

to strive for greater efficiencies. However,

despite heavy investment in new technologies,

the success rate for a drug candidate in

clinical trials is still around 1 in 10. The cost

of developing new drugs and bringing them

to market is now averaging US$ 802 million

and typically takes 10 to 15 years.1

From novel detection technologies...The rate limiting steps of bringing a drug to market still dictate the pace of progress.One such step includes the lack of suitabledetection technologies. In December 2002,Tecan launched Ultra Evolution enablingfluorescence lifetime measurements inmicroplates. This additional detection modeallows screening laboratories to circumventassay interference through compoundautofluorescence. The Ultra Evolutionmultimode reader is a good example of how Tecan’s solutions help to overcome the major limitations in assay development,compound characterization and drugscreening.

A second key bottleneck is the speed atwhich ADMET (Absorption, Distribution,

Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) assayscan be performed. These screening assaysare a critical step in determining quickly if a drug candidate is suitable for furtherdevelopment. In November 2002, Tecanlaunched its revolutionary microfluidicstechnology, the LabCD, which allows ADMETassays to be performed quicker and atreduced costs. Further applications areplanned for 2003.

Tecan’s innovative automated solutions allshare one common denominator: they play a leading role in making the research anddevelopment process more efficient.

...to low volume multichannel pipettingIn 2003, Tecan will continue to launch new products for researchers in the drugdiscovery area. Aquarius, a new stand-alonemultichannel pipettor, and Te-MO 3/3 givecustomers the choice of multichannelpipetting options offering dispensing to 96-or 384-well microtiterplate formats with orwithout Tecan’s newly developed Impulsetechnology. Impulse allows automatedmultichannel pipetting, delivering volumesdown to the nanoliter range.

New detection devices such as Genios Prowill support Assay Development and DrugScreening applications. In addition, the Safirescanning monochromator reader will becomeavailable as a detection device for manyapplications in assay development, compoundcharacterization and high throughputscreening. All of these solutions will providemore flexibility to researchers in their dailydrug discovery activities.

1 http://csdd.tufts.edu/

Opening Faster Tracks to New DrugsTecan’s innovative solutions bring more efficiency to the drug discovery process

Next generation test for BSEScientists at UCSF and InPro

Biotechnology have developed a highly

sensitive test to detect prions that cause

mad cow disease (BSE). The new

immunoassay is able to identify prion

infections at very low levels and will be

used to develop a diagnostic test for this

disease. A large number of samples

were processed for this study (Nature

Biotechnology {2002} 20: 1147-1150) and

an automated protocol for this assay was

developed using Tecan’s Genesis Robotic

Sample processor.

An atlas of gene expression patterns

GenePaint technology was recently used

in a study to map the genes expressed

from human chromosome 21 in the

mouse (Nature {2002} 420: 582-586).

This task would have been extremely

protracted without the automation of in

situ hybridization which was enabled by

Tecan’s Genesis robotic platform. This

application was developed by scientists

at the Max Planck Institute (Hannover,

Germany) and allows an atlas of gene

expression patterns in the mouse to be

established (http://www.genepaint.org).

Collaboration for HCV and HIV assaysAbbott Laboratories and Tecan signed

a long-term supply agreement for the

development and commercialization of

an automated sample preparation system

for molecular diagnostic assays.

The system is based on a novel magnetic

separator system, proprietary to Abbott,

which will be integrated onto Tecan’s

Genesis Freedom automated workstation.

This new system is designed to streamline

the nucleic acid sample preparation steps

prior to performing Abbott’s molecular

diagnostic assays for hepatitis C virus

and HIV.

The LabCD Disc is the heart of a completelyautomated solution for ADMET assays.Through its completely automatedfunctionality it eliminates one of the keybottlenecks in the drug discovery process.

Genomics


Efficacy and side effects of drugs depend on

the concentration of the compound in the

plasma as well as the individual expression

of the drug target. The exact same dose of a

drug can yield different concentrations of

the compound in the patient’s plasma due

to genetic polymorphisms in the proteins

involved in pharmacokinetics. This can even

result in reduced efficacy or undesirable

side effects. After analyzing the patient’s

genotype and phenotype the dose of a drug

compound can be individually adjusted to

the patient’s enzyme status according to the

clinically relevant protein-polymorphisms.

This would result in a higher drug safety

especially for compounds with a low

therapeutic index. Analyzing genotypes

and phenotypes can be done by modern

lab automation devices which produce

standardized and reliable results.

Preparation is the key to successful drug discoveryPharmacogenetics supports the clinicalstudies of the Bayer AG Institute for Clinical Pharmacology/Pharmacodynamics/Biochemical Pharmacology drug discoveryprogram. An individual’s genotype isanalyzed prior to the beginning of theclinical study. The goal is to predict the effect of the studied compound throughevaluating the genotype and the knownpharmacokinetic behavior.

The reason for these individual differences is the difference in concentration or even the lack of certain enzymes that are involvedin metabolizing the drug. If the enzymesinvolved in metabolizing the drug aresubject to genotypical polymorphisms theexact same dose could yield different plasmaconcentrations in different patients. This canseverely influence the therapeutic effect ofthe drug.

Broad therapy vs. individual therapyThere are two ways of dealing with thisproblem: either the compound is replaced by a substance that is not metabolized byenzymes that have this effect (broad therapy)or the patient’s genotype is analyzed prior to the therapy in order to adjust the doseindividually to the patient (individual therapy).

If analyzed, the dose that yields the desiredplasma concentration can be calculated andadministered thus maximizing the successof the therapy.

Three systems by tecan automate genotypingThe Bayer AG Institute for ClinicalPharmacology/Pharmacodynamics/Biochemical Pharmacology uses three Tecansystems for automated genotyping (Fig. 1).The complete genomics process is thereforestandardized.

System 1: Sample preparationA Freedom 200 with a cabinet, a centrifuge,8-channel Liquid Handling Arm withdisposable tips and a “Pick & Place” arm for tubes that can also load the centrifugebuckets into the centrifuge with a separatetool (Fig. 2).

System 2: DNA extractionA Genesis RSP 150 using two Te-MagS for DNA extraction with magnetic beads.

System 3: Measuring purified DNA,normalization, PCR setup, plate sealing and amplificationA TRAC System with a Genesis RSP 150,a Genios microplate reader, cooling units,sealer, two MJ Tetrad thermocyclers and anORCA robot arm on a three meter rail.The microplate sealer and the thermocyclerare not yet integrated into the automatedprocess and are operated manually.

Safe Pills - Increased Drug Safety through GenotypingTracking protein polymorphisms with automated pharmacogeneticsMichael Zuehlsdorf, PhD, Bayer AG

Automated genotyping with three Tecan systems

Dr. M. Zuehlsdorf. Figure 1: Overview of the genomics automation at Bayer AG.

Genomics


GenotypingIn a first step the total DNA is extractedfrom the patient’s blood. This is followed bya PCR reaction with allele-specific primers.

System 1: Sample preparation with theFreedom 200• Samples are held in barcoded tubes.

A maximum of 96 tubes are placed in a Tecan Strip-Rack.

• Freedom 200 scans the barcodes of the samples.

• 1 ml of whole blood is transferred to a Micronic tube as an archive.

• 3 ml of whole blood are transferred tosecondary tubes containing lysis buffer.

• The samples are homogenized throughcentrifugation and incubated at roomtemperature. During this incubation steperythrocytes but not leucocytes are lysed.

• The “Pick & Place” arm places the tubes inthe centrifuge bucket and places the fullbucket into the centrifuge (Hettich

Rotanda) and, after the centrifugationstep, back to the workbench (Figs. 3 and 4).

• For transporting the centrifuge bucketinto the centrifuge the “Pick & Place” armuses a separate tool (Figs. 2 and 3).

• During centrifugation the leucocytes form a pellet.

• The supernatant containing the lysederythrocytes is discarded.

• Lysis buffer for leucocytes is added, thesolution is homogenized, incubated andquantitatively transferred into a deep well microplate.

• Final step of sample preparation:The microplate is manually placed intoSystem 2 for DNA extraction.

All plates and tubes are barcode labeled.Therefore an exact identification and trackingof all material is possible at all times.

All devices are connected to a LaboratoryInformation System (LIMS) which collectsand provides data for evaluation.

Figure 2: Tecan Freedom 200 Left: “Pick & Place arm” with sample tubes and centrifuge buckets,centrifuge below.

System 2: DNA extraction with the GenesisRSP 150 and Te-MagS• The deep well plates containing the lysed

leucocyte solution are placed on System 2.The barcode is identified.

• In each run the two Te-MagS extract DNAfrom a maximum of 96 samples (2 x 48)using magnetic beads according to astandard protocol (Figs. 4 and 5).

The “Agowa mag Maxi DNA Isolation KitPlus” is used for the extraction (the protocolfor this kit can be downloaded as a pdf file athttp://www.agowa.de/struktur/magneticbasis.html).

In an eight hour workday the system yields a throughput of eight runs with 96 samplesin each run (768 samples per workday).

System 3: Measuring purified DNA,normalization, PCR setup, plate sealing andamplification with the TRAC equipment• The concentration of DNA in the

microplates is measured with Picogreenfluorescence in the Genios reader.

• The Genesis RSP 150 normalizes the DNAand prepares the PCR reaction mix.

• The microplate is sealed, put in thethermocycler (MJ Tetrad) and theamplification is started.

Drug dosage and therapeutic successThe qualitative result of the PCR with theallele-specific primers shows whether anallele is homozygous, heterozygous orabsent. The result allows a prediction of the enzyme status and, based on this, anadjustment of the drug dosage. This is a pre-requisite for attaining the desiredplasma concentration and therebymaximizing the success of the therapy.

Automated genotyping for increased drug safety

Genomics


Michael Zuehlsdorf, PhDBayer AGInstitute for Clinical Pharmacology/Pharmacodynamics/BiochemicalPharmacology42096 WuppertalGermanyT: +49-202 364231, F: +49-202 [email protected]

Advantages of genotypingDrug manufacturers can, based on theresults of genotyping, either produce anassortment of tailored drugs for patientsubpopulations or focus on the productionof broad therapy drugs which are notaffected by genetic polymorphisms and thusare applicable to the majority of the totalpopulation. Eventually this will lead to abroader range of drugs on the market sincedifferent therapeutic methods will becomeavailable for different genotypes andphenotypes. Both the choice of drug and its dosage will be tailored to the individual.

The use of genotyping for the evaluation ofdifferent protein-polymorphisms allows anearly estimate of the potential of new drug

Figure 3: Dr. Zuehlsdorf in front of the facilityRight: “Pick & Place arm” with sample tubesand centrifuge buckets, centrifuge below.

Figure 4: Two Te-MagS on a Genesis RSP 150ensure perfect DNA extraction using magneticbeads.

Figure 5: DNA Extraction with magnetic beads. The magnets are automatically placed betweenthe sample tubes. The beads are drawn to the tubewalls, the supernatant can be easily exhaustedwith a pipette.

targets as well as different drug candidates. Scarce resources can be usedmore effectively and focused on the mostpromising candidates. Preclinical toxicologyand the identification and establishment ofbiomarkers and surrogate markers (markersthat correlate with drug efficacy and clinicalendpoints) will face new trends throughgenome analysis. This will increase theaccuracy of efficacy predictions of new drugsfor patients. Pharmacogenetics will be usedfor drug discovery especially in Phase I and IItrials. The safety of these trials will be greatlyincreased, side effects will be reduced andcosts of clinical trials will be significantlyreduced.

Proteomics


Equipped with the DirectSpot™ Technology

the ProTeam Advanced Digest offers

a maximum of sensitivity and throughput.

In modern academic, biotech and

pharmaceutical proteomics laboratories

the need for an efficient, automated system

that extracts proteins from gels before mass

spectrometry (MS) analysis increases rapidly.

In order to tackle this problem Tecan has

added a new member to the ProTeam

family – the ProTeam Advanced Digest.

One platform for all tasksThe system combines all four steps ofsample preparation for MS on a singleplatform:• Controlled enzymatic digestion of protein

samples (in-Gel and in-solution).• Extraction of peptide samples from

in-gel digests.• Peptide sample clean-up and concentration.• Direct spotting of peptide samples onto

MALDI targets.

Efficient, Accurate and Very HungryEquipped with the DirectSpot™ Technology the ProTeam Advanced Digest offers a maximum of sensitivity and throughput

ProTeam Advanced Digest allows sample preparation for mass spectrometry on a single platform.

The combination of all four steps in a singlewell minimizes the number of pipettingsteps and therefore greatly increasesthroughput and sensitivity. DirectSpot™,the technology that allows this combination,uses the unique TecPrep 96 solid phaseextraction (SPE) plate. This allows a sensitivity down to low fmol rangefacilitating access to very low abundanceproteins.

High speed on all tasksThe TecPrep 96 SPE plate processes up to 96samples in parallel. The system is scaleablewhich allows the processing of up to 3500samples per day, but it can also handleindividual samples in an economic way.That is why we like to call the AdvancedDigest our “Hungry Gourmet” that has noproblems dealing with big menus as well as small snacks.

A schematic drawing of the TecPrep 96 SPEplate (top) and seen from below (bottom).

The unique DirectSpot™ TechnologyThe Tecan TecPrep 96 protein sample

preparation technique is a unique

combination of SPE, microplate and

needle spotting technologies that offers

unparalleled sample recovery with its

single well processing capability and is

capable of being used with numerous

MALDI targets. A minimum number of

pipetting steps reduces non-specific

binding and loss of protein.

The Chromolith™ capillary inside TecPrep 96 is

manufactured by Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Drug Discovery


Analyzing fast kinetics - like reporter gene assays - is still often a problem in many labs since

pipetting all the reagents and putting the microplate in the reader are time-consuming steps.

This usually prevents measurement of the most critical first few seconds. Tecan’s broad

experience in high-end detection and precise liquid handling has now been combined in the

new GENios Pro Multipurpose reader - a device that can simultaneously pipette reagents and

measure reaction kinetics.

With the new GENios Pro (Fig. 1) Tecan offers a broadly applicable, highly flexible multipurposereader. The GENios Pro is ideal for academic research and biotechnology as well aspharmaceutical research.

The Genius for Fast KineticsThe new GENios Pro multipurpose reader and dispenser makes precise analysis of fast kinetics amazingly easy

GENios Pro - the new multipurpose readerThe GENios Pro supports fluorescencepolarization (FP), fluorescence intensity (FI),time-resolved fluorescence (TRF),fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET), absorption and temperature control.Tecan also offers additional units includingluminescence with integrated bioluminescenceresonance energy transfer (BRET) capability, anexpandable injector system for dispensingreagents and a bottom reading option forassays with adherent cells (available fromJuly 2003).

Dispense system with up to three injectorsGENios Pro can operate two or threeoptional injectors for 96- and 384-wellplates. This allows simultaneous dispensingof reagents and reaction analysis (Fig. 3).The high precision syringe pumps withcoated injectors guarantee reliableperformance and thorough mixing of thereagents dispensed. Additionally this systemallows to back-fill remaining reagents intothe storage containers (Fig. 4). This helps you save reagents and costs. An automatedcleaning system makes injector maintenanceeasy to perform.

GENios Pro:multipurpose reader with

triple injectors and sixdetection modes

Independent optics guaranteeexcellent performanceThe integration of independent opticalsystems for measuring luminescence andtop and bottom fluorescence guaranteesmaximum sensitivity and a broad dynamicrange of measurement in all detection modes.Unlike many other multipurpose readers,the GENios Pro does not make any technicalcompromises that would reduce performanceand accuracy. The reader meets Tecan’s strictquality standards allowing you reliableresults at all times.

Figure 1: GENios Pro, the multipurpose reader.

Drug Discovery


Highly flexible plate handlingThe system is suitable in all detection modesfor 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, 96- and 384- well plates.

Cell-based assays with bottomreading option and well scanningThe bottom reading option allows optimalresults for cell-based assays with adherentcells, including cell viability studies andreporter gene assays with GFP (GreenFluorescent Protein). Since adherent cells do not tend to grow evenly in microplates,a well-scanning function is available in theXfluor software package that allows you todefine different points of measurement onthe well surface.

Double impact - reporter geneassays with flashlight-measurementFast kinetic reactions that are used, forexample, in reporter gene assays for thestudy of eukaryotic gene expression requirea high-end detector. The reaction mechanismcreates a very short flash of light with anextremely fast fading time. This creates theneed for a fast measurement right afterpipetting the reagents. GENios Pro uses on-board dispensers which allows on-boarddispensing of up to two reagents e.g. fordual reporter gene assays. These assays are

Figure 4: The integrated reagent reservoirsand precision pumps allow dispensing of up to 2 different reagents.

Measuring 6- to 384-well plates

used in transfection experiments withcultivated cells in order to minimizevariations that might occur due to differentnumbers of cells and different transfectionefficiencies between two experiments. Thisis no longer a problem with the use of theGENios Pro.

Measuring ion flux, apoptosis andmany other processes with flashfluorescenceMonitoring ion flux (Ca2+) is an importantmethod for studying the activity of ionchannels, G-protein coupled receptors,apoptosis and cellular repair mechanisms.Although these processes differ in theirkinetics and concentrations of calcium levels,there are common ways of monitoring themvia luminescence and fluorescence labels.The GENios Pro, equipped with its advancedinjector system and bottom reading optics, iswell suited for Flash Fluorescence applications.It has been optimized to allow monitoring offast fluorescence reactions, requiringsimultaneous dispensing and fluorescencereading in 96- well plates. Physiologicalprocesses showing a slower Calcium flux canadditionally be monitored in 384- well plates.

Figure 2: Loading a 384 well plate into GENios Pro.Figure 3: The triple injector station of the dispenser system.

GENios Pro and Bioluminescenceresonance energy transfer (BRET) assaysBRET assays with Renilla-luciferase arecommonly used for the study of G-proteincoupled receptor activity. Although the timingfor this assay is less critical in the 96-wellformat, it becomes an issue in higher densityplate formats. With the GENios Pro equippedwith the injector system that allowssimultaneous dispensing and reading in 96-and 384- well plates this is no longer an issue.

SummaryThe GENios Pro is not only equipped with an injector system for flash luminescenceand flash fluorescence applications but alsooffers excellent optical characteristics thatcan be used in up to six different detectionmodes. All of these features are combined in one easy to use device. This makes theGENios Pro a broad multipurpose reader formany applications in proteomics, genomicsand drug discovery, including geneexpression analysis, luciferase assays,bioluminescence resonance energy transfer(BRET) assays, molecular interactions andcellular assays.

Clinical Diagnostics


The Right Choice for the JobThe QUADRIGA™- System in blood donation analysisMauro Graziani, Dr. Christoph Niederhauser, Donation Analysis Lab, Blood Donation Centre, Bern

The QUADRIGA-System has been established

in the Donation Analysis Lab at the Blood

Donation Center in Bern since June 2002.

QUADRIGA is a fully automated solution

that screens for infection markers in donor

and patient blood samples on microplates.

This is an excellent example of integration

engineering of Tecan instruments with

other analytical instrumentation. It replaces

the FAME and ATplusSystems by Hamilton

which had been in use since 1994.

The purpose of the systemWith the QUADRIGA we test each sample for HBs antigen, anti-HIV, anti-HCV and, fordonor samples coming from Lausanne, weadditionally test for anti-CMV. The systemalso pipettes the microplates for the

alanineaminotransferase (ALAT) assay. ALATis a marker for liver inflammation. The ALATassay is then run on a different system.

Installation of the QUADRIGA-SystemSince the device needs an air conditionedroom with a minimum of 24 sqm we had tomove our reference lab. After that we beganto prepare the room: air conditioning, water,drainage, electricity etc. had to be set up. Inmid-April we began the system installation,which was followed by a test and verificationphase. After thorough tests the systembecame fully operational on June 11th 2002.

The four QUADRIGA componentsFour components from different manufacturerscomplete the QUADRIGA-System. All of these

have been used as stand-alone units for some time in many labs. The innovation ofQUADRIGA is the combination of these fourcomponents, which are:

1. Plate stationAll plates are pre-positioned here.Identification of plates is guaranteedthrough barcoding. After processing,the plates are also stored in this unit.

2. ORCA robot armORCA is a fully maneuverable robot armrunning on a three meter rail. The armtransports the plates from the plate stationto the pipetting station. After pipetting itmoves the plates into the analyzers andwhen the analysis is complete the plates areagain placed in the plate station for storage.

3. Pipetting stationsTwo Genesis RSP 200 are used as pipettingstations. These devices handle all preparatorypipetting steps and also add the requiredreagents to the right wells.

4. AnalyzersFour BEP® III (DADE Berhing) are used asanalyzers. Additionally a fifth BEP III is builtin as a backup device. However, only fourdevices are loaded by the ORCA arm. Each ofthe BEP III and also both Genesis RSP 200sare operated by a PC. Supervision of thewhole process is handled by a host computersystem which runs on Tecan’s FACTS software.

Productivity and throughputWith the current settings each Genesis RSP 200 can perform a maximum of fourpipetting steps on 720 samples per run,which adds up to a total of 5,760 pipettingsteps. However, this number is limited by the BEP analyzers which can incubate amaximum of ten microplates at a time.With 88 samples per plate this adds up to atotal of 3,530 analyses per run for the wholeQUADRIGA-System. If fully loaded, one runtakes approximately five hours, not including

Mauro Graziani with the QUADRIGA System, right: Plate Station.

Clinical Diagnostics


approximately 1.5 hours for sample andsystem preparation. This seemingly longpreparation time decreases as staff becomefamiliar with the procedure. The overallmaximum number of samples to beprocessed and analyzed (four tests) in 6.5 to 7 hours is 880. Several modifications can increase this amount to 1,200 samples,however, this would mean that the system is operating at the absolute maximumcapacity and with this large amount ofsamples handled the slightest problem could lead to serious delays.

Operating the QUADRIGA SystemOperating the individual components is fairly easy and intuitive to learn. The completesystem operations, when used on a routinebasis, can be learned within a few days.A basic knowledge and understanding ofcomputers is however essential. Currentlywe have trained two “superusers” who notonly have a thorough understanding of the system but were also trained on theindividual components. Our goal is that allusers of the system eventually reach thesame level of knowledge

ConclusionAfter several months of working with theQUADRIGA-System we have eliminated allthe initial teething problems that are normalwhen setting up a new system of this size.We are confident that establishing theQUADRIGA-System in our lab was the perfectchoice. With a system of this size we are nowwell prepared for the forthcoming challengesin analyzing infection markers in blood samples.

The QUADRIGA-System was developed in collaboration with Dade Behring.

Mauro Graziani, Dr. phil.nat.FAMH Christoph NiederhauserBlutspendedienst SRK Bern AGMurtenstraße 133 CH-3008 BernT: +41-31 384 2374, F: +41-31 384 [email protected]

Fully automated blood donation sample

analysis with QUADRIGA

The two Genesis RSP 200 units in the QUADRIGA System.

Mauro Graziani with the BEP III.

Tecan Plus


When you buy a Tecan instrument, look a little deeper and you will see Tecan’sextensive worldwide customer supportnetwork. It offers the following services:

HelpdeskWherever you are in the world, whether youhave a problem with your Tecan equipmentor you need to order consumables, you cancontact your nearest Tecan helpdesk*.A Tecan advisor will be able to help you inyour local language and will take control ofyour problem.

Technical support/applicationserviceA good place to start is by keeping yourinstruments in peak condition. Regularservicing helps to maintain the highstandards of accuracy and precision thatyou need, as well as minimizing instrumentdowntime. At Tecan you can be sure thereare professionals that know every inch ofyour machine and its history. Our expertswill even implement and optimize newassays for you on your Tecan instrument,so why not let them take the time, costand frustration out of the process?

Take Advantage of our Experience Tecan customer support offers a comprehensive package of services

Preventive maintenance With a comprehensive Tecan preventivemaintenance service contract, tailored toyour exact needs, you will significantlyincrease the life span and productivity of your instruments.

UpgradesEquipment upgrades are an all-importantpart of keeping up with, if not one-stepahead of, your competitors. Our highlyqualified engineers can complete anytechnical upgrades that you need.

TrainingGet trained by certified experts - the key for success! Tecan’s comprehensive trainingprogram enables the trainees to build up the necessary knowledge to optimize andmaximize the productivity of Tecan devices.These training courses will provide trainees a thorough learning experience. You can be confident in receiving the very besteducation from skilled professionals who areexperts in their respective fields. To obtain,at first hand, the information needed in yourdaily work call your nearest Tecan office.

*See the back cover of this issue for a listof Tecan offices.

Tecan customer support - added value for the customer• Tecan’s customer support network

provides services of outstanding

quality and value to the customer.

• Customer focus is paramount. Our help

desks, expert lines, task forces and field

service organizations are looking

forward to prove this to you.

• We aim to provide our customers with

courteous, timely and efficient service

that will exceed their expectations and

equal the best in business.

• We continually tailor our services and

solutions to the requirements of the

marketplace.

New Products


Nothing can Stop thisWorkhorse from Processingyour SamplesThrough its new features, the well-proven Genesis FE500Workcell offers even more reliability and versatility

For more information on our products visithttp://www.tecan.com or contact your localTecan representative.

The Genesis FE500 Workcell offers manyfunctions to increase efficiencies andproductivity in your laboratory.

The barcode label does not prevent the newtube inspection unit of the FE500 fromdetecting liquid levels.

The Genesis FE500 Workcell is a fully

automated platform, which meets the

sample processing requirements of hospitals,

research institutes and other clinical

laboratories throughout the world. Since its

introduction in 2000, the FE500 has rapidly

become known as a reliable workhorse for

the whole range of sample handling tasks

that are necessary before analytical testing

in core departments. Through its flexibility

and compact footprint it can be fitted into

almost any existing laboratory setup to

enhance the sample flow.

As a response to requests from customers,Tecan has implemented several new featureson the FE500. These include:• A modular system. The new modular

system offers more options in theselection of modules for a perfect fitto the specific activities performed byeach laboratory. Customers can nowchoose between different options for the individual processing steps: specimensorting; centrifugation; decapping;secondary tube labelling and aliquoting;and serum volume verification.

• A tube inspection unit. The new systemoffers users a tube inspection unit, whichscans the whole length of the tube tomeasure the exact liquid volume. Since

detection is possible through the tubelabel, the complete tube may be coveredby barcode labels (up to three layers).This feature is also available as anupgrade feature for existing users.

• Improved archiving solutions. The newarchiving options, which are implementedin the new system software, enable thefull separation of sample from primary to secondary tubes. After sample volumemeasurement, labelled secondary tubesare prepared to receive the correspondingaliquots and the remnant sample forarchiving. Tubes are then moved todefined unloading positions.

By streamlining laboratory operations, theFE500 helps you to cut overall operatingexpenses while assuring consistent sampleprocessing, improving the safety of samplehandling and expanding your testing capacity.Through the availability of modular options,you may select the elements necessary toenable the best sample processing strategyfor your laboratory. This versatility makes theFE500 now an even more valuable investment.

Multi-channel pipetting in a bench top formatAquarius is an automated multi-channel

pipetting system from Tecan that makes

optimal use of laboratory space. This

compact multi-channel pipetting system

can be used for a wide range of applications

in genomics and drug discovery. Aquarius

uses both 96- and 384-well pipetting

heads and has the built-in flexibility

to use fixed and disposable 96-well

manifolds interchangeably. The system

can be used for medium-to-high

throughput sample dispensing for

compound logistics, assay development,

and drug screening processes, as well

as PCR and sequencing reaction set-up

procedures used in genomics.

The reader software thataccepts your signatureMagellan Tracker, the new version of

Tecan’s popular reader software provides

the full functionality required by the

21 CFR part 11 regulation of the FDA

on electronic records. The new features

include a user administration with access

controls and authority checks via user

identification codes and password.

Magellan Tracker ensures the retrieval

of the complete history of the data

records through computer generated

time and date stamped audit trails

and implementation of non-biometric

electronic signatures. Magellan Tracker

is available as an option for new readers

and as an upgrade for existing readers

using the Magellan software.

Does your microplate readerneed a feeding station?Are you tired of loading your reader

with microplates piece by piece? The

new Connect microplate stacker system

is a fast, easy-to-use instrument for

batch processing that can increase the

throughput of a wide range of detection-

based applications. Connect offers

complete walk-away batch processing

for microplates. This product supports

the full range of Tecan’s stand-alone

detection systems.

Events


Tecan is well known for its outstandingproducts and its customer orientation.The LabAutomation 2003 conference andtradeshow from 1st-5th February in PalmSprings (CA) was an excellent opportunity toexperience this directly. The conference is thepremier international meeting for scientists,technology specialists, industry decision

An outstanding opportunity to meet Tecan:LabAutomation 2003 brought together leading providers of laboratory automation technologies

makers and managers interested in emerginglaboratory technologies. The tradeshow,organized in conjunction with the conference,features the leading providers in thegrowing area of laboratory automationtechnologies. In line with its role as a keyplayer in this league, Tecan supported thisimportant event as an official sponsor.

Tecan’s impressive presence at this year’sLabAutomation included a booth with a desert-themed décor where visitors could witness livedemonstrations of all of Tecan’s major products.

Tecan on the RoadPreview on Conferences and Trade Shows 2003

Date Event Location

France:25th-26th September The 7th European Biotech Crossroads Nantes www.biotech-nantes.com

Germany:19th-24th May Achema Frankfurt www.achema.de

7th-9th October Biotechnica Hannover www.biotechnica.de

Japan:4th May International BioEXPO JAPAN Tokyo web.reedexpo.co.jp/bio/english/

23rd June Protein Science Society of Japan Sapporo edpex104.bcasj.or.jp/pssj/

8th October The Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics Sapporo xenobio.kopas.co.jp/

15th October The 76th Annual Meeting of the Yokohama edpex104.bcasj.or.jp/jbs2003/Japanese Biochemical Society english/eindex.htm

Switzerland:12th-15th May MipTec Basel www.messebasel.ch/miptec/

UK:3rd-6th May 35th European Human Genetics (ESHG) Birmingham www.eshg.org

13th-15th May Focus 2003 (Clinical) Manchester www.focus-acb.org

21st-23rd May EuroBiochip London www.eurobiochip.com

27th-30th May ICES (Proteomics) Glasgow www.bspr.org

25th-26th November International Biotech & Europe LabAutomation London www.labautomationeurope.com

USA:19th-21st May ASM Washington DC www.asmusa.org

20th-24th July AACC Philadelphia, PA www.aacc.org/2003am/

10th-15th August Drug Discovery Technology Boston, MA www.drugdisc.com

Always up to date: http://www.tecan.com/index/com-ev-entry.htm

Local News


Tecan JournalCustomer Magazine of Tecan Group Ltd.ISSN 1617-7967

Circulation: 8800 copies (German),8000 copies (EnglishPublisher: Tecan Group Ltd.Editor: Dr. Josef SyfrigAddress: Tecan Group Ltd.,Seestrasse 103, CH-8708 Männedorf, SwitzerlandTel: +41 1 922 88 88 Fax: +41 1 922 88 90E-Mail: [email protected]: http://www.tecan.com

Design and Layout: Northbank CommunicationsMeadowside, Mountbatten Way, Congleton CW12 1DN, UKE-Mail: [email protected] and Printing: Printfine Ltd, Gibralter Row,King Edward Industrial Estate, Liverpool L3 7HJ, UKCopyright: All rights are reserved by Tecan JournalPhotos and Illustrations: Tecan Germany GmbH,Tecan Group Ltd, Northbank CommunicationsTypography: Type set in Thesis from LucasFontsSubscription: For a free subscription to Tecan Journal, pleasecontact your nearest sales office (see back cover of this issue) or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

Masthead

Visitors from all over the world had the opportunity to see that Tecan is anoutstanding provider with a lot to offer. Atthe eye-catching booth with a desert-themeddécor they could witness live demonstrationsof all of Tecan’s major products. Theseincluded the newly launched Aquarius,Connect, Te-MO 3/3 and Ultra Evolution.

More than a dozen technical posters,a presentation and two workshops

Tecan in Nagasaki - New solutions for drug discovery and drug testingThe annual meeting and exhibition of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan was held March 27th-29th in Nagasaki, Japan.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, founded in 1880, is one of Japan’s oldest academies withover 20,000 members engaged in pharmaceutical science as well as a wide range of life sciences.

This meeting included numerous Japanese and International keynote lectures, posters and oralresearch presentations. It attracted roughly 10,000 visitors from Japan, Asia and all around theworld.

At our Tecan booth, solutions for inhibition, permeability, transporter, cell culture, cellmaintenance and other drug discovery related applications were presented on posters and videos.

This year, Tecan focused on its ADMET solutions and exhibited the first ever automated Liquidphase - Liquid phase Extract (LLE) solution consisting of a Genesis Freedom workstation,specially designed tube racks and a Vortex mixer. This system is the first to use a pipettingrobot to extract compounds (metabolites) from samples, such as plasma, excrement or organs.Preliminary tests indicated that this system can achieve significantly higher yields than theclassic method of solid phase extraction, thereby contributing to the efficiency and accuracy of the drug testing process.

Nagasaki is located on the Northwestern part of the Japanese island of Kyushu and is wellknown in Japanese history for being a key entry point for foreign visitors when Japan closed itsborders for 200 years. Now it is a scenic, busy port city and is also the second city in the worldto have experienced an atomic bomb blast.

The Oura catholic church in Nagasaki wascompleted in 1864. The oldest church in Japanis now one of Nagasaki’s most popular touristattractions.

contributed to the attractiveness of Tecan’spresence at LabAutomation. Greg Kelloggfrom Tecan Boston gave a podiumpresentation on “New Developments inCentrifugal Microfluidics”. In addition,visitors could follow two technicalworkshops organized by Tecan, one co-hosted with Millipore and one with IDBS. Thelatter was dedicated to the new integrationof IDBS’ ActivityBase data management

software on the Genesis Assay Workstation.This new offering is the only one of its kind,providing scientists with a ready-to-useautomation and data management packageto support a wide range of assays.

All those who missed this event can readmore about Tecan’s activities atLabAutomation on http://www.tecan-us.com/us-index/us-new/us-local-news.htm

The new Genios Pro incorporates six detection technologies* with liquid handling into a singlecompact unit that’s totally designed to meet all of your assay needs. Superior multi-detectioncapability enables accurate, sensitive reading of a wide range of assays. Genios Pro’s integratedinjectors allow simultaneous dispensing and reading for performing sophisticated, rapid kinetic assays.And, as you’d expect from Tecan, those extra touches – precision engineering, automation ready,outstanding price:performance, superior reliability – come as standard.

* Absorbance, fluorescence polarization, fluorescence intensity, time resolved fluorescence, and flash and glow luminescence

Genomics • Proteomics • Drug Discovery • Clinical Diagnostics

For more information please visit www.tecan.com/geniospro or call your nearest Tecan officeAustria +43 62 46 89 33 Belgium +32 15 42 13 19 France +33 1 30 68 81 50 Germany +49 79 51 94 170 Italy +39 02 215 21 28 Japan +81 42 334 88 55 Netherlands +31 18 34 48 17 4 Portugal +351 21 000 82 16 Singapore +65 644 41 886 Spain + 34 93 490 01 74 Sweden +46 31 75 44 000 Switzerland +41 1 922 89 22 UK +44 118 9300 300 USA +1 919 361 5200 Other +43 62 46 89 33

Better prepared for what’s put on your plate

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Tecan Journal Edition 01/2003

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