Locate the task in the fluid path first
Arrows indicate task relationships, not that every component is connected in series in one tube. Check valve positions, pump wetted boundaries and operating states for each branch.
Associate strain, construct, reagent source and destination well with operation records. Establish programs for actual enzyme solutions, media and additives, and design blanks and cross-contamination checks around the construction and screening workflow.
Common product roles and application guides
| Product category | Role in this instrument |
|---|---|
| Syringe pump | Reagent dispensing through fixed fluidics |
| Air-displacement pipetting pump | Tip-based liquid handling for construction and screening |
| Diaphragm pump | Actual shared wash stations and auxiliary supply |
| Multiport rotary valve | Multiple-source and destination-path selection |
| Bubble and pressure detection | Flow-path signals for reviewing wells and operating steps |
| Tubing and fittings | Fixed-station and shared-path connections |
- Syringe Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Air-Displacement Pipetting Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Diaphragm Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Multiport rotary valves in Biofoundry construction and screening
- Bubble and Pressure Monitoring for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Tubing and Fittings for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
Operating requirements differ by step
| Stage | Task category | Operating conditions to define |
|---|---|---|
| Pipetting: preserve the sample-to-well relationship | Pipetting and receiving | Disposable-tip or fixed-probe architecture, sealing, working volume, liquid class, immersion position and dispensing action |
| Biological reagents: assess delivery and conditions of use | Dispensing operating conditions | Dose per operation, total cycle volume, replenishment/bottle-change interval, backpressure and receiving geometry |
| Plate operations: assess consistency and cross-contamination | Dispensing operating conditions | Plate format, well positions, independent channels, branch resistance and concurrent flow |
| Path scheduling: prevent wrong-destination delivery from shared resources | System-coordination inputs | Task state, sample or vessel identity, concurrent resources, interlocks and restart |
Pipetting: preserve the sample-to-well relationship
Set aspiration, dispensing and tip changes for the liquid type. After an anomaly, confirm delivery status first. Correct individual doses can still result in an incorrect batch if delivered to the wrong wells.
Biological reagents: assess delivery and conditions of use
Set standby and storage requirements for enzyme solutions, media and inducers from the actual workflow. Check the first dose with the real liquids and record waiting time.
Plate operations: assess consistency and cross-contamination
Evaluate delivery, residual liquid and cultivation or screening results by plate format and well order. For supply and waste-station architecture, see microplate automation.
Path scheduling: prevent wrong-destination delivery from shared resources
Confirm valve position together with reagent source and target well. Restart programs should preserve sample identity and completed-step records to prevent duplicate additions.
Explore configurations through product application guides
- Syringe Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Air-Displacement Pipetting Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Diaphragm Pumps for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Multiport rotary valves in Biofoundry construction and screening
- Bubble and Pressure Monitoring for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
- Tubing and Fittings for Biofoundry Construct Development and Screening
Validate the complete cycle through application results
Assess per-well delivery, identity traceability and construct-development or screening results together.
| Step to validate | Measurements or observations | Priority troubleshooting checks |
|---|---|---|
| Pipetting: preserve the sample-to-well relationship | Measure delivered volume in the actual receiving container, including low source levels, tip changes or probe washing, and carryover between samples. | Seal leaks, air aspiration, retained droplets or incorrect immersion can alter delivery. |
| Biological reagents: assess delivery and conditions of use | Use actual media to check first, middle and last doses and delivery after bottle changes; confirm received volume and timing rather than substituting commanded steps for volume | Empty sources, bubbles, nozzle droplets and backpressure changes affect first or last doses |
| Plate operations: assess consistency and cross-contamination | Measure first and last wells, channel differences and the complete plate cycle; preserve well identities and verify actual delivery and residual liquid. | Empty sources, bubbles, nozzle droplets and backpressure changes affect first or last doses |
| Path scheduling: prevent wrong-destination delivery from shared resources | Test concurrent operation, limiting states and complete fault recovery; verify that identities, cumulative quantities and records match actual actions | Resource conflicts, communication loss or mismatched identities can cause delivery to the wrong destination or repeated dosing. |
High throughput and multiple channels do not establish valid experimental results. See laboratory automation for shared workstation architecture.
Common selection and recovery questions
Do acceptable per-well volumes alone establish valid screening?
Also check construct or strain identity, reagent source, target wells and completed steps, and assess contamination checks and screening outcomes together.
Where should plate operations resume after an interruption?
Check actual delivery and state for each well, distinguishing not started, partially completed and complete. Use the experimental procedure to decide whether to resume or discard, avoiding duplicate dosing of the whole plate.