Liquid-Handling Technology and the Method of Electrostatic Drop Transfer to Improve Dispensing Performance

Abstract

Liquid handling is a critical component of highly parallel processes such as high-throughput screening (HTS) and genomic analysis. Such processes require the use of smaller sample volumes and the ability to dispense without contact, driving the development of a variety of liquid-handling technologies to meet these needs. Such technologies have associated advantages and disadvantages, which makes choice of the right system application dependent. Syringe technology remains the most cost effective and versatile. It suffers, however, from the inability to dispense submicroliter volumes without contact. We provide a brief overview of liquid-handling technology, and present a new method of sample transfer based on electrostatic forces (Jetha, N. N.; Marziali, A. Electrostatic device for active transfer of submicroliter samples from syringe pipettors. BioTechniques. 2006, 40, 148–151) that can be incorporated into liquid-handling systems, enabling highly accurate and repeatable non-contact dispensing of submicroliter volumes. (JALA 2006;11:278–80)