Liquid Handling - Multi Channel (Stamping)

Multi-channel liquid handling at Strateos supports full 96-tip (8x12) as well as full rows (8xN) and full columns (Nx12) transfer in the SBS-compliant 96-tip format using the stamp instruction.

Instruction and Parameters

The stamp instruction has the field groups, which is an array of transfer objects

{
  "op": "stamp",
  "groups": [
      {
        "transfer": [
          {
            "from": origin,
            "to": origin,
            "volume": volume,

            // same mix options as a 'transfer' group in the 'pipette' instruction
            "mix_before": {...},  //optional
            "mix_after": {...} //optional
          },
          {...} // additional transfers using same tips
        ],
        "shape": {  // default: {"rows": 8, "columns": 12}
          "rows": integer,
          "columns": integer
        }, 
        "tip_layout" : integer,  // optional, default: 96
      }
  ]
}

Each transfer takes a volume of liquid from wells of a plate and transfers it to another plate using whole rows or whole columns of tips dependent on the shape.

The from and to wells correspond to the top-left wells of the source and destination respectively.

The shape parameter describes a rectangle with values rows and columns that specify the number of rows and columns of tips to be transferred in accordance to the SBS-compatible tip_layout. Strateos currently only supports tip_layout = 96 and either rows must be 8 or columns must be 12 (only full rows or full columns can be transferred).

Each transfer must have the same shape and tip_layout

Please be aware that tip_layout = 96 will address a 384 well plate by skipping every other row and column.

Every transfer uses new tips. Instructions within a transfer use the same tips.

Volume Range%CV
<5μL2.1%
5μL - 200μL1%
200μL - 1000μL1% or less

Tips

The tips used for stamp are automatically selected based on the total volume being moved in a single operation. Transfers within the same stamp group must use the same tip size.

Tip sizeMaximum volumeMinimum volume
Small31μL1μL
Large110μL31μL

Device

Multi-channel liquid handling operations are performed using an Agilent Bravo liquid handler.