Farewell to human DNA extractors.
From manual to automated DNA extraction, a newly purchased Qiagen Universal BioRobot will soon replace its human counterparts.

For a long time manual DNA extraction has been the norm for researchers, consuming up to 6 hours of their time to extract small numbers of samples. The good news now is, they will soon be able to extract 96 samples every 3 hours.

The extraction procedure will ensure a standardised process, screening of large volumes and enable fast turnaround times, which is especially important for the new H1N1 surveillance study due to start in November this year. It will enable real time diagnosis of flu, something which until now has not been possible. 

“The new machine is a fully automated computer controlled system. We place our samples in the machine, select the programme and 3 hrs later out pops our extraction ready for real time PCR or for sequencing.” Comments Dean Everett, a researcher from an H1N1 study which has purchased the machine through a Wellcome Trust Grant.

MLW is the first to have this kind of multipurpose robot which will support both diagnostic and research capacity so that researchers can now begin to bid farewell to manual DNA extraction.