Biomek® PowerPack - Several Powerful Solutions in One Package

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Mike Van Vertloo, Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Integrated Solutions established the Biomek® PowerPack to provide a consolidation of several software integrations to adapt to many of our customer needs. This package of useful utilities provides a more standardized solution. Further development of the Biomek PowerPack will enable adapting the selection of components that continually addresses the needs of our customers.

The first release of the Biomek PowerPack includes the following components:

• DataSet Viewer and Reporting
• Normalization SuperStep
• Project Item Synchronization
• Declarative Transfer
• HTML Prompt
• Custom Logging Step & Steplet
• Alarm with Email Plug-in
• Error Handling Step

Additional components in near future versions include:

• HitPicking SuperStep System
• Serial Dilution SuperStep
• Runtime Select Wells

More about some of the components...

DataSet Viewer and Reporting
Datasets are a powerful feature of the Biomek Software. Datasets allow any arbitrary data to be associated to each well sample of a plate. The data then follows the sample from its original location to all other labware where it is transferred to during the course of the Biomek method. These data may consist of numeric values or alphanumeric character strings (e.g. a sample ID) and can be generated by reading from a file, manual entry, or from a SILAS™ device.

The Dataset Viewer aids beginning users in understanding datasets and how they are used. For advanced users, it provides an easy means of checking dataset values at any point in the Biomek method. Other labware properties and global variables are also available for inspection by the user. In the "View One Dataset" mode, data is displayed in a table format reflecting the sample well location on the plate. Dataset values may also be copied and pasted.

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An added capability of this step provides for reporting on dataset values for labware during the execution of the method. All data associated with a piece of labware may be written to a file, allowing a user to track the data after the labware has left the Biomek instrument. The Dataset Reporting feature accesses all datasets, from which labware and datasets may be selected for use in generating reports. Reports may be generated in text, HTML, or Excel formats.

Normalization SuperStep
Normalization is a common application of automated pipettors. This SuperStep allows a user to specify how to perform the normalization as part of the overall Biomek method. It empowers the user with very fine control over the normalization process, without requiring all of the decisions to be made upfront. Normalization may be specified to be in place or to a separate location, partial or full plate, and per-column or per-plate. Pipetting controls include specifications for technique, use of specified tips for low-volume transfers, and split transfers for volumes exceeding tip capacity.

Well concentrations are specified in a dataset. Options for handling out-of-range wells concentrations may be specified. Dataset manipulation is also available in the Biomek Software, to allow any prerequisite calculations on the data to happen before the normalization process. The Normalization SuperStep in a Biomek method makes the method easier to create, understand, and change.

Project Item Synchronization
Project Items were introduced in Biomek Software version 3.0. Items such as pipetting techniques and labware and tip definitions are now stored in a repository called a Project, where they are version-controlled with complete change history. Permission to access Project Item Synchronization is controlled via the Accounts & Permissions Account Management tool. This functionality is required to support 21 CFR Part 11.

Multiple users on a Biomek instrument may develop their methods in separate projects. When modifications to these project items are made, it may be necessary to standardize those changes across all projects on the instrument. Project Item Synchronization runs as a background application, and is displayed as balloon tips in the system tray when changes are detected. This tool enables a user to view differences to these items across all projects and update all projects to the same definition of an item, thereby standardizing all of the project items used by the methods on a Biomek instrument.

Declarative Transfer
Microplate contents are often specified in files or databases. Methods using these inputs are usually lengthy and very complex. The Declarative Transfer step provides a powerful means of specifying all of a transfer’s characteristics while hiding the complexity behind a single step. Rather than creating a method to perform a cherry-picking operation, Declarative Transfer makes it possible to perform cherry-picking as one step in a method.

HTML Prompt
Many methods written in Biomek Software require user input. This input may simply be configuration information, e.g. how many samples to process. Since these methods may be protected and may not be edited, Biomek Software allows the user to specify these inputs during method execution. This can be done by displaying a dialog to the user when the method is executed and collecting the information entered. The HTML Prompt step allows a method creator to design a customized dialog to be displayed during method execution. The information entered will then be stored as global variables, accessible from other steps in the method, including script steps.

Custom Logging Step & Steplet
Behavior of a method during execution is important information when verifying processing or attempting to reproduce results. Biomek Software provides logging capabilities for pipetting operations. However, often a user will wish to add other information to a log. This step provides the ability to log any desired information to a file. This information can be used along with the pipetting logs to better understand the actions performed during method execution. A Steplet is also provided to allow for logging capability inside of pipetting templates.

Alarm with Email Plug-in
The Alarm plug-in provides a means of drawing attention to a Biomek instrument that has encountered an error during method execution. A Biomek may run unattended for long periods of time. If the system should stop running due to error, the results of the method may be invalidated. Immediate user intervention may protect the integrity of the results. The Alarm plug-in has the ability to make visible and audible alarms, as well as send an email to any address, including pagers. A user, notified of the error, may then address the error and continue the method.

Error Handling Step
During method creation, a developer may want to identify certain error conditions and address them before finishing the method. The error step can be used to give a custom error message to aid in method development. It can also be used in final methods to provide instructions to a technician in the event of an error.

Please contact your local Beckman Coulter representative regarding the availability of the Biomek PowerPack, subject to disclaimers and notes stated in the Engineering Quotation.

For comments or questions about T³ Update, please contact David Daniels, Ph.D., editor.

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