Pipetting solutions to make SARS-CoV-2 extraction faster and easier

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on clinical research and diagnostic laboratories to process more samples, much more quickly. Integra Biosciences offers a range of pipetting systems designed to speed up PCR-based screening workflows, without requiring complex installations or needing lab staff to spend time undertaking specialist training and developing new protocols.

One of the first bottlenecks in the workflow for many labs is the large number of patient samples that need to be transferred from nasal/throat swab tubes to microplates or other labware formats prior to RNA extraction for PCR screening. Integra’s VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes and ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot are ideally suited to this task, allowing effortless transfer of multiple samples from swab tubes to plates, increasing throughput and avoiding the risk of errors associated with single channel pipetting. 

The versatility of these instruments, together with the VIAFLO 96/384 handheld electronic pipette, means that they can also be used to perform the nucleic acid extraction workflow. Integra systems are compatible with a wide range of extraction methods, including various silica-based vacuum manifold kits and most common magnetic bead purification kits, further increasing throughput at this stage. Just as importantly, as workflows change and the demand for COVID-19 testing subsides, the flexibility of these systems ensures that they will always have a purpose in the lab. From ELISAs and protein purification to sample reformatting and plate replication, Integra pipettes are designed to simplify a wide range of general life sciences and diagnostic tasks.

Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more.