[November 08, 2012]

Hamilton Robotics in Partnership with GE Healthcare Revolutionizes Automated Biological Sample Card Punching

Hamilton Robotics in collaboration with GE Healthcare Life Sciences introduces the easyPunch STARlet™ workstation, the first fully automated system integrating sample card punching and liquid handling into one easy workflow.

The easyPunch STARlet system, manufactured in Hamilton's Bonaduz, Switzerland facility, seamlessly integrates punching of GE Healthcare Whatman FTA^TM and DMPK sample collection cards with automated sample extraction, eliminating common bottlenecks in laboratory processes. The system minimizes human error and enables high-throughput sample preparation for a variety of applications, such as forensic reference databasing as well as pre-clinical and clinical drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) and toxicology studies.

"Because many labs lack a fully automated workflow, thousands of samples such as blood and saliva placed on punch cards are waiting long periods to be processed for critical studies and forensic analysis," says Stefan Mauch, Product Manager of the easyPunch STARlet sysem. "Until now, sample card punching for analysis preparation required tedious manual work or separate semi-automated instruments and an operator. Researchers or technicians had to be precise when handling and tracking samples or the results could be compromised. "

The easyPunch workstation is based on the Hamilton Robotics Microlab® STARlet platform and features two special modules and robotic arms for transporting and punching paper cards. The samples are monitored by powerful tracking software to eliminate any chance of sample identification errors. The entire process is tracked using imaging recognition and Hamilton's proprietary software provides complete control and monitoring of the punching process.

"Ease of use makes this workstation an attractive solution for repetitive tasks in forensic and biopharma sample handling," says Navjot Kaur, Product Manager at Hamilton Robotics in Reno, Nevada. "Currently technicians manually clean between samples, but the easyPunch STARlet system performs this step automatically, reducing cross-contamination."

View the product webpage and easyPunch STARlet system video to learn more about how it works.

About Hamilton

Hamilton Company is a global leader in the design and manufacture of liquid handling, process measurement, robotics and storage solutions, serving customers in academic and private research laboratories, pharmaceutical and clinical diagnostic companies, and government institutions. http://www.hamiltonrobotics.com

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