Transforming PCR protocols in pandemic response with automated non-contact liquid dispensing

About this application note

PCR workflows were key in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling accurate detection of the virus in clinical samples to facilitate rapid infection containment and alleviate the burden on healthcare services. Automating PCR workflows not only increases throughput, but also minimizes variability and human error, which is particularly advantageous when working with precious reagents and limited sample.

In this application note, we show how the UKHSA testing megalab, the Rosland Franklin laboratory, automated their extraction plate preparation workflow with dragonfly® discovery, resulting in an 80-fold increase in assay sensitivity. Some of this improvement can be attributed to dragonfly discovery’s non-contact positive displacement dispensing, coupled with the AFR pump mechanism that ensures a continuous suspension of magnetic beads, enhancing accuracy and precision.