Unlocking the efficiency of genomics laboratories with robotic liquid-handling

Abstract

In research and clinical genomics laboratories today, sample preparation is the bottleneck of experiments, particularly when it comes to high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS). More genomics laboratories are now considering liquid-handling automation to make the sequencing workflow more efficient and cost effective. The question remains as to its suitability and return on investment. A number of points need to be carefully considered before introducing robots into biological laboratories. Here, we describe the state-of-the-art technology of both sophisticated and do-it-yourself (DIY) robotic liquid-handlers and provide a practical review of the motivation, implications and requirements of laboratory automation for genome sequencing experiments.

Keywords: Automated liquid handling; Automating life sciences; Genomics; Lab automation; Liquid handling robots; Liquid handling systems; Workstations.

Fig. 1

Time Frame for Next Generation Sequencing Workflow for cancer genomics. Showing an estimate of time taken to get 96 samples ready for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). In this protocol, automated nucleic acid extraction (on Chemagic) is already shown to speed up the first step. The goal of complete liquid handling automation, considered in this review, would be to significantly reduce the hands-on time for the library preparation steps, before transferring samples to a sequencer. (All images depicted in this figure are our own or adapted from images with no copyright)

Fig. 2

Liquid dispensing technologies divided into tip-based and non-tip-based dispensing. Tip-based dispensing is further classified into contact dispensing, air or piston displacement dispensing, while non-tip-based technologies into acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) and digital inkjet dispensing. (All images depicted in this figure are our own or adapted from images with no copyright)

Fig. 3

Different categories of liquid-handling robots. Automated liquid-handling systems range from highly sophisticated, such as Tecan FluentGX and Hamilton microlab STAR (Tier 1). To focused NGS sequencing systems, such as the Agilent Bravo and the PerkinElmer Sciclone NGSx iQ (Tier 2). Automated liquid handling can also come in the form of DIY workstations with open-source programming like the Opentrons OT-2 (Tier 3), or simply as pipetting assisting devices such as Gilson Pipetmax and Hudson SOLO (Tier 4), which serves to decrease manual pipetting without fully automating the s. Tier 3 and Tier 4 are often low-cost investments compared to Tier 1 and Tier 2. (All images depicted in this figure are our own or adapted from images with no copyright)