Automatic Metaphase Harvesting
Automatic metaphase harvesting is a technique that may be applied all common sample types that are cultured for subsequent cytogenetic analysis.
Typically, automatic metaphase harvesting may offer several attractions to a typical cytogenetics laboratory, where the deployment of workforce resource is a compromise between tasks of necessity such as sample processing, including set up, culturing and harvesting and skilled "added value" analysis.
Automatic metaphase harvesting streamlines laboratory workflow and also allows for a significant cost savings within the laboratory:
- Significantly reduced operator involvement in harvesting protocols. Automated metaphase harvesting removes the majority of manual input into this task.
- Redeployment of skilled labour into the analysis phase, enhancing quality of analysis and reducing case turnaround times
- Reduced laboratory footprint required per work unit performed, delivering significant cost savings to the laboratory
- Reduced reagent usage - typically reagents are utilised through automated and extremely accurate dosimetry in automated metaphase harvesting routines
- Enhanced QC of output - typically automated metaphase harvesting will support standardisation of protocols that if performed manually will inevitably vary between samples and operators, this variance generally leading to lower-than-attainable output quality and more difficult or laborious subsequent banding and analysis
Automated metaphase harvesting is a core philosophy embodied in Genial Genetics' MultiPrep product lines, all of which are award-winning. The MultiPrep Genie range performs high throughput automated metaphase harvesting on in-situ (typically prenatal) cytogenetic cultures and the MultiPrep CellSprint range performs high throughput metaphase harvesting on cytogenetic suspension cultures.