In this tutorial, we will adapt the workflow built in Core elements tutorial 10.3 so that it scales easily and benefits from optimised performance. Specifically, we want to:
Automatically change the input plate type for Bradford reagent based on the required volume (which varies with sample number).
Automatically aliquot standards to all assay plates, the number of which may change with increasing sample number.
Aliquot sample, and then aliquot standards, to the assay plate. This allows tip re-use and or multi dispense when aliquoting the standards, leading to time and tip savings.
In this tutorial, we will guide you through simple modifications to the workflow built in Core elements tutorial 10.3 so the above requirements can be met.
Get started
Add more options to input plate types
The volume of Bradford Reagent required is automatically calculated by Synthace, and allocated to the input plate defined in the Workflow Settings. Different options can be defined, and the most appropriate for the workflow will be automatically selected.
Open the Workflow Settings and navigate to Plate Types. In this case, a 96-well plate is already defined. We will add a 12-well trough and a reservoir. This allows the platform to use a trough for liquids that require a higher volume, especially as the number of samples scales, and a 96’well plate for smaller volumes.
We will now modify this part of the workflow. Delete the elements highlighted.
To uniquely aliquot samples, but repeatedly aliquot standards, we now need two Aliquot elements instead of one. To define a plate layout where Standards are always in the same location, we will use Describe Layouts. To impose sequential order, we will need two Synchronize elements. Finally we will use Append to group the liquids together. Add these new elements to the workflow.
Start by defining the plate layout of the assay plate. In this example, we will add standards to the last three columns of the plate. For more information on how to use Describe Layouts click here.
Wire the elements as shown below. Remember that when using Synchronize, you need to use the output that matches the desired input. In this case, the samples were wired to input B of Synchronize, so we use output B to connect to the Aliquot element, in order to aliquot the samples.
Define your Aliquot parameters as you previously had.
Connect Liquids A from the first Synchronize element to the second Synchronize element. This will now ensure that the diluted standards are only aliquoted to the plate after the samples have been aliquoted.
Now connect the output Liquids A of the new Synchronize element to the new Aliquot element, which will aliquot the standards.
Connect the plate layouts across Aliquot elements.
Define the Aliquot parameters as above. In this case, we want to replicate the standards across plates, so toggle Replicate to All Plates In Plate Set in the Aliquot Standards element.
Connect the outputs from Aliquot Standards and the second Synchronize element to the third Synchronize element, and then connect those outputs to Append.
Connect the Liquids output from Append to the Destination Liquids input of Mix Onto.
All that is to define the number of replicates in Mix Onto. For this protocol, this number is the number of liquids already on the plate. Considering that the number of samples is variable, it is desirable to have the number of replicates scale automatically. To do so, instead of specifying a number, connect Output Liquid Count from the Append element to Replicates on the Mix Onto element.
Simulate the workflow
Check that the device that you selected can follow the instructions that you prepared. To learn how, click here.
Preview the execution
After you simulate the workflow, click View Simulation to open the simulation details.
Open the Preview tab, then click through the steps to check that the instructions that Synthace has generated are correct.
By updating the sample table and re-simulating, we can easily scale the protocol to handle different numbers of samples, from 1 to 120, without having to modify any other parameter in the workflow. New plates are automatically generated and the standards are added to them.