Product News: Multipurpose Liquid Handling Instrument

INTEGRA has announced VIAFILL - an innovative new product that delivers high performance bulk reagent dispensing, multichannel pipetting and microplate washing capabilities all from a single multipurpose instrument.

A choice of different tubing sets allow the user to quickly change between these three operation modes making VIAFILL a uniquely versatile tool for laboratories which perform a range of different applications including reagent or media dispensing, cell seeding, plate washing or serial dilutions. Designed with a color touch screen user interface using the VIAFILL is intuitive enabling new users to quickly benefit from the productivity benefits of the system.

Operating as a bulk reagent dispenser - the VIAFILL uses a choice of dispensing tube sets to enable accurate and rapid reagent addition in volumes ranging from 0.5 l to 10ml into 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, 96-, 384- and 1536-well plates. A unique 16-channel tubing set is available to enable the productive filling of 384- and 1536-well plates. All Dispensing Tubing Sets are sold pre-sterilized and are autoclavable enabling them to be re-used for further experiments. The addition of a Plate Stacker module allows unattended operation of the VIAFILL further increasing reagent dispensing productivity and throughput
With GripTip Kits the VIAFILL can be used as an automated multichannel pipettor. In this operating mode - reagents are aspirated from a reagent reservoir directly into the pipette tips instead of being pumped through the entire tubing set. This enables the VIAFILL instrument to perform more complex applications like serial dilutions saving precious reagents because there is no need to pump them through the entire tubing set. GripTip Kits also allow users to quickly fill a few plates without the need to wash and sterilize the entire Dispensing Tubing Sets.

The VIAFILL can be also converted into a plate washer / aspirator by attaching the Wash Module. This allows users to aspirate supernatants from well plates into an external container for collection or disposal, and at the same time enables users to rinse the plates with a wash solution. To ensure the best possible aspiration within each well, the movement of the aspiration tube can be set to either a linear or circular path. Eight or sixteen channel Wash Tubing Sets are available to accommodate 96 or 384 well plates.

During a prolonged use of the Wash Module, a timed rinse can be programmed to clean and prevent clogging of the wash tubing set. The aspiration heights and patterns can be easily customized with the touch screen user interface.