Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2023
Organization: Nagoya City University
It just works; simple and reliable.
Application Area: Sample preparation for non-targeted metabolomics analyses
"We are using Agilent Bravo to prepare urine samples for non-targeted metabolomics analyses. The most challenging part with Bravo is setting up a robust protocol. In that regard Agilent Japan provided fantastic support. Once protocols established - it just functions; using over 5 years without issues."
Status:
Advanced ReviewerMember since: 2021
Organization: MiNK Therapeutics
The best and most versatile small footprint liquid handler.
Application Area:NGS Library Preparation
"We needed an LHS to help our lab with increased throughput when it comes to NGS library preparation and nucleic acids extractions. The Agilent Bravo helped us to greatly increase the scale of our projects, without the need to alter too much lab space, and with the wide variety of on-deck ad-ons, it has become our favorite lab partner! Highly recommend it to all NGS labs looking to enhance their productivity and free up FTEs."
Status:
Advanced ReviewerMember since: 2021
Organization: Mestastop solution pvt ltd
Best instrument in the liquid handling system.
Application Area:Compound library screening
"Very good instrument in terms of screening of library of compound. Gives best accuracy Having accurate aspiration and dispensing and good reproducibility. Easy to write script in the software."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2021
Organization: Roche
Easy to use, versatile liquid handling system for any HTP screening workflow
Application Area:Protein engineering and assay automation
"Bravo is one of the best liquid handling systems out there for automating HTP assays and general liquid handling needs. Easy to use software and flexible for writing different protocols. We also use this for rearraying clones."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2020
Organization: Google
Great instrument for basic and repetitive liquid handling.
Application Area:Basic liquid handling
"The Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform is great for basic liquid handling, allowing scientists to automate more simplistic protocols and freeing their time to do more complex or more R&D experiments. The main downside is how user friendly and customizable the system is - or how it isn't. Creating new protocols requires understanding of the workings behind the built-in program and creating more complex protocols is almost impossible."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2017
Organization: Eurofins Panlabs, Inc.
Extremely reliable system, with a legacy of quality in automation
Application Area:Cell and reagent dispensing
"The Bravo BenchCel 2R combo has been a workhorse addition to our laboratory throughput. The accuracy and reliability are excellent. The learning curve for establishing protocols is steep for those new to automation, but once you become familiar, making new protocols is easier each time. I recommend this system for incredibly versatile liquid dispensing, dilution plate stamping, and hands-off robotic plate processing."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: Novo Nordisk
Several protocols available - nice service.
Application Area:Carbohydrate map
"Very easy-to-use, intuitive robotic platform. Several protocols available - nice service. "
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: NovoNordisk.com
Nice results.
Application Area:Carbohydrate map
"Nice instrument. Good protocols. Our results were almost the same as using manualy pipettes."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: Zymergen
Consistent and compact!
Application Area:Plate to plate liquid handling
"I have used the Bravo extensively for high throughput assays. The instrument works well with 384 well plates for as low as 2uL transfers and is consistent. Without being integrated with a hotel stack the deck capacity is quite low, but with the small footprint, it is a versatile laboratory utility."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: Zymergen
Great product, could use some more good features
Application Area:Liquid handling for high throughput workflows in science labs and MFG
"BRAVO 96/384 Liquid handlers are great. They are good with precision pipetting. However some structural enhancements such as chiller are fixed to certain positions on the worktable that makes customization for scaling up operations difficult unlike worktables of bigger liquid handlers such as Tecans/Hamiltons. I have also recently faced issues in ordering specialty labware and adapters from Agilent to be supported on the BRAVO. At which point the hand off and the delivery of the product got delayed by 2 months that affected operational work. I would have loved this to be a smooth service as most other vendors."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: Takeda
The Bravo is a great liquid handler.
Application Area:Automation
"The bravo is great small platform. Vworks is a powerful software and simplifies liquid dilutions and additions."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2019
Organization: Zymergen
Great results, Efficient machine.
Application Area:Automated pippeting
"We got good results, we use large number of Bravo machines in our facility."
Status:
Expert ReviewerMember since: 2015
Organization: SBP Medical Discovery Institute
It's save our time, it's working very well and accurately.
Application Area:Assay development/HTS
"The Bravo we have in our lab have 2 different functions: label plates and automated liquid handling. 1- Label: We can label single plates or stacks of plates with the barcode 2-Liquid handling: we can transfer accurate volume down to 1 ul/well in 384 and 1536. We can transfer solution from 384 to 1536, perform serial dilution. We can reuse the tips if we use the same solution but most of what we've been doing we do not reuse the tips."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2017
Organization: Monsanto Co.
Couldn't do my job without this instrument!
Application Area:genomic library preparation
"The Bravo has added a lot of value to our workflows. Results are very consistent and our hands-on time has been reduced dramatically. Setting up a run is incredibly easy and the knowledge base is a great resource for troubleshooting and creating new protocols. The technical support we have received since installing the instrument has been top notch. If I can't solve a problem on my own, the field applications specialists and support staff are always there to help."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2012
Organization: Stanford University
Application Area:Single-Cell Analysis
"This is a grade-A instrument. It has very high precision pipetting. Not quite as versatile as instruments that have a span-8 pipetting head, or as instruments with bigger decks, but that has yet to be an issue for us. Can pick up any arbitrary rectangle of pipette tips (including a single tip) and thus approximate the versatility of a span-8 head. Can stack plates and pipette from the top of a stack to free up deck space. Planning pipetting operations with less than a full head of tips takes work to determine where physical collisions would happen. Robot is not ideal for hit picking due to speed (clocks around 35 seconds per hit-pick operation when changing tips between operations, largely due to slow and precise pipetting; could maybe get it down to 20 seconds per operation if less careful). Can set just about every parameter possible for pipetting, including acceleration (not just speed) in and out of wells."
Status:
Advanced ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Genomatica
Application Area:HTP Screening
"The Bravo Automated Liquid Handling Platform has proven to be a solid work horse for our company. The Vworks software is very intuitive to use and the Bravo itself requires little to no maintenance. It is one of the most reliable pieces of equipment in our HTP screening lab."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Novozymes
Application Area:HTS
"We have 4 Bravos in our lab. 3 of them are integrated into large robotic HTS systems, so they do a lot of pipetting every day. We have had very few problems and very little need for service over the years. 5 stars for ease of use, 3 of those for the software and the last two for the easy removal of the pipetting head, making it easy to switch head between units switching from a 96 head to a 384 head in a few minutes. The small footprint and easy to access deck makes the Bravo easy to integrate with different robotics. We have not had a need for a lot of after sales services, that's why I cannot give it a 5 star rating. The price tag is quite high for such a small instrument, so it should only have 3 stars in the value for money category, but I gave it an extra for the very high reliability of the product."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Merck
Application Area:research
"Very easy to use and program. Accurate dispensing and cost effective. Small foot print and ideal for research environment. Can be easily used for screening and assay development."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Genomic Health INc
Application Area:DNA Extraction
"Easy to use, good after sales support. The labware is excellent, but expensive. Cons: programming the protocols could simpler without Java Scripts."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Genentech
Application Area:reagent addition, dilutions
"The Bravo liquid handing platform is very reliable and easy to use. The software is well developed and user friendly."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Janssen
Application Area:High Throughput Screening
"I used the Agilent Bravo system extensively for the better part of 2 years for high throughput screening applications. The programming interface (VWorks) was intuitive and easy to program, and the deck was flexible and useful for all types of applications. Our system was integrated with a plate labeller, plate sealer, and a stacking system, and there were no issues whatsoever with integration or failure of drivers between the different systems. The heads were easily interchangeable between 96 and 384 well, and could easily accommodate a peltier system for chilling in a location on the deck. I would definitely recommend this system for small molecule applications, and expect that it would be similarly useful in other high throughput applications as well."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Novartis
Application Area:pre-clinical safety profiling
"The Bravo system has a nice footprint which is great for labs with little free space. The pipetting heads are easy to remove and replace when needed. The software interface is not very user friendly and can be difficult to navigate. My biggest disappointment with the unit is that the pipette channels are difficult to QC and tend to fail quite often. Agilent has made it simple to replace channels that fail, which is quite nice, however, the frequency at which I have to replace the channels is too high. Improvements on the pipetting head channel robustness as well as a better software interface would make this product better. I would recommend this product for simple one off transfers, but not for serial dilutions as the precision goes down the more tips are used."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: Monsanto
Application Area:DNA Extraction
"Easy to program and integrate into existing systems. I like the way you can change specifications during the run with the Vworks software. It is easy to change the bores on the aspiration head. However, I don't like the wash station very much- the water flow is too restrictive. "
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2013
Organization: BASF Plant Science
Application Area:gDNA extraction
"The form feature of the Bravo makes it easy to use without confusing the user with the detailed programming. Our continued support since purchasing this equipment has been excellent. Whilst the Bravo is very expensive, the fact that we have had minimal down time is priceless."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2012
Organization: Merck
Application Area:In vitro pharmacoloy
"Love the Bravo- good consistency, gives great consistency in reagent dispensing for in vitro assays. Tips are very expensive, a high price for consumables. Cost of instruments is prohibitive for non-industrial groups."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2009
Organization: Genentech
Application Area:sample dilution / liquid handling
"Pipetting position is very accurate. The volume transfer is good. It is easy to apply to multiple functional assay."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2011
Organization: AstraZeneca R & D
"I am still running old BenchWorks software which has glitches but can usually work around. New U Works software is supposed to be bullet-proof but cost of upgrade is high."
Status:
ReviewerMember since: 2010
Organization: Genentech
"Software is a little hard to use. you must start at the the very beginning of the protocol everytime- cannot start mid-process."
Status:
Advanced ReviewerMember since: 2009
Organization: Harvard Medical School - ICCBL
"A great piece of equipment. I'm not sure how Agilent's take over of Velocity11 will affect the service."
Unites microplate-based liquid handling with unparalleled versatility and speed in an automation-friendly, compact design.
The Agilent Bravo is a flexible liquid handling platform that automates your sample preparation for screening applications such as compound management, cell-based assays, and biochemical assays. With this robotic liquid handling system, time is freed up and consistent data are achieved across samples and users.
The compact liquid handler can be easily placed on a small bench and fits in a flow hood. With more than 60 accessories ranging from heater/cooler to shaker, the system can be tailored to automate most sample preparation protocols. Automating your sample prep protocol has never been easier with the included VWorks control software that allows users to create and run flexible liquid handling protocols quickly.