Hudson Lab Automation launches Rapid pH Plus at ASMS 2026

Hudson Lab Automation has launched Rapid pH Plus™ at the 74th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics in San Diego, USA, introducing an advanced automated plate-based pH measurement platform designed to increase throughput, improve data quality, and streamline biologics formulation and process development workflows.

Advancing automated pH measurement for high-throughput laboratories

Rapid pH Plus is built on Hudson Lab Automation’s established Rapid pH platform, which is already deployed by major drug development companies and CDMOs. The new system introduces a modernized software infrastructure, updated electronics architecture, enhanced usability, and expanded workflow capabilities for high-throughput pH measurement.

The platform automates pH measurement across SBS-format microplates, vials, and tubes, enabling laboratories to move away from manual, well-by-well pH checks. By automating probe positioning, stabilization, rinsing, and data capture, Rapid pH Plus supports walk-away operation and consistent, reproducible results across dozens or hundreds of samples.

Reducing hands-on time and improving reproducibility

Traditional pH workflows often require scientists to manually move from well to well, wait for probe stabilization, record measurements, rinse probes, and repeat the process across entire plates or racks of samples. This approach can be time-consuming and prone to transcription or recording errors.

Rapid pH Plus enables laboratories to transition to a more automated workflow that supports higher throughput and improved reproducibility. The platform is designed to minimize manual intervention, reduce variability between operators, and ensure that pH data is captured in a structured digital format suitable for integration into downstream analysis and reporting tools.

“What can traditionally require one to two hours of manual pH measurement across a plate can now be reduced to just minutes of setup time, representing greater than 95% reduction in hands-on time,” stated Sara Mackey, VP of Sales and Marketing at Hudson. “This allows scientists to focus on higher-value development activities while improving reproducibility and workflow consistency.”

Modernized software, data connectivity, and workflow management

Rapid pH Plus reflects Hudson Lab Automation’s ongoing investment in modernizing laboratory automation platforms for long-term scalability and customer support. The system introduces improvements in usability, software infrastructure, data connectivity, and workflow management while maintaining the core automated pH measurement capabilities that existing customers rely on.

The updated software infrastructure is designed to support structured digital data capture and export, enabling laboratories to integrate pH measurements into broader analytical pipelines, process development studies, and quality monitoring workflows. Enhanced workflow management features help users configure and run complex high-throughput experiments with minimal setup time.

Supporting biologics, process development, and food and beverage testing

Rapid pH Plus is designed to support a wide range of applications where pH is a critical process or quality parameter. Key use cases include:

• Biologics formulation development
• Buffer screening and optimization
• Analytical and process development
• High-throughput sample characterization
• Food and beverage testing

By combining automated pH measurement across SBS plates, vials, and tubes with modernized software and workflow management, Rapid pH Plus helps laboratories in regulated and research environments improve efficiency, consistency, and data integrity in pH-dependent workflows.

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