Tecan’s new QuadChamber™ is validated for use with Agilent’s 4-Plex Microarrays

Tecan has recently developed the QuadChamber™ for fully automated processing of four different microarrays simultaneously on one slide, using the HS Pro™ automated hybridization station. The QuadChamber was specially developed for use with Agilent’s new 4 x 44k 4-Plex Gene Expression as well as CGH Microarrays, which consist of four individual, whole-genome microarrays printed on a single glass slide. This represents the first fully automated system that can independently handle four arrays on one slide with no cross-contamination between the arrays, and it will be presented by Tecan and Agilent at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting in San Diego, CA, on 23-27 October 2007.

The QuadChamber provides a completely sealed environment around each of the four arrays on Agilent’s 4-Plex slides, with independent channels for wash buffers, independent agitation mechanisms and drying for each of the four areas. With the new chamber, the HS Pro fully automates the hybridization of the arrays from start to finish while maintaining separate compartments around each array on the slide. The system ensures high quality processing with minimal slide handling, excellent reproducibility and bubble-free hybridization through Tecan’s unique active bubble suppression (ABS™) technology. Shipping of the QuadChamber has already begun.

Agilent’s 4-Plex Microarrays concentrate sample hybridization, so provide enhanced sensitivity and allow the detection of even very low abundance transcripts. Having four arrays on each slide allows researchers to generate more genomics data per experiment while considerably reducing the required volumes of samples and reagents.

“Agilent and Tecan have worked closely together to develop a fully-automated solution that provides high quality data and consistently good results,” said Jeff McMillan, Agilent product manager, Genomics Automation. ”Now, customers can combine the economies of four microarrays per slide with the benefits of automated hybridization.”