Product News: Robot compatible microplate sample concentration

The Ultravap™ from Porvair Sciences is a robot compatible high-speed system for concentrating samples in 96 or 384-well microplates.

Targeted to remove the traditional laboratory 'bottleneck' of solvent evaporation from microplates prior to analysis or re-suspension in buffer the Ultravap™ provides the edge to laboratories looking to optimise microplate sample preparation productivity. Significant increases in sample throughput are achieved through advanced evaporator head technology and an innovative manifold design, which directly injects heated nitrogen into each individual well of the microplate simultaneously. The system is proven to remove even the most stubborn solvents in just minutes. For heat sensitive and thermally labile samples the Ultravap™ may be operated in a unique two-stage mode combining rapid initial dry-down with carefully controlled final solvent evaporation.

Different drying programme can be retained in the memory eliminating the need to set-up the system when changing from one method to another. An RS232 interface allows remote control from a PC or Liquid Handling robot using the provided command set. The ability to upload and download methods allows the Ultravap™ to be fully integrated into robotic automation systems. Using this facility a robotic arm can be used to move plates in and out of the Ultravap™ decreasing the need for operator intervention and producing further gains in productivity. Systems have already been successfully integrated with most popular Liquid Handling robots.

The Ultravap™ has been designed to be simple to install, operate and maintain. Installation requires only connection to a gas supply / cylinder and standard mains socket ; safety of operation is ensured as the CE marked compact unit fits into all fume cupboards.

Typical areas that can benefit from the Ultravap™ include drug metabolism, toxicology, pharmacokinetics and bioanalysis laboratories, where solid phase extraction is used to help isolate and analyse compounds from biological matrices. Additionally systems in lead discovery, medicinal chemistry and combinatorial chemistry departments where target compound samples often have to be concentrated prior to reconstitution in a more suitable solvent can also makes significant productivity gains.