ASSIST PLUS by INTEGRA Biosciences

"The product is easy to use and effective in eliminating analysts' pipetting errors."

"Easy to use, easy to program. excellent product."

"The Assist Plus made pipetting large numbers (hundreds to thousands) of small volume reference standards a much easier process, both in terms of ensuring precise volumes every time and in terms of strain on my back/hands! Swapping consumables and vials was all I had to do once the program started. The ViaLab software used to program the Assist Plus was easy to understand and use, requiring no programming knowledge. It was also highly customizable to meet specific needs and use specific consumables. Prior to use, a technician from Integra stopped by to ensure the machine was calibrated properly after installation, and also answered several questions we had about operation. Great support/service."

"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to use this tool. It's really more than awesome. I love many products from Integra, which upgrade the quality of our research enormously. Just be ready to enjoy every step of your research with Integra."

"The product was useful, but kind of difficult to use for our applications. I would use this product again."

"Very easy to use, price is good."

"Good results, easy to use, low cost and provides accurate data."

"I would like to thank INTEGRA for putting this product on the market. The flexibility in the program design to match your platform and processes is what matters the most to me. I have been using the ASSIST PLUS reliably for a couple of months now without any problem. Customer service and maintenance teams are always prompt to help with calibration and technical assistance. I have the flexibility to design multiple protocols from multiple dispense, dilutions, PCR plate mastermix and samples transfer with mixing and many more. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for high throughput in their process."

"Once you set up the program, it is fairly easy to use. This has saved a lot of time and error in serial dilutions for my experiment."

"Integra provided great support from the beginning and throughout the process. The ASSIST PLUS was very easy to install and program. It has sped up our workflow and throughput tremendously."

"This liquid handler is unmatched in terms of ease of use, workflow integration, and price. Amy and Rob were critical in helping us optimize our workflow and helped turn our entire lab into a fully automated workflow. The ASSIST PLUS-VOYAGER set up doesn't take up much space at all and the various racks/attachments allow for seamless process improvement. The programming was what pushed my lab over the edge to purchase, as it is perfectly concise compared to other brand names. ANYONE can use/program, not just an automation specialist."

"The ASSIST PLUS robot is easy to program using the Vialab program software. Movement and operations of connected pipettes is as precise as expected. Account manager is always prompt in answering questions and providing efficient help."

"This product is very effective, I like the high quality of product and how easy it is to use. The after sales service was also very good, it simplified my labwork a lot, I would buy this again in an instant!"

"Fantastic robot easy to use and highly accurate when performing its tasks."

"We bought 7 Assist Plus robots to help with our ELISAs and molecular assays, and without them we wouldn't have coped with COVID-19 PCR. This robot is user friendly, compact and relatively light weight, easily transferrable between lab benches and labs and can be stationed inside a safety cabinet. They are easy to programme and can do a virtual run at the end of programming to ensure it is programmed correctly. Pipettes are precise and ours are calibrated to ISO17025, their variable tip spacing version comes handy in various applications e.g. using different laboratory plates. It is highly recommended for diagnostic laboratories with medium to high throughout output."

"We used the Assist+ extensively to process our adipogenic spheroids (~700 um diameter), specifically culture, dosing and preparation for analysis. As we were using 3D tissue structures in 96-well plates, we needed precise control of liquid around these structures, which the instrument provided. We were able to quickly and easily develop multiple protocols for all our applications. Aftercare services were great and allowed us to refine our programs and update the software longer term based on our feedback. They were also excellent for trouble shooting. It is good value for money as it is a huge time save and freed up researchers."

"Just to say that service for INTEGRA ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot is very good"

"Excellent accuracy and precision (we work with biological matrix), and really intuitive software."

"East to program and run. A workhorse for screening."

"Amazing machine, it has more than doubled our capacity to perform tasks in the lab. Would recommend."

"We love our ASSIS PLUS and VIAFLO pipettes. Our sales person did an excellent job training and installing the system. We could not do our work without it!"

"Ease of programing the individual instruments; small form factor that can be put into a biosafety cabinet; stepwise programming; use of 384-well plates; unique pipette design for quick ejection. "

"Easy to use, intuitive. Only difficulty is if using not all tips, tip ejection was difficult (I fixed this now, so no longer an issue)."

"Easy to use, good services, good communication with distributors."

"This product has so many features, whatever your pipetting needs are there is either a built in program that can save you time or you can create a program to suit your needs. I also love that you can customize the menu if you want to eliminate things you will never do. The ability to add text prompts and sounds to protocols facilitates training of new members. I have received top notch customer service from my rep Courtney, who explained the product in detail, confirmed understanding of myself and my undergraduate assistants, as well as helped us incorporate the pipettes into our workflow. By taking the time to understand our laboratory methods, Courtney was able to help us write new protocols to save time and reduce error."

"Very easy to use. Results are much more precise than using a manual pipette. The auto-pipettes themselves are superior to anything we've had here before. The software is incredibly easy to use. We've been able to create multiple programs ourselves for many different uses."

"The ASSIST PLUS has transformed a previously long and tedious process into one that is no longer dreaded and that produces quality results every time. Yes I would definitely recommend this product to others! This product has increased productivity in our lab by saving us valuable time as it performs tasks much faster than it would take to do them manually."

"Our lab loves the INTEGRA ASSIS PLUS. Equipment always functions well and accompanying software is the most intuitive and user-friendly that we have encountered. The accompanying pipettes can be used at the bench as well as on the ASSIST PLUS which increased the value of the entire system for our lab. The automated reformatting between 96-well plates, 384-well plates, and varied sizes of tubes have made this product well worth the cost. We love the ASSIST PLUS and are looking to buy another one."

"Ergonomically sound. Versatile. Minimal training. Performs simple transfers from one container type to another. Performs serial dilutions. Performs Plate filling and reagent additions. Can be programed to setup any assay. Does not involve complex programing skills to utilize. Consistent and reproducible pipetting results. Nearly eliminates pipetting mistakes. Programing can be directly on pipette or in an application. Compatible with large variety of labware and reagent reservoirs."

"The ASSIST PLUS uses the current INTEGRA multi-channel pipettes that can be used on and off the platform."

"It is very efficient, works very well for high throughput and the data is consistent."

"Very useful piece of equipment which was a huge asset for our lab in that it eliminated the need for the lab tech to prepare hundreds of dilutions manually, both saving time and improving accuracy and reproducibility."

"It seems to be very easy to program and use this equipment, and the flexibility of using the pipette alone or on the instrument is a great advantage. This instrument is perfectly suitable for small teams that want to discharge from repeated tasks and increase reliability in pipetting without spending a large amount of money."

"No complaints. The system works exactly as described."

"This product is incredible, so easy to set up and great reproducibility. The cost of the tips is also an important point, because they're almost the same price of regular tips. Totally recommend it."

"Easy to use and provides reproducible results. Flexible and easy to maintain as pipettes can be exchanged. Good implementation in a GMP lab."

"Plate making is much faster now. It is in use 70% of time during a work day."

"Easy and accurate to add beads for clean up without the issue of contaminating beads or samples."

"VERY user friendly, easy to program the machine, and definitely would recommend to anyone"

"We have ours set up inside a small hood and use it for harvesting supernatants off 96 well plates. Makes this job super easy and a lot faster than previous methods."

"This product is simply amazing. It is effective and elegant."

"Has made multiple pipetting easy and very accurate, all of our scientists have been trained on how to operate it."

"The Assist Plus has improved our labs throughput across the board. Older scientists in our lab who are not as technology savvy have praised the Vialab software used with the ASSIST PLUS and the VOYAGER Pipettes for being very user friendly to navigate and create programs. Having the Assist Plus has greatly reduced strain on our technicians when managing high-throughput PCR projects. We no longer have to worry about the potential for cross contamination or mistakes made during sample prep."

"INTEGRA ASSIST PLUS is very easy and convenient to use. I am using it in medium throughput screening, adding compounds to 96-well plates, mixing compounds with medium, and transferring liquid from one plate to another. It never went wrong and I always have good results. I am very happy with it."

"This is an extremely reliable device with very consistent volume measurements and great customer support."

"Easy to use and calibrate, accuracy and precision offered confidence of volume delivery, will recommend to other colleagues."

"If price is not a factor, the ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot is the most top-notch automated lab piece of the year. But at its price and size, you really have to ask yourself why you haven't considered it before. If you've got money to burn and want an exceptional piece of precision and accuracy, the ASSIST is the robot to buy."

"This product was easy to use and pipettes consistently & accurately over time. It can be used in multiple different applications."

"It enabled high quality results, easy to use and I would recommend it to others."

"The system is very intuitive to use and sets up very quickly. The precision of our replicates has increased with the use of this system."

"Very fast and easy to use and setup. Great machine for the money and very high throughput."

"Easy to use. No bugs detected in software. Improved work flow."

"The assays that were planned for a month were completed in a week, thanks to the ASSIST PLUS. Accurate and reproducible results make this the best pipetting instrument I have come across. I will definitely recommend it to others and will probably purchase another one too."

"Speeds up the process. Accurate, easy to handle and cost effective."

"I was able to produce high quality data and I way very happy to use it."

"It's super easy to use and very high throughput. We definitely would recommend."

"The ASSIST PLUS has helped our busy lab automate testing, resulting in increased confidence & less hands on time."

"Easy to use. INTEGRA's pipettes are light weight and ergonomically friendly."

"Excellently consistent and extremely easy to use. It makes things easy."

"Very easy to use, ergonomic and a must in a lab. The apparatus is reliable with consistent volume accuracy and highly versatile."

"Great product that gives high precision results."

"Easy to use, a significant saving in time and high reproductibility. I recommend it."

"High throughput of assay development for analysis of clinical trial samples made easier and quicker."

"Using ASSIST PLUS multichannel pipetting robot greatly enhanced the effectiveness and throughput as well as reproducibility of results."

"Super easy and fast pipetting of 96 well plates! Precise results."

"Intuitive using of all automated INTEGRA products sometimes tips don't fit perfectly."

"Innovative instrument, with the new voyager - very useful."

"Reliable, precise, flexible, enables us to higher throughput with plate to plate consistency."

"Good technology for high-throughput assays and quality reproducible data."

"Fast, easy to use and to install. Works correctly, provides excellent results."

"This has made the pipetting aspects of our laboratory more reproducible and easy. We have increased throughput with a cost effective option."

"This product help to ease the pipetting, thus saving time and improve efficiency and accuracy."

"Great product and have achieved wonderful results with it."

"Fast, efficient and easy to use. I would recommend."

"Very easy to use. The software to create a program on the computer is very friendly and it's so easy to transfer to pipettes."

"It made our life so easy in the lab. Seeded up the protocols as we are dealing with loads of samples per day. The result were as good as it was expected. So happy with the time saving. I highly recommend this product."

"Very nice and easy to use. Highly versatile. Would definitely recommend to others."

"This machine was not only the most reliable with consistent volume accuracy but the user support was above any (including Eppendorf) that my genomics core has encountered. Just amazing!"

"This is the best piece of equipment I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It is very useful and we consistently use it on a daily basis. I would recommend this 10/10 would buy again to anyone interested in purchasing it!"

"This product has been very useful in increasing our throughput and improving our consistency between data. Additionally it is very ergonomically friendly and helps free up time for other tasks. It is very accurate and flexible and the programs are very easy to set up and user friendly."

"Easy to use, I would recommend it to others. Enabled high quality results."

"The ASSIST PLUS has been invaluable in allowing us to accurately and reliably setup assays where precision pipetting of a viscous solution is routinely required. Reproducibility of results have improved greatly with the introduction of automation to our assay setup. After sales care and help has been excellent. Technically skilled representative from INTEGRA have readily made time to come in and help design assays. I would recommend to a friend."

"The Integra Assist Plus has been highly effective at culturing our spheroids and other 3D cellular samples in 96 well formats. It only took a short duration to optimize liquid handling parameters for our workflows. With similar settings, the Assist+ has also been successfully applied to processing samples for fluorescence microscopy and running drug-based assays on our samples for metabolic characterization. The Assist Plus is overall easy to use. For example, it is simple to turn on the device and set up for a liquid handling run (i.e. the placing of the tips, reservoir, plate and waste bag is easy due to the clearly labelled grooves on the base plate). Our team (of 5 people) has found, after a short training session, the liquid handling programs are easy to run using the VIAFLO pipette interface. It should be noted though that some options such as turning the instrument light on/off or placing it into park mode prior to moving are less obvious to figure out. However, these things were quickly resolved by communicating with our account manager. Overall, we are very happy with the Integra which has been a huge labor save and we are now using routine protocols for 3D cell culture dozens of times a week due to the reproducibility of the work. It should be mentioned that early on we did have a problem with our first pipette which had a faulty channel, however, we were given a temporary pipette while a new replacement was quickly provided. Hence, due to the massive labor saving, the reproducibility of the results, the great after care service and the ease of use, the instrument is 5 stars all round."

"The assist plus was easy to get set up and has been easy to use. The sales rep was very helpful and available for any questions we had."

"We've been using the Assist Plus for a couple of months to set up molecular biology assays. We've found it to be simple and reliable, doing an excellent job of completing that are just too complex or repetitive for manual setup but too variable or low volume to be worth deploying on a full-scale automation platform. The Assist Plus can be programmed either directly on the pipette to set up simple assays such as dispensing across a plate or reformatting a plate from 96 to 384 wells, or using the Vialab software for more complex experiments Vialab's strength is its simplicity and ability to help you visualize your experiment by showing the exact popping motions that a program will result in. It's lacking programming-style loops, but it's rare that we want to program such complex protocols. In general, it's possible to automate one-off tasks in a few minutes once you get to know the height offsets for your particular labware. Programs are sent to Integra's line of handheld pipettes, which are then attached to the robotic arm to carry out the experiment. The advantage of using handheld pipettors is that they can do double-duty for handheld plate setup when detached from the Assist if necessary. Tips are competitively priced with other high quality competitor tips. Overall, the Assist Plus has been an excellent addition to our lab, reducing error and variation considerably."

"We’ve owned our unit for about a week, but we believe that INTEGRA's Assist Plus device is aptly named. This machine serves to automate the repetitive pipetting that is often found in scientific protocols, thus reducing the time and effort needed to obtain experimental results. The Assist Plus is designed to be compatible with INTEGRA's Voyager and Viaflo pipettes; a pipette slots into the robotic arm and serves to direct the transfer of liquid between three positions in the machine’s base. The base unit is sturdy and well-made, and the moving arm also locks into position to facilitate movement and transport of the machine. Most of our utilization to date has been in programming the unit and assessing the reproducibility of those small programs. After a small amount of trouble shooting we found the included Vialab software to be very user friendly while still providing a good deal of flexibility and depth. Simple protocols such as a basic plate reformat or a wash step can quite literally be setup in minutes. However, if your protocol has very particular needs to buffer solution delivery volume or do a tip touch - or only enter the well/tube to a certain depth these are all available through simple menus. Output of these self-generated protocols has so far been very reproducible. Pipetting matches the quality of the Voyager or Via-Flow pipettes that are utilized by the instrument (which is to say they are among the best digital pipettes out there.) I will say that a bit of tech savvy is necessary to run the software and upload to your pipettes as well as in pairing Bluetooth functionality etc... (hence the 4 star under ease of use.) However, our rep was able to quickly train my group in all of this and as of yet we haven't run into any additional issues that the product care team weren't able to quickly resolve. One of the advantages this unit has over other much more expensive units is in its flexibility, through swapping out of different pipettes, receptacles, etc... you have substantial control over how things proceed. However, in contrast to these much larger units any reasonably complex protocol will require some level of human input to swap plates or tubes in and out as the only moving part is the pipette/arm. However, for the cost this is still quite unique and powerful. While we are thus far satisfied with our purchase of the Assist Plus, there are a few items worth noting that other users might want to consider. First, INTEGRA's pipette tips for the machine are currently offered only as individually-wrapped boxes, so the expansion of the catalog to include environmentally-friendly Eco-packs would enable customers to reduce the use of both resources and storage space. Second, Vialab is currently only compatible with Windows, so at the moment Mac only groups would need to consider this. All in all it's an excellent device and lives up to the quality that INTEGRA is generally associated with. We're looking forward to putting the instrument through more complicated hurdles as time goes on! Overall, we believe the Assist Plus will be a boon to our scientific endeavors, and anticipate an improvement in the accuracy and reproducibility of our results. We look forward to further use and evaluation as our unit, affectionately named Ally Kwat, assists us in our experiments."

"1) Extremely flexible, affordable liquid handling solution for multiple applications. Few, if any competitors in this space at the same price point. 2) Intuitive user interface, easy to design custom programs, lots of "smart" features in programming; 3) Great for routine liquid dispensing, 96- to 384-well plate reformatting, serial dilutions, etc. 4) Small footprint , fits easily into standard biosafety cabinet. 5) Increases assay throughput and accuracy."

"We have had the ASSIST PLUS up and running in our lab for a couple of months now, and it has been a great tool for performing routine liquid transfer steps from reagent reservoir to plate or from plate to plate. When coupling the instrument with the VOYAGER Adjustable Tip Spacing Pipette, liquid transfers between 96 and 384 well formats are possible. Overall, the ASSIST PLUS is a low cost entry level instrument, which has become a workhorse our lab, allowing for reliable transfers!"

"PROS: Assist Plus has allowed us to improve assay variability (especially between users). Also a time saver, for instance to collect 5 uL samples from 96well- treatment plates and transfer them to 384 well plates for multiple cytokine measurements. I think this instrument has a lot of flexibility for the moderate price. I like the Simulation feature, very useful. A bit time consuming to set up the programs at the beginning, but worth it, as it is saving a lot of time eventually. CONS: The only negative I find: because we have both ASSIST and ASSIST PLUS, I wish it were easier to use a pipette on both instrument (without the need to re-pair it each time)."

"The Integra Assist Plus has improved our workflow significantly. It cuts down the time on manually pipetting our samples by an hour or more. The Assist Plus itself is very user friendly, as is the software that comes with it. We are able to design programs for any of our pipetting needs after just a few minutes of training. The customer service with this product has been great as well. Within a few weeks of our request, we received a custom rack to hold our test tubes and integrate into our programs. Overall a great product and a very customer friendly company."