How long does it take to get an automated system up and running? Months, weeks?
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How to get the most out of automating your ELISA-like assays, dos and don’ts
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Job Title: Senior Researcher for the High Throughput Antibody Discovery team
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Well, the answer to that question would depend greatly on the size and complexity of the automated system. If you are referring to something simple like a plate stacker attached to a plate reader, it would say hours. As you get into larger and more complex systems then the time needed to get them running and validated would increase. There are several considerations to be mindful of. For example, if you are integrating a piece of equipment that has never been integrated with the controller software that you are using, you might discover some problems that can extend the installation and validation timelines. It has been my experience with the small-to-medium sized, fully automated platforms that I have built that it can easily take a couple weeks to get everything running smoothly. Larger, more complex systems can take a few months to set-up and validate.
This post is sponsored by Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.