Our laboratory boasts the latest in robotics systems—the Biomek® FX and Biomek® 2000 Laboratory Automation Workstations. These systems help us perform the DNA purification and preparation steps required at the beginning of a genetic test.
To be used in a paternity test or other genetic test, a DNA sample must undergo several purification and preparation steps. First, the cheek cells from the buccal swabs must be lysed, or broken down, so the DNA can be released from the cell nuclei. Next, all proteins, fats, and other cellular materials must be removed from the sample. Lastly, the appropriate amount of DNA must be added to special reagents.
The Biomek® FX and Biomek® 2000 have transformed these preparatory steps from manual processes to automated processes. In the past, laboratory technicians had to perform the steps by hand, one sample at a time. Today, the Biomek® systems assist our laboratory by robotically performing the purification and preparation steps in large batches—384 at a time.
The Biomek® systems’ precise liquid handling abilities reduce the possibility of human error, boosting our DNA tests’ reliability. What’s more, their capacity to prepare thousands of DNA samples per day means we can complete our genetic tests quickly—usually within 5 working days from the time our lab receives all the samples.
Read more about other technologies used by Prophase Genetics:
Polymerase Chain Reaction
ABI Prism® 3100s
