Why Automate?

Isolating and purifying nucleic acid samples is often the bottleneck for many projects. Done manually, the process is tedious, error prone, and often hazardous to the operator.

Automation offers many advantages:

- Standardized protocols & streamlined workflow

- Ease and high-throughput address bottlenecks

- Consistency between runs, operators, and labs

- Less human error

- Staff time is free for more engaging tasks

- Reduced health & safety hazard risks to operator

- Pre- and post-run report documentation

Safety First

Manual DNA extraction can be hazardous. The X-tractor Gene substantially reduces health and safety risks in a number of ways. For example, toxic chemicals such as phenol and chloroform are not used. All liquid waste is safely contained for disposal in a sealed waste container. Tip waste is ejected off-deck to accumulate directly into a waste container. Odours are removed by a carbon filter on the waste port of the vacuum system. The deck area is also completely enclosed by a hood and, to ensure safe operation, a sensor will pause all robotic movement if the hood is opened for any reason during a run. Furthermore, the tedium and repetitiveness of manual processing only increases the likelihood of accidents and repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.