Quickly, what pops into your head when you think of automation? Was increased throughput the first thing? Was it the only thing? The ability to process more samples at once is certainly a plus, but that’s not where the automation story even begins…
In fact, automation invalidates the old adage of ‘quality over quantity’ which assumes that one must choose between the two options. In addition to the combined benefits of quantity and quality, automation also incorporates time into the mix; creating a three-pronged foundation to aid forensic laboratory workflows.
It starts with the workflow itself. Obviously, automation enables samples to be processed in a high-throughput and batched manner rather than each analyst conducting independent analyses. But even before that happens, physically mapping the entire workflow helps to identify roadblocks and pain points that are independent of throughput. This map can guide selection of an automated system for maximum efficiency throughout the overall workflow instead of isolated steps.
Automation also significantly reduces manual interventions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a people person, but when it comes to repetitive and routine sample manipulations, people can wreak havoc on quality as they are notable sources of variability and, dare I say, error.
An analyst’s pipetting performance may be impacted by stress, fatigue, and any number of distractions (Squirrel! Which do you think came first, the invention of the iPhone or the realization that laboratory automation was no longer optional?). Variability in manual workflows may exist among analysts when it comes to technique, and they may take different approaches to subjective or poorly defined steps like mixing or incubating. Waiting to use shared equipment and other unplanned workflow interruptions that are easily scheduled through automation can also add to variability. Potential errors include transcriptions, miscalculations, cross-contamination and more.
These manually derived quality issues can lead to time- and resource-consuming retesting and undermine confidence in data. And, while quality checkpoints in the workflow aim to prevent issues, they do so at the expense of time and workflow interruption from the analyst performing the checks.
Automation frees people to move away from time-consuming and tiresome physical power and into the skillful brain power required for data interpretation and other high-value tasks. After all, the whole point of an automated instrument is to perform a function the same way ad nauseam.
This brings us to the quality characteristics that you’ll find in a good automated liquid handling workstation used to extract and purify DNA from evidentiary samples. First and foremost are accuracy and precision which are bolstered by air displacement technology and trackable real-time liquid sensing. These capabilities offer optimal pipetting performance across a wide dynamic range regardless of liquid viscosity and offer less risk of contamination compared to liquid displacement technologies. An air-tight fit between the pipette tip and mandrel enhances accuracy and precision over time and also reduces any risk of aerosol production when the tip is ejected.
An automated system can integrate with your laboratory information management system (LIMS) to automatically generate worklists, and barcode scanners can automatically and independently verify that each sample is correctly correlated with the case file and analyst. Pre-programmed methods specific to your preferred assay chemistry and simple on-screen prompts take the guesswork (and risks of human error) out of assay setup and reagent calculations. If the method or assay chemistry changes, it’s simple to adapt the automated system so that disruptions are minimized.
The automated system does all of the tedious and repetitive grunt work, like pipetting, shaking, incubating, and even thermal cycling while analysts focus on the high-value brainy stuff on their to-do list or grab a cup of coffee. Samples are protected from cross-contamination by removing the need for human interventions, and additional features like HEPA filters and UV lights enhance that protection.
Lockout protocols prevent unauthorized or accidental changes while analysts are occupied elsewhere, and once the run is complete, data and information detailing every step in the automated workflow can be stored in the LIMS. The records may also be output in a standardized report format for inclusion in the case file so that less time is spent creating and combing through reports.
So, the next time the idea of automation pops into your head, remember that throughput, quality, and time are all equally important to streamline efficiencies from sample retrieval through processing to final report writing. These three elements in a holistic automated ecosystem, so to speak, not only allow you to process more samples at once, they support more quality in the workflow and results, and give back more time for you to focus on what’s really important.
Now, about that coffee…
“Dr. Miller's Unfiltered Tips" is authored by Dr. Kevin Miller, Senior Market Segment Leader, Scientific Content Manager at Hamilton Company in Reno, NV. After earning a Ph.D. in Molecular Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Miller actively engaged in promoting, researching, and furthering forensic science advances, and remains committed to this endeavor today. In his words, "I am a forensic geneticist who, like most forensic folks my age, fell into the field from somewhere else (I was digging up Viking remains in the Northern Isles of Scotland, but that is a completely different story) and stayed … at least until I brought automated liquid handling to my laboratory. Now I work with automation engineers, and try to make sense their world for the people in mine. I’ve picked up a lot of tips, and given away a few. Sometimes useful. Always unfiltered."