How to Effectively Incorporate Automation into Your Flow Cytometry Workflows

Cell analysis is an important focus area for many research and development laboratories. Cell and phenotypic screening techniques are essential to identifying sources for biopharmaceuticals. Bead-based screening serves an important role in therapeutic antibody development. High-throughput screening processes are critical for lead compound identification and drug discovery.

Many labs are beginning to incorporate automation to enable large-scale, high-throughput screening applications. There are both major advantages and key considerations involved in incorporating automatable systems like flow cytometers into cell analysis labs.

Just as the complexity of cell analysis labs has expanded, the need for automation-ready equipment capable of multiplexed, high-throughput processing has grown.

"Consideration should be given with regards to time savings, increased productivity, reduced waste, and reduced downtime compared to the upfront costs of purchasing and integrating the automation equipment," says Veronika Kortišová-Descamps, global marketing manager at Bio-Rad^TM Laboratories, Inc. "The demands on space required for an automated workflow have evolved. Modern robotic equipment is smaller and more flexible. Flow cytometers with integrated fluidics and other high-efficiency components can serve to reduce space requirements even further."

Flow cytometry is considered the gold standard for cell analysis. Historically, flow cytometry lacked the ability to handle high-throughput applications due to limited color detection, large sample volumes, and manual loading challenges.

Advanced flow cytometers, despite having increased capabilities, have suffered from a lack of automation readiness. For these reasons, the use of flow cytometers in high-throughput screening applications has traditionally created workflow bottlenecks.

State-of-the-art high-parameter flow cytometers are now available that enable simultaneous detection of dozens of colors and markers. An entire plate of 384 samples can be analyzed in 60 minutes or less, saving precious samples and processing time. These systems are well-suited for automated workflows.

"Integrating state-of-the-art flow cytometers through automation has taken high-throughput screening to another level," explains Kortišová-Descamps. "Therapeutics development, antibody screening, and biomarker discovery can greatly benefit from high-throughput, high-parametric flow cytometry analysis interfaced with robotic automation."

"A somewhat unexpected benefit comes from the repetitive nature of manual flow cytometry work,” continues Kortišová-Descamps. "Customers have told us they have seen issues with employee turnover, and automating those repetitive steps has improved morale and productivity in the lab. Other customers have noted that starting entry-level staff with a highly repetitive task such as manual flow cytometry has led to requests for more interesting work, an issue that has been addressed with automation."

Scheduling software allows users to interact with and control the workflow components, an important piece of the user experience during operations. An API allows flow cytometers to be integrated easily with scheduling software. The instruments, scheduling software, and API function together, to form an integrated workcell. A third-party integration partner helps in the setup of a workcell and serves a key role in making sure it operates as intended.

"The design and functionality of an automation workcell is the result of successful collaboration between the instruments, the customer, and their integration partner," states Kortišová-Descamps. "When selecting integration partners, customers should consider scheduler intuitiveness and training support availability. A user-friendly and intuitive scheduling software can make even complex workcells easy to use with little training."

"High-throughput data acquisition requires high-throughput data analysis tools," continues Kortišová-Descamps. "Customers should consider the complexity and quantity of the data they expect to generate and whether their integration partner offers tools compatible with these needs. They should also consider whether third-party data handling and analysis tools may be needed to supplement the workcell."

Also available for the ZE5 Cell Analyzer is the Everest Software Development Kit (SDK), a set of software development tools and sample code for application creation. The Everest API is a software communication interface that enables local or remote client applications. It provides all the basic ZE5 Cell Analyzer functionality and many advanced features designed for automated environments.

"The ZE5 Cell Analyzer is completely automation-ready. It’s hardware and software agnostic. API is the key to making integration into any laboratory system simple and straightforward,” says Kortišová-Descamps. "The Everest API and SDK together provide ZE5 Cell Analyzer customers with all the tools necessary for integrating the ZE5 Cell Analyzer into an automation laboratory."

The Everest API allows customers to customize and integrate the ZE5 Cell Analyzer into an automation workcell with their choice of hardware elements by working with their preferred integration partner. In addition, the API requires zero third-party components or specialized configurations.

"Customers are sometimes concerned when buying multiple pieces of equipment from multiple suppliers," explains Kortišová-Descamps.

"Bio-Rad is committed to providing support throughout installation, integration, and ongoing use of automated flow cytometry tools. We have developed relationships with many integration partners and have open lines of communication between Bio-Rad and automation service providers. We prepare integration partners with the Everest API and SDK and all the tools needed to get the automated system up and running. Bio-Rad engineers are available to help with integration whenever needed. Most importantly, we are always available to answer customer questions before and after their automation journey."

There are major advantages and important considerations to evaluate when incorporating automation into your lab. When it comes to automated flow cytometry for cell analysis and screening workflows, instrument capabilities and integration are paramount to successful operation.

Flow cytometers should be equipped to support sample integrity, process efficiency, and true high-throughput functionality. Integration tools should provide seamless access and communication between the instruments, users, and integration partners. Above all, the automated flow cytometry solutions provider should go the extra distance to ensure all details align to deliver the best possible automation experience.