AUTOMATED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY

摘要

A liquid-handling instrument (11) has a worksurface (22) with registration for modular stations to support containers of liquid, pipette apparatus with a pipette tip (33) coupled to a sensing circuit, a robotic translation system (31) for moving the pipette tip, and a control system with an iconic user interface for programming and editing. A gauge block (24) registered on the worksurface provides for calibration using the sensing tip, and register cavities on the worksurface provide for modular stations. There is a wash station (25) for the pipette tip on the worksurface. An automated laboratory based on the liquid-handling system has heating and cooling and a sealable incubation station (21) as well as a magnetic separation station (26 and 29). Methods are disclosed using the apparatus to convey droplets of liquid, to aspirate with minimum tip contamination, to mix liquids in containers, and to validate the worksurface. A duck-billed closure (253) is disclosed for minimizing evaporation and cross-contamination during processing, and is a part of a container disclosed for storing and transporting liquids.