Lab Automation: This Checklist Could Save You $100,000s

Lab automation devices are a big investment, so choose wisely!

Lab automation is a major investment. A well-chosen system today can save your lab hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run. This guide walks you through the automation journey of a biotech lab, from early R&D to high-throughput workflows, and concludes with a checklist of must-have features.

Automation experts: skip the background and go straight to the list – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Automation novices: read on to learn why some laboratory automation solutions scale better than others.

Small, startup or R&D labs: Focus on Ease-of-Use and Flexibility

You’re part of a small team juggling multiple tasks. You’ve identified major bottlenecks and are eager to automate them to free up time and increase reproducibility.

Your choice of automation workstation should be approachable and easy to learn. Ideally, 90% of the software should be learnable in 10 minutes and should guide any new users through to success. Choose from a company who values User Experience (UX), and considers your ‘journey’ from unpacking, all the way to the use of advanced functionality for flexibility.

Given that staff might come and go over time, being approachable and intuitive will reduce your training burden and improve team resilience. No lab wants their expensive automation tools gathering dust because they’re too complicated or require a specialist to operate!

Optimising Labs: Prioritise reproducibility, data access and reliability

As your lab grows, protocols are being established and optimised, and throughput increases. Now, reliability, reproducibility and data access become more critical. You might not be integrating robotics arms yet, but you should be thinking about automating some of the data analysis.

Reproducibility: If two people use the same tool differently, analysis can suffer. A good automation system allows you to lock down device settings, or save ‘settings profiles’, to ensure workflow standardisation and consistent results.

Data Access: Think about how you’ll retrieve data. Can you specify data formatting for export? Is the device networked? If networking isn’t permitted, is there USB access? What if your device is in an environmental chamber?

Reliability: Equipment downtime can ruin expensive experiments. Choose well-engineered hardware from a manufacturer that offers fast, local support and is financially stable – so your investment isn’t left unsupported in a few years.

Scaling Labs: Embracing high-throughput automation and integration

As your lab scales, you’ll want to further automate analysis pipelines and increase walkaway time by integrating with robot arms (or otherwise).

APIs: The Key to Seamless Integration

To connect your lab automation to LiMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) or data analysis software, you’ll need a well-documented API. While file exports can trigger automation, this isn’t a scalable or robust solution.

• Flexibility: What functionality is accessible through the API, and how much functionality does the device driver expose?
• Vendor Support: Is API access included, or is it a hidden cost? Request documentation upfront.
• Backward Compatibility: Unstable APIs can cripple entire workflows when updates are released (think of the CrowdStrike incident that grounded flights worldwide!). Choose a vendor that prioritises rigorous testing and backward compatibility.

Robotics & Walkaway Automation

To increase automation, consider robotic arms or additional integration equipment:

• Hardware Considerations: Does your system have plate-holding mechanisms that support robot grippers? Can doors or access points be modified for automation without compromising safety? If not, is it upgradeable?
• Integration: Have the automation vendor and your Integration Provider worked together before? Do device drivers already exist for seamless communication between scheduling software and hardware?

By investing in scalable solutions from the start, you’ll avoid costly reinvestments and eliminate re-validation headaches down the line.

Lab Automation Checklist

To avoid financial and operational headaches as your lab grows, insist on these key features:

• Ease-of-use – Can a new user get started in 10 minutes?
• Flexibility – Can power users customise workflows easily?
• Reliability – Is it well-engineered for uptime and longevity?
• Support – Is it from a trusted company with global support?
• Standardisation – Can settings be saved and shared?
• Data Access – Is it USB/network compatible? Can data formats be customised?
• Upgradability – Can it integrate with robotics in the future?
• Open API – Is it free, comprehensive, and well-documented?
• API Stability – How are software updates handled? Does the vendor ensure backwards compatibility?