The Plate Auditor (US Utility Patent US8644547) is a platform for the detection and classification of features found in different storage containers. It performs fully-automated, rapid (<1 min) measurements. Measurements are accomplished non-destructively and without contacting the sample or the sample container. The Plate Auditor platform can be customized to applications in life sciences, drug discovery and analytical chemistry.
The Plate Auditor, seen in the image above, has been designed specifically for compound management (CM) users in HTS labs. It has been customized to detect and classify artifacts found in compound storage containers, for example, HTS-compatible microplates. These artifacts include: (a) insufficient volume of compound, resulting from inaccurate/imprecise dispensing of compound by liquid handlers, (b) compound precipitation resulting from improper compound storage and/or dilution, and (c) colored compounds that interfere with HTS assay readout (see image below).
Sample Artifacts detected & classified by the Plate Auditor. Representative artifacts as seen in a 384-well microtiter plate: A) empty well, B) colored compound, C) bubbles, D) partially-filled well, E) precipitate and F) a “normal” filled well.
The Plate Auditor platform consists of an HTS plate-reader and user-friendly software to initiate protocols and view results. The platform can be run in “stand-alone” mode. Optionally, it can be integrated with a robotic platform, or configured to automatically query & compare Plate Auditor analysis results to data stored in a LIMS or corporate database.
For more information on the Plate Auditor or custom instrumentation development, please contact us at Scripps-UFL-HTS@mail.ufl.edu