INTEGRA Biosciences’ pipettes are being used by bioanalytical consultancy BioApp Solutions to semi-automate and streamline its repetitive liquid handling protocols. The devices have enabled the company to improve pipetting consistency within its sample analysis and method development workflows, ensuring more reproducible results.

BioApp was established in Leeds, UK, in 2015 as a specialist provider of bioanalytical training and consultancy services. The company moved into its own dedicated clinical research organization (CRO) laboratory facility in 2021, giving it the capacity to provide bespoke sample analysis, early-stage method development, workflow optimization and validation services in-house. The team was seeking a liquid handling instrument for the new lab that would perform error-prone and time-consuming repetitive tasks, choosing INTEGRA’s VIAFLO 96 handheld electronic pipette with a 96 channel pipetting head and 300 μl automation GRIPTIPS^® pipette tips. Mohammed Abrar, Director and Co-founder of BioApp, described the benefits for the lab: “We use the VIAFLO 96 for sample dilutions and mixing, extracting supernatants, and sample loading during supported liquid extraction protocols. Pipetting protocols for labor-intensive tasks can be intuitively and conveniently programmed into the pipette. This has greatly improved our productivity, giving us time to focus on more stimulating tasks and helping to safeguard our mental and physical health. The instrument performs all liquid handling steps exactly the same way each time, improving pipetting consistency and reproducibility of results by eliminating manual errors and inter-analyst variability. The VIAFLO 96 has proven to be a great fit for us in terms of price, footprint, functionality and ease of use.”

BioApp also acquired a selection of 5 single and multichannel EVOLVE manual pipettes in volumes from 2-300 μl – paired with ECO rack GRIPTIPS – for smaller sample numbers and volumes, and for spiking samples with known concentrations of analytes in preliminary studies. Having several pipettes dedicated to different tasks helps to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and provides added flexibility, alleviating throughput limitations. “INTEGRA’s products are extremely robust and reliable. We use them all day, every day, and we’ve never experienced any problems, enabling us to avoid unplanned downtime. Our pipettes will be crucial as we continue to expand our in-house analytical and method development capabilities,” Mohammed concluded.