FAQs

The minimum volume is 0.1 µL, while the maximum volume is 13 µL for each transfer. If you want to transfer more volume, the system will automatically do it in multiple phases.

If you enable the Precision Dispense option, the F.A.S.T. instrument will perform an additional aspirate and dispense cycle to rinse the tip after dispensing process has finished. This additional cycle optimizes the sample transferring from the tip to the well for a better precision.

It is like the way syringes work. There is a solid plunger inside the tip that creates aspiration action (vacuum) and dispense action (pressure). This plunger has no compression and expansion effect on the standard (air displacement) pipette tip. It enables the tip to transfer lower volume in a more precise, more accurate, and virtually agnostic way to differentiate liquid classes of various samples. This makes the protocol work much simpler as managing liquid classes is a tricky step.

⩽5% with 8 channels (STP Mosquito’s style) and ⩽5% with 96 channels (Agilent Bravo’s style).

⩽10% with 8 channels (STP Mosquito style) and ⩽10% with 96 channels (Agilent Bravo style).

The F.A.S.T. instrument supports SBS footprint with 9 mm pitch (96 wells) and 4.5 mm pitch (384 wells).

The maximum labware height is 20 mm.

Yes, but it supports only 96 channels Copy Plate on Simple Transfer Task.

Yes, it does. F.A.S.T. is using an API that is exposed to any other integration software.

It depends on the geometry of the well (the conical bottom would have the least dead volume) and the liquid class (DMSO can be a good reference).

The default gap between the tip to the bottom of the well is 1 mm, but users can change that to closer (0 mm which is touching the well bottom) in regard to having lower dead volume.

As a guidance:

• For a typical 384-well microplate with conical bottom, the dead volume of the well is about 10 µL. For more information, please see this link.
• For a typical 96-well microplate with conical bottom, the dead volume of the well is about 30 µL. For more information, please see this link.

Yes, it is. You can transfer liquid from a 96-well plate to a 384-well plate.

Yes, they can. From the Side Menu, select Plate Type Creator and follow the instructions. The F.A.S.T. instrument will automatically measure your plate using a built-in measuring tool in the F.A.S.T. Head. For more information, see Labware Manager.

The deck can hold 1 tray that consists of 6 tray inserts. Tray insert number 2 is dedicated to the tip caddy or to create a new labware. While tray insert 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are for the microplates.

There are two methods to prevent crashes or collisions:

• The collision detection feature on the F.A.S.T. Head.
• The motion error detection feature on each motor.

Both features would stop any movements when triggered, to prevent any damage to the system.

The system will stop any motor movements. Then, users have to perform a recovery action manually by clicking the Recovery Action button on the Side Menu. The system will be ready in a few seconds.

The F.A.S.T. is not using the internet to be able to work and it uses a local network. As long as the local network is working, the F.A.S.T. instrument is ready to be used.

The F.A.S.T. deck is compatible with magnetic racks for 96-well and 384-well microplates and plate adaptors for non-skirt SBS microplates. These accessories are made by FORMULATRIX. Email us at info@formulatrix.com for general products or sales inquiries.

Users don't need to change the head and modify the software configuration. It works back and forth between pipetting channel mode without user intervention. Users only need to create and execute a protocol that includes all of the modes. For a fun and attractive live virtual demo, you can request a virtual demo or email us at sales@formulatrix.com.

It costs 10 cents per pipette tip.

The dead volume definitely can be improved. Microplates with conical well bottoms are the most efficient. So, we put that volume as a conservative volume because the well bottom shape matters the most.

The dead volume of the F.A.S.T. system is super small, almost reaching 0 µL. We are using positive displacement pipette tips that enable us to get all of the samples out of the tips.

Yes, it supports the non-skirt and semi-skirt microplates with plate adaptors that have been validated by the F.A.S.T. engineer

The dead volume for a 2 mL deep well is at least 500 µL.