Bigneat supplies hood for cancer laboratory robot

The installation satisfies the demanding protection levels required in processes involving live cells, which previously could only be provided by smaller Class II cabinets.

Screening of large numbers of potential anticancer drugs has been helped by the design of a new generation of robots that can pipette 96 or 384 samples at one time. But for cell work, where there is a need for both operator and sample protection, the latest laboratory robotics systems have become too large to be contained within a Class II laminar flow hood. The only solution is for a larger protection enclosure for the robot.

For the new Cancer Laboratory at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Bigneat supplied the LABS hood, which encloses a JANUS MDT automated system from PerkinElmer.

For protection of the system, down-flow air is fully filtered by HEPA filters installed in the enclosure roof, providing sterile air to ISO Class 5 and Class 100 FED Std. 209D conditions. Operator protection is achieved by drawing in-flow air (which enters through slots in the lower doors and when the doors are open) down through a full width grill along the front edge of the cabinet interior.

The design of the enclosure allowed for sufficient space for ancillary equipment such as the vacuum pump needed for the system. It is also fitted with large castors to allow it to be moved as necessary within the laboratory.

“The Bigneat team worked with us to design, build and commission an excellent home for our robot, with easy access to load the consumables and a tip-chute,” said Ian Cree, Professor at the Translational Oncology Research Centre, Queen Alexandra Hospital. “We're confident it will meet our needs for years to come.”