QPix Microbial Colony Pickers
Automated microbial screening system capable of picking up to 3000 colonies per hour
Automated microbial screening system capable of picking up to 3,000 colonies per hour
The QPix® Microbial Colony Picker leverages best-in-class colony picking technology to alleviate bottlenecks and quickly, accurately, and efficiently screen through massive genetic libraries. The easy-to-use, intuitive software guides users through setting up colony picking runs where precision robotics pick the right colonies every time.. In addition to microbial screening, the system automates several sample preparation and plate handling processes such as transfer of bacterial liquid culture and plating on agar.
Data is automatically recorded into the machine’s database, providing users with a complete audit trail and sample tracking, ensuring that no data is ever lost. Our modular, scalable series of colony pickers allows groups of all sizes to increase the accuracy and throughput of their workflow, while still allowing for future throughput growth.
Identify colonies with a desired phenotype
The QPix colony pickers support a wide variety of microorganisms and multiple selection modalities, including fluorescence intensity, blue/white selection, size and proximity, and zone of inhibition.
Select colonies efficiently
A suite of organism-specific pin and agar sensor ensure efficient picking. The system delivers a picking efficiency of >98%, allowing you to walkaway with confidence.
Maintain Sterility
A host of sterility features are available including a UV light for sanitizing the interior of the instrument, as well as pin washing, and halogen drying of pins.
Features
Organism-specific pins
Different shape and picking area pins maximize efficiency for E. coli, phage, and yeast. Plating-specific pins ensure uniform distribution of liquid culture onto agar.
Multiple imaging modes
Colonies can be picked based on pre-specified parameters using white light, fluorescence, and color. The use of filters enables applications such as blue-white colony screening.
Plating and Spreading
Automated plating and streaking of 96 samples can be done in 30 minutes, providing greater walk-away time.
Replication, grid and hit picking
Automated plate handling and tracking streamlines downstream assay and sample management. QPix colony pickers provides flexible plate replication, gridding, and hit-picking capabilities.
Agar sensing
Ultrasonic agar height sensor detects differences in height resulting from variable pouring volume enabling maximum picking efficiency.
Scalable automation options*
The QPix HT model is a robot compatible solution with a modular deck. The Advanced Workflow Engineering Solutions Team can tailor a colony picker with a variety of custom services.
*New* QPix® FLEX™ Microbial Colony Picking System
Optimized for precision, flexibility, and hypoxic workflows
The QPix FLEX system is a space-saving, automated solution featuring a high-resolution color camera and is compatible with hypoxic chambers for advanced microbial workflows.
- Compact & Configurable: Benchtop footprint fits tight spaces and adapts to your lab's needs.
- Accurate & Insightful: High-precision picking with imaging for colony morphology and color analysis.
- Sterile & Traceable: Built-in decontamination and 2D barcode tracking ensure sample integrity.
- Automated & Efficient: Streamlines plating, picking, and hit selection—minimizing manual steps.
QPix® Insights Software, Powered by Polar.ai
Optimize colony picking strategies with advanced AI/ML analysis
Microbial screening can be labor-intensive. Our QPix Microbial Colony Pickers automate colony selection and various sample preparation and plate handling processes. But how do we analyze the large volumes of multi-dimensional data generated? With QPix Insights software, powered by Polar.ai – a AI/ML and advanced analytics and reporting tools – you can identify the best colonies aligned to optimal selection criteria with greater confidence in a shorter time.
Key Benefits:
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed with the user in mind, QPix Insights offers an intuitive interface that simplifies complex data analysis, making it accessible to all levels of scientific personnel.
- AI-Powered Precision: Leveraging advanced AI and ML technologies, QPix Insights offers data interpretation, reducing errors and increasing reliability.
- Streamlined Data Integration: Say goodbye to fragmented data. QPix Insights seamlessly integrates data from various sources, providing a comprehensive overview and simplifying the analysis process.
- Cost and Time-Savings: Pick the right colony faster, leading to fewer reruns, less waste, and more time for value-adding work.
- Optimized Colony Selection: The software’s intelligent algorithms analyze colony parameters and analytical outputs to recommend the best selection criteria, improving the efficiency and quality of your selections.
Automate your workflow with the QPix colony picker
Colony picking is an essential step in biological research as scientists often isolate microbial clones in order to mass produce DNA or proteins to be used in a variety of applications downstream. Traditionally, colony picking is performed manually using sterile pipette tips or inoculation loops, which are usually slow, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. Not only will automated colony pickers make the entire process quicker, but the results are more consistent and reliable.
Ensure sterility and superior performance with QPix's pin-washing process
The revolutionary QPix pin-washing process ensures optimal laboratory efficiency and stringent sterillity standards. With its innovative cleaning and sterilzation methods, QPix system maintains zero cross-contamination and promotes sustainability in lab environments.
Join Carola, our Field Application Specialist as she walks you through step-by-step, the QPix system's sterility workflow. And, download our application note demonstrating extensive testing and validation studies, Ensure sterility with QPix Microbial Colony Pickers.
Which QPix is right for you?
imaging
supported-processes-and-applications
gridding
plating
agar-agar-transfer
sterility
agar-height-detection
speed-and-accuracy
diverse-microorganisms
automation-and-integration
source-plate-capacity
destination-plate-capacity
software-guided-process-workflow--setup
data-tracking
walk-away-time
warranty
service-and-support
*Price, time to deliver, and specifications will vary based on mutually agreed technical requirements. Solution requirements may cause adjustment to standard performance.
Custom solutions are subject to Molecular Devices Custom Products Purchase Terms available at https://moleculardevices.com/custom-products-purchase-terms
FAQs
What is a QPix microbial colony picker?
The QPix microbial colony picker is an advanced automated system designed for high-throughput selection and picking of microbial colonies. It streamlines the process of clone screening and eliminates the need for manual colony picking.
How does the QPix microbial colony picker work?
The QPix microbial colony picker utilizes a combination of imaging and robotics technology to accurately identify and pick individual microbial colonies from agar plates. It uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze colony size, shape, and other characteristics, allowing for precise colony selection.
What are the key features of the QPix microbial colony picker?
The QPix microbial colony picker offers several key features, including high-resolution imaging, customizable colony selection criteria, automated picking and re-arraying, adjustable picking parameters, and intuitive software for colony tracking and data analysis.
What are the benefits of using the QPix microbial colony picker?
By automating the colony picking process, the QPix microbial colony picker significantly increases throughput and efficiency in clone screening. It minimizes the risk of cross-contamination, improves accuracy and reproducibility, and frees up valuable time and resources for researchers.
Which applications can benefit from the QPix microbial colony picker?
The QPix microbial colony picker is ideal for a wide range of applications, including recombinant protein expression, antibody discovery, synthetic biology, directed evolution, and strain engineering. It is suitable for academic research, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, and other industries requiring efficient clone screening.
What are the primary functions of QPix Microbial Colony Pickers?
QPix Microbial Colony Pickers offer automated colony picking, identification, and tracking capabilities. They enable researchers to efficiently select and transfer individual microbial colonies from agar plates, saving time and reducing human error.
In what workflows can QPix Microbial Colony Pickers be used?
QPix Microbial Colony Pickers are versatile tools that can be integrated into various workflows. They are commonly used in applications such as clone screening, mutant library generation, microbial genomics, directed evolution, and high-throughput strain engineering.
How do QPix Microbial Colony Pickers optimize scientific research?
QPix Microbial Colony Pickers streamline the process of clone screening and colony picking, allowing researchers to analyze a larger number of colonies in less time. This optimization improves the efficiency of research projects, accelerates discovery, and facilitates downstream analysis and experimentation.
Can QPix Microbial Colony Pickers handle different types of agar plates?
Yes, QPix Microbial Colony Pickers are designed to handle various agar plate formats, including Petri dishes, multiwell plates, and other custom plates. The system is flexible and can adapt to the specific needs of different experiments.
How does the software accompanying QPix Microbial Colony Pickers enhance research productivity?
The software provided with QPix Microbial Colony Pickers offers intuitive user interfaces for experiment design, colony selection criteria customization, and data analysis. It enables efficient tracking of colonies, facilitates workflow management, and provides insightful metrics for data-driven decision-making.
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