The Journal of Automatic Chemistry最新文献

This paper discusses the process of managing automated systems through their life cycles within the quality-control (QC) laboratory environment. The focus is on the process of directing and managing the evolving automation of a laboratory; system examples are given. The author shows how both task and data systems have evolved, and how they interrelate. A BIG picture, or continuum view, is presented and some of the reasons for success or failure of the various examples cited are explored. Finally, some comments on future automation need are discussed.

It is well recognized within the pharmaceutical industry that high throughput screening is a valuable and rapid tool to identify novel chemical compounds that may lead to tomorrow's drugs. High throughput screening involves testing as many chemical compounds as quickly as possible against a defined molecular or cellular 'target' (for example an enzyme) in the hope that interacting compounds may provide significant therapeutic benefits.At Wyeth-Ayerst Research, a Robotics and Automation Research Core Group has been established which serves as the in-house resource for high throughput screening. The robotics group has three missions: (1) develop and perform high throughput screens for customers in all therapeutic departments in the company; (2) educate customers in issues related to screen design; and (3) help customers to bring automated workstations into their laboratories. The mission, therefore, requires the effective use of automation, as well as building a strong collaboration with customers.THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN FACED FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES: technology limiting and customer relations. Technological challenges arise because it is necessary to develop and implement assays with very different formats and biochemical endpoints within extremely shortened time frames. The primary means to meet these challenges is with flexible robotics and flexible people. Challenges in the area of customer relations include setting realistic expectations, maintaining a sense of collaboration (and not merely service), educating investigators as to how to deal with the huge amount of data generated and seeking feedback. Effective and frequent communication, and an awareness of each individual's perspective, are essential to provide the most appropriate service.

A unique clinical chemistry analyser is described which processes 90 mul of whole blood (fingerstick or venous) into multiple aliquots of diluted plasma and reports the results of 12 tests in 14 min. To perform a panel of tests, the operator applies the unmetered sample directly into a single use, 8 cm diameter plastic rotor which contains the required liquid diluent and dry reagents. Using centrifugal and capillary forces, the rotor meters the required amount of blood, separates the red cells, meters the plasma, meters the diluent, mixes the fluids, distributes the fluid to the reaction cuvettes and mixes the reagents and the diluted plasma in the cuvettes. The instrument monitors the reagent reactions simultaneously using nine wavelengths, calculates the results from the absorbance data, and reports the results.

The performance of Boehringer Mannheim's BM/Hitachi 911 was evaluated for three months. The mean coeffcient of variation (CV) of the within-run and between-run imprecision of the 16 analytes were less than 1.16% (range 0.47-2.38%) and 1.35% (range 0.62-2.93,%), respectively. A linearity study for the various assays covered clinically important levels. No relevant drift was observed during an eight-hour assay nor was any sample-related carry-over detected. In all cases, the regression analyses (slopes) of the results obtainedfrom BM/Hitachi 911 and 717 were between the extreme values of 0.94 and 1.05. During the three months of operation, no major problem was encountered. The BM/Hitachi 911 was found to be easily operated, to require minimal attention and simple daily maintenance during operation.

The Electronic NOSE (Neotronics Olfactory Sensing Equipment) is an instrument which mimics the human olfactory sensory system. It analyses complex vapours and produces a simple output. In the food industry there are numerous examples where the aroma from the raw ingredients through to the final product are important. These aromas are currently analysed using human sensory panels or analytical equipment such as gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS).The Electronic NOSE described in this paper was not developed to replace the GC/MS or the sensory panel but to provide an instrumental measure of aroma quality which would be related to and complement the current methodology. The Electronic NOSE is a robust system which can detect complex vapours at levels similar to the human, which means typically in the parts per billion range. The system produces an output which can be easily related to sensory data and is easy to interpret by a non-skilled operator. No part of this system reacts with the sample under test.

The health care reform movement in the USA and increased requirements by regulatory agencies continue to have a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry and the laboratory. Laboratory management is expected to improve effciency by providing more analytical results at a lower cost, increasing customer service, reducing cycle time, while ensuring accurate results and more effective use of their staff. To achieve these expectations, many laboratories are using robotics and automated work stations. Establishing automated systems presents many challenges for laboratory management, including project and hardware selection, budget justification, implementation, validation, training, and support. To address these management challenges, the rationale for project selection and implementation, the obstacles encountered, project outcome, and learning points for several automated systems recently implemented in the Quality Control Laboratories at Eli Lilly are presented.