Lab901, a developer of innovative automation for life sciences, has launched the ScreenTape system, the first fully automated, walk-away solution for gel electrophoresis. The ScreenTape system comprises the TapeStation (that carries out liquid handling, electrophoresis and imaging), ScreenTape (a consumable that contains the pre-cast, pre-packaged gel and running buffer) and bespoke software. With no gel or buffer preparation and no system priming, even untrained operators can rapidly generate accurate and reproducible data.

The first ScreenTape consumables are optimised for the analysis of DNA fragments up to 800 bp. This makes the system ideal for applications such as multiplex or simplex PCR analysis, genotyping, QC of Q-PCR products and QC of DNA prior to microarray printing. Efficient and safe data storage is achieved through integrated bar-coding and the generation of secure file formats for the analysed data. Labs using gel electrophoresis can obtain full traceability and GLP compliance.

"Lab901 has achieved its goal of launching the ScreenTape system after four years of intensive research and development," said Lab901's director of Sales & Marketing Richard Rowling. "This platform is the first truly 'load and go' system that will reduce the time to results to a few minutes. The ScreenTape system will play a part in speeding up discovery and diagnostic procedures. Where time is truly worth money, ScreenTape will be an investment that pays back very quickly."

Lab901 is also developing tapes for the analysis of larger DNA fragments, proteins and RNA, and is seeking to develop collaborations with interested companies.