Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Biomek Echo One System

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is looking to accelerate high-throughput genomic sample preparation workflows to deliver results faster with the launch of its Biomek Echo One System. The product provides versatile integrated acoustic liquid handling options for applications in genomic workflows, including high-throughput isothermal DNA assemblies and NGS library sample preparations.

The system combines two Beckman Coulter Life Sciences core liquid handling instruments — the Echo 525 Acoustic Liquid Handler and the Biomek i7 Hybrid Workstation — which can be integrated with existing laboratory automation instrumentation. The Echo 525 uses sound energy to move nanolitre-scale droplets in a combinatorial fashion for workflows such as DNA assembly, including pooling and normalisation steps. Laboratories have reported 8 h workflows slashed to just 30 min when performed on the liquid handler, with seamless pass-offs to the Biomek workstation for further downstream execution of the workflow.

The platform can seamlessly execute library preparation steps such as extraction, fragmentation, ligation, normalisation and pooling along with requisite actions such as centrifugation, shaking and thermal incubation in one automated method. Laboratories are empowered to achieve workflow flexibility, from standalone PCR reaction set-ups to a fully executed NGS library preparation protocol using all of the integrated devices.

The intuitive system requires minimal user training. Users can easily scale up walkaway time and throughput to adapt to changes in workflow demands and needs, creating a futureproof solution that can grow with laboratory needs and complexities.