Automation Solutions

Automation Solutions for SARS-CoV-2 Research

Eppendorf offers several automation solutions to cover SARS-CoV-2 related workflows. You can automate either entire protocols or only crucial handling steps which are most tedious, time-consuming and/or error prone. Automating your SARS-CoV-2 workflow can minimize your exposure to potentially infectious/hazardous agents, free up time for other tasks, increase your reproducibility, standardize your processes and increase your throughput. With our expertise in liquid handling automation, consumables, and our expert application support and service, we are offering a comprehensive solution to address your SARS-CoV-2 research needs.

SARS-CoV-2 workflows

This is a schematic overview of the most common SARS-CoV-2 related workflows. Find details for the individual workflow steps and exemplary methods that have been established on the epMotion®, for research use, by clicking the steps below. The performance data is exemplary and can differ depending on the used method, device setup and preferred settings.

Workflow graphic showing nfection Screening (Virus detection using RT-qPCR), Mutation Surveillance (Study how viral genomes are changing over time by NGS) and Immunoassay (Antibody detection using ELISA)
SARS-CoV-2 workflows (click to zoom)

SARS-CoV-2 mutation analysis

With more SARS-CoV-2 mutations being identified in the field, there is an increasing need for virus sequencing. Discovering new mutants quickly allows us to evaluate their virulence, infectivity, and resistances early. Eppendorf’s automation options allow easy automated virus mutation analysis workflows with pre-programmed methods for commonly used reagent kits or with expert application support to accommodate customer-specific protocols. Contact us for details.

Infection Screening: Virus detection using RT-qPCR

Collect Swabs

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

Aliquot Samples

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion® 5070
  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Performance

96 Tubes to 96 well plate plate | runtime: 35 min


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Creating mirror plates

RNA Extraction

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Established methods for the following kits (exemplary)*

  • Promega® Maxwell® HT Viral TNA Kit
  • MACHEREY-NAGEL® NucleoMag® Virus
  • MACHEREY-NAGEL® NucleoMag® Pathogen 
  • Zymo Research® Quick-DNA/RNA™ Viral Mag Bead
  • Primerdesign™ genesig® Easy DNA/RNA Extraction Kit
  • Geneaid™ Magnetic Beads Virus DNA/RNA Extraction Kit
  • Omega Bio-Tek® Mag-Bind® Viral DNA/RNA 96 Kit
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific® MagMAX™ Viral RNA Isolation Kit
  • QIAGEN® QIAamp® 96 Viral RNA Kit

Performance

Processing of 96 samples | runtime: 120 min


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Addition of lysis buffer/virus inactivation
  • Bead clean up (96-well format)
  • Washing (96-well format)
  • Aliquoting reagents in 96 well plates (for e.g. ThermoFisher® KingFisher™ systems)
  • Creating mirror plates

*this list is updated constantly. In case you cannot find your protocol on this list on-demand method development is available. 

RT-qPCR Setup

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5070
  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Established methods for the following kits (exemplary)*

  • QIAGEN® QIAprep&amp Viral RNA UM Kit (using this kit no RNA extraction is needed)

Performance

96 well plate with 20 samples + 4 controls and 4 mastermixes | runtime: 40 min

*this list is updated constantly. In case you cannot find your protocol on this list on-demand method development is available. 

RT-qPCR & Analysis

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

Mutation Surveillance: Study how viral genomes are changing over time by NGS

Collect Swabs

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

Aliquot Samples

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5070
  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Performance

96 tubes to 96 well plate plate | runtime: 35 min


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  •  Creating mirror plates

RNA Extraction

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Established methods for the following kits (exemplary)*

  • Promega® Maxwell® HT Viral TNA Kit
  • MACHEREY-NAGEL® NucleoMag® Virus
  • MACHEREY-NAGEL® NucleoMag® Pathogen
  • Zymo Research® Quick-DNA/RNA™ Viral Mag Bead 
  • Primerdesign™ genesig® Easy DNA/RNA Extraction Kit
  • Geneaid™ Magnetic Beads Virus DNA/RNA Extraction Kit
  • Omega Bio-Tek® Mag-Bind® Viral DNA/RNA 96 Kit
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific® MagMAX™ Viral RNA Isolation Kit
  • QIAGEN® QIAamp® 96 Viral RNA Kit

Performance

Processing of 96 samples | runtime: 120 min


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Addition of lysis buffer/virus inactivation
  • Bead clean up (96-well format)
  • Washing (96-well format)
  • Aliquoting reagents in 96 well plates (for e.g. ThermoFisher® KingFisher™ systems)
  • Creating mirror plates

*this list is updated constantly. In case you cannot find your protocol on this list on-demand method development is available. 

NGS Library Preparation

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075
     

Established methods for the following kits (exemplary)*

  • Illumina® TruSeq™ Stranded Total RNA  
  • Illumina® AmpliSeq™ for Illumina 
  • Illumina® Nextera™ Flex for Enrichment
  • New England Biolabs® NEBNext® Ultra™ II Directional RNA
  • Illumina® RNA Prep with Enrichment + llumina® Respiratory Virus Oligo Panel 

Depending on your research many more NGS library preparation kits might be of interest. Please check our comprehensive list of available methods.

Performance

~ 8 h for 48 samples (including incubation times and PCR)


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Bead clean up (96-well format)
  • Washing (96-well format)

*this list is updated constantly. In case you cannot find your protocol on this list on-demand method development is available. 

Library QC, Normalization, Pooling

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5070
  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Performance

Normalizing 96 well plate | runtime: 45 min

Sequencing & Data Analysis

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

Immunoassay: Antibody detection using ELISA

Collect Serum, Plasma

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

Aliquot Samples

Walk-Away Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5070
  • epMotion 5073
  • epMotion 5075

Performance

96 Tubes to 96 well plate plate | runtime: 35 min


Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Creating mirror plates

ELISA

Partial Automation

Solutions

  • epMotion 5075
  • epMotion 96xl

Handling Steps

  • Distributing samples in MTP
  • Washing steps
  • Adding reagents, antibodies
  • Mirror plates for storage

Analysis

(No Eppendorf automated solutions for this workflow step)

System Specifications

An overview of the most relevant features for your SARS-CoV-2 related work. Detailed product information can be found in our webshop.

epMotion 96xl

epMotion 96xl

Typical Applications:
partial automation, handling 96- and 384-well plates




Volume Range:
5.0 – 1000 μl

Sample and personal protection:
Filtertips, fits biosafety cabinet

Footprint:
1 US letter

epMotion 5070

epMotion 5070

Typical Applications (max. samples per run):
PCR/qPCR setup (96), Normalization (96)



Volume Range:
0.2 – 1000 μl

Sample and personal protection:
Filtertips, complete housing, 5070f fits biosafety cabinet

Footprint:
4 US letters

epMotion 5073

epMotion 5073

Typical Applications (max. samples per run):
PCR/qPCR setup (192), Normalization (192), DNA/RNA Extraction (48), NGS library prep (24)

Volume Range:
0.2 – 1000 μl

Sample and personal protection:
Filtertips, CleanCap, complete housing

Footprint:
6 US letters
 

epMotion 5075

epMotion 5073

Typical Applications (max. samples per run):
PCR/qPCR setup (384+), Normalization (384), DNA/RNA Extraction (96), NGS library prep (96)

Volume Range:
0.2 – 1000 μl

Sample and personal protection:
Filtertips, CleanCap, complete housing

Footprint:
10 US letters
 

High quality plates to complement our automated solutions

The epMotion systems can handle single tubes and plates. However, using plates enhances the automated handling of samples by allowing the use of multichannel liquid handling and parallel processing of samples. Where suited, plates can also easily be stacked to make maximum use of your worktable space. Being an open system the epMotion can deal with virtually every plate, nevertheless, using high-quality plates can drastically improve your results.

Check our portfolio of high-quality, automation-friendly plates. From Eppendorf Deepwell plates for your extraction, over PCR twin.tec plates for PCR and NGS applications, to flat-bottom microtiter plates - Eppendorf plates support a wide range of applications.

Service & Support

We will do everything to provide you the best possible service & support for your systems & applications even under these difficult conditions. In order to learn more about the service status in your region please contact your local Eppendorf representative. The following service products are available for your epMotion and can be added at any point of the system lifecycle.

Watch our in-depth webinar: Switching from manual to automated NGS library preparation

DISCLAIMER: Methods are intended for molecular research applications. They are not intended, verified or validated for use in the diagnosis of disease or other human health conditions. 

Macherey-Nagel® and NucleoMag® are registered trademarks of Macherey-Nagel Gmbh & Co. KG., Germany. Promega® and Maxwell® are registered trademarks of Promega Corporation, USA. Quick-DNA/RNA™ is a trademark by Zymo Research Europe GmbH, Germany. Genesig® and the Primer Design logo are registered trademarks of Primer Design Ltd., UK. Geneaid™ is a trademark of Geneaid Biotech Ltd., Taiwan. Omega Bio-Tek® is a registered trademark of Omega Bio-Tek, Inc., USA. Thermo Fisher Scientific®, Ampliseq®, and KingFisher™ are registered trademarks of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., USA. MagMAX™ is a trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. Illumina®, TruSeq®, and Nextera® are registered trademarks of Illumina Inc., USA. QIAGEN® and QIAamp® are registered trademarks of QIAGEN Group, Netherlands. Eppendorf®, epMotion® and the Eppendorf Brand Design are registered trademarks of Eppendorf AG, Germany. All rights reserved, including graphics and images. Copyright © 2020 by Eppendorf AG.