How Integra Biosciences expands bioanalytical capabilities with high throughput liquid handling
BioApp Solutions – based in Leeds, UK – is a specialist provider of training, consultancy and analytical support covering all aspects of bioanalysis. The company was established in 2015 to address the market gap for lab-based bioanalytical consultancy, and to train the next generation of analytical chemists. Unlike office-based consultancies or high throughput laboratories, BioApp draws on decades of combined experience in leading contract research organisations (CROs) to tackle complex challenges that larger organisations may be unable to address owing to their scale or focus on volume. Its clients range from start-ups requiring guidance on establishing new workflows to major pharmaceutical companies seeking tailored, innovative bioanalytical solutions.
BioApp provides expert consultancy services across the full bioanalytical workflow, from exploratory and regulated bioanalysis to method development, validation and biomarker strategies. The company also offers flexible outsourcing options that help sponsors adapt to shifting priorities, manage costs and accelerate research timelines, offering dedicated full-time equivalent and instrument access, applications support, and comprehensive data interpretation. Its laboratory services focus on early-stage, non-regulated work, combining robust analytical method development with expert project management.
The need to expand analytical capacity
BioApp moved out of the incubator lab it had initially used into its own dedicated CRO facility in 2021 to dramatically expand its analytical capacity and incorporate mass spectrometry capabilities. This enabled the team to provide a broader spectrum of bespoke sample analyses, as well as offer early-stage method development, workflow optimisation and validation services in house. When establishing its new laboratory, the team was keen to invest in automation products that would suit its workflows, as manual pipetting in high throughput formats can be repetitive, labour intensive and prone to errors, particularly when working with large batches in 96 well plate format. Tasks including sample dilutions and mixing and extracting supernatants after centrifugation can be time consuming to perform by hand, increasing the risk of variability between operators and placing strain on staff.
The BioApp team was already familiar with Integra’s Viaflo 96 handheld electronic pipettes, having investigated multichannel pipettes for a consultancy client several years earlier. Instruments from several brands were trialled by 20 of the client’s analysts over a week, and Integra’s solution was unanimously preferred for its intuitive design, robustness and minimal downtime. This experience – coupled with BioApp’s policy to invest only in proven, established technologies – made the Viaflo 96 the natural choice for its laboratory. BioApp therefore selected the Viaflo 96 with a 96 channel pipetting head and 300 μl automation Griptips pipette tips to streamline repetitive manual pipetting tasks and boost productivity.
Prioritising user experience and ergonomics
The Viaflo 96 allows the BioApp team to set up entire 96 well plates in seconds. The pipette is used for a range of applications – including sample loading during supported liquid extraction protocols – contributing to significant time savings and improved productivity. Pipetting protocols can be pre-programmed, enabling precise control over cycle numbers and aspirate/dispense speeds, ensuring each liquid handling step is performed consistently. Eliminating manual errors and inter-operator variability leads to more reproducible results and helps safeguard the mental and physical wellbeing of staff by reducing monotonous, repetitive tasks.
Enhancing productivity and sustainability
BioApp also selected single- and multichannel Evolve manual pipettes with a range of volumes, from 2 to 300 μl, for handling smaller sample numbers and lower volumes, particularly during tasks such as spiking samples with known analyte concentrations in preliminary studies. Having multiple pipettes dedicated to specific applications reduces the risk of cross-contamination, adds flexibility and ensures redundancy, helping to overcome throughput limitations. Integra’s ECO rack Griptips pipette tips – which fit securely without leaking or falling off – further enhance productivity, as they are colour matched to the pipettes, allowing staff to quickly select the correct tip without interrupting workflows. This streamlines daily liquid handling tasks and supports sustainability by reducing tip wastage and associated plastic waste.
An investment in the future
Reliable liquid handling tools are essential for maintaining productivity, safeguarding data quality and meeting project deadlines in bioanalytical research and development. For a small, highly specialised team working to tight schedules, dependable equipment minimises the risk of unplanned downtime and ensures that complex workflows can be carried out efficiently from start to finish. BioApp’s suite of Integra tools enables consistent, reproducible pipetting, supporting a variety of method development and sample analysis tasks. They will also play a critical role in helping BioApp to expand its in-house analytical and method development capabilities, diversifying its client base and adapting to evolving industry needs.
For more information visit: www.integra-biosciences.com/en
