Labs go auto [technology - laboratory automation]

摘要

THE COVID-19 crisis has taxed biomedical laboratories to their utmost, under the urgent imperatives of rapid diagnostic testing and drug discovery. On top of workflow pressures, facilities had to cope with the added stresses of workplace distancing and staff sickness. For many, the pandemic has highlighted a need to automate many standard laboratory procedures sooner rather than later. Automated technology has become increasingly important in the conduct of many types of standard lab-based work. Collaborative robots - cobots - can now be configured to perform routine tests such as batch sample screening and even chemical experimentation. As well as helping to reduce chances of human error caused by heavy workloads, automation also releases researchers from repetitive tasks, enabling them to make best use of available human expertise.