Use of laboratory automation in GE crop regulatory expression trials

AGRO 54

Valerie A. Korjagin, vakorjagin@dow.com, Ping Song, Amy M. Phillips, and Angelea D. Thomas. Regulatory Laboratories, Dow AgroSciences LLC, 9330 Zionsville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268
There is an increasing demand for quantitative analyses using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as the analytical technique to support genetically enhanced (GE) crop expression regulatory trials. The consequence of this increased demand is a need for high throughput analyses. Automation is the obvious choice because it helps to minimize analyst error and ergonomic issues in addition to increasing productivity. We have validated the Tecan Genesis™ workstation on ninety-six well microtiter plate ELISA format to detect multiple GE proteins including Cry1F, Cry1Ac, PAT etc. An emphasis on maintaining high quality data has been a requirement for the success of the project. Accuracy, precision and reproducibility of the automated system will be discussed.