Thermo Fisher Scientific and automation software developer, Artificial, have announced a collaboration to develop integrated software automation with Thermo Fisher’s standardised COVID-19 testing platform.
As part of the collaboration, Artificial will provide access to its aLab Suite software, designed to integrate with Thermo Scientific’s Momentum Workflow software and robotics hardware. This will form part of the COVID-19 testing platform aimed to enable laboratories to quickly upscale COVID-19 testing volumes. The aLab Suite software facilitates the dynamic scheduling of protocol runs with batch optimisations to maximise the number of tests run, the companies say.
In addition, manual system set-up steps associated with Momentum process execution can be coordinated using aLab digital assistants to reduce the need for user input. The use of aLab assistant’s digital twin of a COVID-19 testing system to guide lab technicians on where, when and how to load system consumables is hoped to reduce errors associated with manual tasks, improving sample safety and integrity and increasing system productivity.
“Laboratories performing COVID-19 testing continue to face the combined challenges of rapidly scaling workflows to meet the demands of communities while ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of results,” said Hansjoerg Haas, Senior Director and General Manager, laboratory automation, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “This collaboration enables biopharma and contract services companies to both simplify their lab technicians’ interactions with automated systems and more efficiently coordinate the use of their multiple Momentum automated systems, increasing productivity and minimising user intervention to meet industry needs.”
“Artificial’s aLab Suite is a great addition to Thermo Fisher’s standardised COVID-19 Testing Platform solution in further enabling COVID-19 testing laboratories to easily and quickly scale their operations to meet the current demands,” said David Fuller, CEO of Artificial. “Our partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific represents an exciting opportunity to improve COVID-19 testing throughput and further develop the aLab Suite to address the pain points of the life sciences market.”
