QIAcube From Qiagen

The QIAcube is a closed architecture liquid handling platform that is capable of almost fully automating the processing of 12 samples per run. The platform consists of tube racks, places for reagents, 12 sample holder which is also a shaker/heater combo, robotic gripper arm and a swing bucket rotor centrifuge. The unit is controlled via a front panel LCD touch screen which allows access to protocols for almost every column based extraction or purification method Qiagen markets and more protocols are being added to the QIAcube as they become available.

Operation of the unit is very simple. Pipette tips can be loaded in either slot as the type and size of the pipette tips are determined by automated sensors. Reagents are loaded based on guides that snap on to the reagent rack. Samples are placed into the appropriate slots and the rotor adapters are assembled so that there is an elution tube on one side and the spin column on the other side. The adapters fit into the buckets in only one way so misloading cannot occur. The user then selects the protocol on the LCD screen, selects the sample volume and the elution volume and presses start. Various types of sensors determine the number of samples loaded on the machine, number of pipette tips, the protocol and its reagent volume needed for the sample size selected. If everything is ok, the run starts. If not, QIAcube notifies you of what needs attention. When all of these things are ok, then the run starts. When the run is finished, you discard the column from the top of the elution tube, close it and this is your final product.

I have found this unit exceedingly easy to use and have never encountered any contamination problems even when using very high cell number samples in a checkerboard and a reverse checkerboard each using different samples. Using the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit, I have found that the QIAcube delivers a nearly a five fold greater recovery as compared to using the kit manually with the same starting material and with the same starting and elution volumes. With the Blood Mini Kit, I have found nearly a two and half fold increase in recovery compared to the manual method. These experiments were repeated and results showing the high QIAcube yields were confirmed. In fact, some samples on the QIAquick PCR Purification kit gave low quantities and in one case gave undetectable levels of DNA while QIAcube gave yields close to the amount of input DNA. Overall, there was very high concordance in the amount of DNA recovered from samples using the same starting material on the QIAcube while the same could not be said in regards to the manual method which I performed myself and I am an experienced user of Qiagen column based products as I have used them for nearly 10 years. Because there are very few occasions where you handle the columns, the chance for contamination is almost eliminated.

We have recently implemented the use of 1µg of transfer or carrier RNA to each sample which appears to increase the yields from the Blood Mini Kit by approximately 30%. It also allows for a much higher yield from weak samples when purifying and concentrating. I believe this is going to be introduced by Qiagen for use with all kits that involve working with small amounts of DNA (e.g. CSF samples, viruses in various medium, etc.) We did not test this with the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit as we did not want to alter our previously customized method.

Some samples on the QIAquick PCR Purification kit gave low quantities and in one case gave undetectable levels of DNA while QIAcube gave yields close to the amount of input DNA. Overall, there was very high concordance in the amount of DNA recovered from samples using the same starting material on the QIAcube while the same could not be said in regards to the manual method which I performed myself and I am an experienced user of Qiagen column based products as I have used them for nearly 10 years. Because there are very few occasions where you handle the columns, the chance for contamination is almost eliminated.

Another great feature of the QIAcube is that because it is a fully automated system you can prepare your second batch of samples and plasticware while the first run is still running. This saves a significant amount of time and there is much less manual pipetting, reducing the risk of repetitive motion injuries. Improved results, automated pipetting, low risk of contamination, high concordance of results and fewer repetitive strains to staff. What more can a lab ask for?