The Abbott PLEX-ID system is an integrated system designed to work stand-alone to perform autosampling, desalting, injection, detection, data analysis, and reporting. Key PLEX-ID specifications include:
- The ability to work types including blood, food, water, and other biological matrixes
- An autosampler with the ability to handle up to 15 x 96-well plates for unattended operation
- A priority sample drawer to provide immediate testing of priority samples
- A single integrated software module that controls sample preparation, instrument settings, acquisition, data analysis, reporting, and trouble-shooting
- A integrated barcode reader to register samples and track results through to reporting
- An automated de-salting system to sequentially remove salts from each PCR product and inject for ESI-TOF analysis
- A high resolution, accurate ESI-TOF mass spectrometer to determine the accurate mass of the amplicons injected
- An algorithm to convert the accurate mass of the amplicons associated with each sample into a base composition
- A >750,000 entry library that links base composition for multiple primer pairs to microbial identification down to the genus, species, or serovar level
- A software algorithm to identify mutations or SNPs in the organisms identified
- Throughput of up to 250 samples in an eight hour period
- Data acquisition of 30 seconds per well to support high throughput testing
- System components:
- Built in uninterrupted power supply
- Built in vacuum system
- Instrument controller
- ESI-TOF mass spectrometer
- Zero air generator
- On-board PC
- Touch screen graphical user interface and printer
This integrated solution provides for the analysis of up to 15 x 96-well plates for a total unattended analysis time of over 12 hours. First sample results are available just 15 minutes post-PCR with each well requiring 30 seconds for analysis for a total throughput of up to 250 samples per day.
