Sample Reformatting

Sample Reformatting Overview

Sample reformatting is the process by which samples (chemicals, blood, tissue, etc.) are extracted from storage tubes or higher-volume storage plates, and moved into a format which is more conducive to further automation-based manipulation. This process takes several steps and involves the use of a variety of tools and systems which carry out one or more of the following tasks:

• Homogenization
  
• Solubilization
  
• Dilution
  
• Re-organization
  
• Re-suspension

The end-point of the sample reformatting process is generally a micro-titer-plate-based organization of the samples of interest in a near-ready-to-use format for further storage and use. The reformatting process makes “near-assay-ready” plates for:

• High-Throughput Screening (HTS)
  
• High-Content Screening or Analysis (HCS, HCA)
  
• Gene Expression Analysis
  
• RNAi- based Gene Knockout Studies
  
• PCR-based forensic analysis
  
• Blood-based disease analysis

In general, once samples are reformatted, they are ready for further near or medium-term storage, or for near-term or immediate preparation for analysis. Microplates are either sealed of lidded for short or medium-term storage so as to be more ready for final-stage preparation and final analysis.