New Automated Tube DeCapper Enhances Lab Productivity

Hamilton Company has introduced the DeCapper - an automated instrument for the opening and closing of screw-capped tubes. The programmable DeCapper opens a row of 12 tubes simultaneously, increasing productivity over one-at-a-time methods and providing more flexibility than systems that decap 96 tubes at once.

Many quality and safety functions have been designed into the Hamilton DeCapper. The instrument operates from outside to inside rows, eliminating the possibility of drip contamination that can occur with the 96-tube decappers. Built-in torque monitoring ensures a consistent seal and reports the exact location in the event a tube is not completely sealed. After removal, the caps are placed on a separate, removable cap holder, which enables batch processing. Ideal applications for the DeCapper include storage of biological materials like DNA, cells, blood, tissue and plant materials as well as compound library storage in drug discovery research.

The DeCapper can operate as a standalone system or controlled by the MicroLab® Venus One software, for integration with Hamilton Robotics´ automated pipetting workstations. For added flexibility, the DeCapper remains available for manual runs without removing it from the integrated workstation. It is also an ideal accessory for the Sample Access Manager platforms from Hamilton Storage Technologies, including the company´s -20°C and -80°C storage systems.

The DeCapper is compatible with tubes from Matrix, Micronic and Nunc. 'Our new DeCapper adds functionality to Hamilton systems and also works well in standalone use,' commented Jason March, dealer product business unit manager for Hamilton. 'It delivers the combination of flexibility and throughput that all labs are looking for today.'