Tube Auditor
The Azenta Life Sciences Tube Auditor performs quick and easy goods-in and goods-out QA checks to help ensure that your suppliers are providing what you ordered and that your customers are receiving what you promised.
- Quick measurement; cap & precipitate detection
- No tube decapping required
- Manual & remote operation; integration friendly
- Image storage and recall
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Product Details
The Tube Auditor is a fast, accurate and non-invasive device used to measure sample volume in microtubes. It can also be used to detect precipitate, and therefore to help understand sample quality. It works with capped tubes ensuring that sample quality is not compromised. The Tube Auditor is compatible with 96-SBS or 48-SBS format racks.
It can be used as a stand-alone unit or integrated into an automated system. If integrated into an automated system, an OPC license is required to enable remote control. It measures sample volume and detects precipitate using high-speed vision technology. The Tube Auditor gives confidence in sample quality (at both collection and output) and helps to reduce downstream costs and waste, which can arise from empty wells and precipitated samples.
Key Features
Operation & Performance
- High-speed measurement
- Accurate to better than +/- 10μl; minimizes downstream costs from the processing of empty tubes
- Precipitate detection: increases confidence in the concentration of delivered output samples
- Cap detection: helps avoid damage to liquid handling tips caused by failed de-cap operations
- No need to de-cap tubes: eliminates possibility of cross contamination
- Manual or remote operation: allows integration into automated system
- Image storage and recall: allows audit trail and provides ability to re-assess or re-analyze the image
Specifications
| Tube Auditor | |
|---|---|
| Volume measurement | ✔ |
| Cap detection | ✔ |
| Manual and remote operation | ✔ |
| User interface software | ✔ |
| Image capture and recall | Available with “Pro” version enabled only |
| Precipitate detection | Available with “Pro” version enabled only |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 872 x 433 x 433mm (34.33 x 17.05 x 17.05in) |
| Weight | 35kg (77lbs) |
| Power supply | 110-240 VAC 50/60Hz |
| PC | Microsoft Windows 10 |
| Output data format | CSV or XML(user configurable) |
Ordering Information
Part Numbers
Use these part numbers to request a quote, a demo, or to contact an expert:
| Tube Auditor compatible with 96-SBS racks | |
|---|---|
| 96-0001 | standard configuration; includes 1D Barcode Reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default |
| 96-0002 | equipped with 2D reader; includes all items mentioned on 96-0001 plus a 2D barcode reader for fast identification of racked 2D-coded sample tubes |
| 96-0003 | standard configuration for integration; includes 1D barcode reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default; also equipped with an OPC license (Open Platform Communications) for industrial telecommunication and system integration |
| 96-0004 | premium configuration; includes 1D barcode reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default; also equipped with a 2D barcode reader (for sample tubes) and with an OPC license for system integration |
| Tube Auditor compatible with 48-SBS racks | |
|---|---|
| 98-0001 | standard configuration; includes 1D barcode reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default |
| 98-0002 | equipped with 2D reader; includes all items mentioned on 98-0001 plus a 2D barcode reader for fast identification of racked 2D-coded sample tubes |
| 98-0003 | standard configuration for integration; includes 1D barcode reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default; also equipped with an OPC license (Open Platform Communications) for industrial telecommunication and system integration |
| 98-0004 | premium configuration; includes 1D barcode Reader (to identify the evaluated SBS-rack), PC and TA software used to assess volumes by default; also equipped with a 2D barcode reader (for sample tubes) and with an OPC license for system integration |
| Software License | |
|---|---|
| 97-0001 | Precipitate detection |
FAQs
Q: How does the Azenta Tube Auditor work?
A: The Tube Auditor uses a high-resolution vision system to detect the liquid meniscus within the sample tube. Once the position of the meniscus has been determined, the volume of liquid is calculated. Additional algorithms are used to detect the presence of a cap on the tube and also any precipitate in the base of the tube.
To correlate the meniscus position to a liquid volume, the Tube Auditor requires a calibration data set; calibration involves auditing a known set of tubes for which the actual volume in each tube is supplied in a data file. The instrument software automatically generates a calibration line, specific to the tube and liquid type, allowing sample volume to then be determined from the measured liquid height.
Q: What advantages does the Azenta Tube Auditor have over other methods / instruments?
A: Liquid volume may be determined by weighing the sample tube, however this requires the tare weight of the empty tube to be known, which may not always be available. Whilst an estimated tare weight may be used, significant variation in tube and cap weights has been observed, which can lead to inaccuracies.
Weighing sample tubes by hand is extremely time consuming and prone to error. Whilst instruments are available to help automate this process, they still take between 20 to 30 minutes to audit a rack of 96 tubes.
Liquid volume may also be calculated by determining the position of the meniscus using ultrasonic or other similar sensing technologies. Instruments using this technology rely on the tube being uncapped so that the sensor can ‘look down’ into the tube. This exposes the sample to possible moisture uptake and/or cross-contamination.
The Tube Auditor avoids the need to weigh sample tubes, operates with capped (or uncapped) tubes and combines accuracy with high speed operation.
Q: What liquids does the Azenta Tube Auditor work with?
A: The Tube Auditor has been tested with DMSOsolubilized samples, Water, DNA (in TE buffer), Plasma, Blood and Urine.
Q: How accurate is the Azenta Tube Auditor and is it affected by dimensional variations in labware?
A: The Tube Auditor vision system is capable of detecting sample volume changes to better than ±10μl, however overall system accuracy can be affected by a number of factors e.g. dimensional variations in labware, sample droplets on tube walls etc. The Tube Auditor is intended as a high-speed liquid level measurement device as compared to a high resolution measurement device, such as an analytical balance.
Q: What is the minimum amount of volume that can be detected?
A: The current version of the Azenta Tube Auditor can accurately measure volumes as low as 35 μl. Lower volumes can be detected with some compromise in accuracy.
Resources
All Resources
CATALOGS
Azenta Life Sciences Sample Consumables and Instruments Catalog
MANUALS & GUIDES
Tube Auditor User Manual
Compatible Products
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