Assay Manager interface for Overlord3

Assay Manager is a simple way to run your laboratory automation assays on a day-to-day basis.

Assay Manager allows the user to walk up and use an Overlord3 workcell, answer a few question relating to the assay, load the plates into the system as directed, hit go and walk away.

Assay Manager allows multiple automation platforms to have identical user interfaces with all the usability and training benefits that brings.

categories laboratory automation schedulers Overlord3 lab auto control software Overlord3 drivers Overlord3 remote control 3rd party equipment control Overlord3 software development kit user access control for Overlord3 Assay Manager interface for Overlord3 Upgrade to Overlord3 Redd & Whyte Preddator dispenser is powered by Overlord3

download app note Assay Manager for Overlord3 download app note Assay Manager description download file/document Novel ways of controlling laboratory automated work cells

Traditionally laboratory automation software packages like Overlord3 have been used to control an automated workcell on a day-to-day basis.  The flexibility of such an automated control package is a strength and a weakness. We know that we can apply Overlord3 to control small and large workcells.

The requirement to run Overlord3, load the required Overlord3 procedure and then answer the dialog box questions to ensure the automated workcell is setup and ready to run, is not as intuitive as it deals with the process not the user’s batch of samples. 

Assay Manager allows the user to walk up and use an Overlord3 workcell, answer a few question relating to the assay, load the plates into the system as directed, hit go and walk away.

Assay Manager is an additional piece of software used to interface the system user with the automation workcell.  The Assay Manager user interface allows the user to add batches of samples to the automation system, review the current status of the automation system and add new user processes.

On selecting the Add function, the user is presented with a dialog box requesting information about the batch of samples or plates, these details would relate to the standard operating procedure and could be information such as; number of samples, liquid handler or plate reader protocol name and liquid dispensing volumes.

On completion of these key details, the user is directed to load the samples in a prescribed stack or incubator and when the automation system is ready to run, the batch of samples is processed.  The display screen shows the user that the run is underway and also on completion, the user is advised where to collect the output plates. Then a second and third user can load their batches of plates on to the automation system and these batches will be run sequentially.

• one click to add a new batch of assays
• one user interface for multiple platforms
• optional inventory management on your automated workcell
• efficient laboratory automation
• integrate any of the 408 instruments in the Overlord3 driver list
• Runtime review screen

• easy to set up a batch of samples
• easy to train staff to use automated workcells
• reduces system complexity to a user
• full inventory guarantees sample tracking
• see users choose automation over manual procedures
• improve lab efficiency at a stroke
• build an automated system around YOUR choice of equipment
• View what is happening on your workcell.

The screen has three areas:
Queued Batches – use the Add button to add a new batch of assays.  Once the information has been processed, the batch is passed to the Running Batches section.

Running Batch – the top entry is processed and the parameter data is passed to the Overlord3 runtime engine, and the batch is processed on the automation workcell.  Once the batch has be completed on the automation workcell the batch is passed to the Completed Batches section.

Completed Batches – The completed batched are placed here, use the Remove button to delete the catch and information of where the batch samples are located for removal from the automated workcell.

Login as administration to access the setup parameters

Setup, dependent on the assay but includes Labware and Protocol setups

Plate Inventory, where the plates are located during any batch run

Use Assay Manager as a user interface to your automated system, and see the benefits of productive as users choose automation over manual sample preparation and management.

Assay Manager has the advantages of efficiency and out of office hours use of expensive capital equipment and has been adopted in a number of pharmaceutical laboratories.

download app note
Assay Manager for Overlord3