Laboratory automation

Laboratory automation is a multi-disciplinary strategy to research, develop, optimize and capitalize on technologies in the laboratory that enable new and improved processes. Laboratory automation professionals are academic, commercial and government researchers, scientists and engineers who conduct research and develop new technologies to increase productivity, elevate experimental data quality, reduce lab process cycle times, or enable experimentation that otherwise would be impossible.
The most widely known application of laboratory automation technology is <a href="/facts/Laboratory_robotics/3LCzTt6d">laboratory robotics</a>. More generally, the field of laboratory automation comprises many different automated laboratory <a href="/facts/Laboratory_equipment/ExprhaRV">instruments</a>, devices (the most common being <a href="/facts/Autosampler/Ys4vFHoL">autosamplers</a>), software algorithms, and methodologies used to enable, expedite and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of scientific research in laboratories.

The application of technology in today's laboratories is required to achieve timely progress and remain competitive. Laboratories devoted to activities such as <a href="/facts/High-throughput_screening/503vkz1b">high-throughput screening</a>, <a href="/facts/Combinatorial_chemistry/WW2SSJnq">combinatorial chemistry</a>, automated clinical and analytical testing, diagnostics, large-scale biorepositories, and many others, would not exist without advancements in laboratory automation. Some universities offer entire programs that focus on lab technologies. For example, <a href="http://www.iupui.edu">Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis</a> offers a graduate program devoted to Laboratory Informatics. Also, the <a href="http://www.kgi.edu/">Keck Graduate Institute</a> in <a href="/facts/California/zLW2vdQJ">California</a> offers a graduate degree with an emphasis on development of assays, instrumentation and data analysis tools required for clinical diagnostics, <a href="/facts/High-throughput_screening/503vkz1b">high-throughput screening</a>, <a href="/facts/Genotyping/GRyXkRcn">genotyping</a>, <a href="/facts/Microarray/LvJeNodc">microarray</a> technologies, <a href="/facts/Proteomics/3aqQ1tFh">proteomics</a>, <a href="/facts/Image_processing/zenalNCf">imaging</a> and other applications.

Laboratory automation open-in-new

Laboratory automation