AltoStar® Automation System AM16
The AltoStar® Automation System AM16 is a robotic pipetting workstation used for sample purification and PCR setup controlled by the AltoStar® Connect software. It is intended to be used in combination with the AltoStar® Purification Kit 1.5, the AltoStar® Internal Control 1.5 and altona Diagnostics PCR kits for automated purification of nucleic acids and automated assay setup for in vitro diagnostic purposes.
The AltoStar® AM16 is intended for use by professional users trained in molecular biological techniques and the operation of the AltoStar® AM16 instrument.
The AltoStar® Automation System AM16 is a robotic pipetting workstation used for sample purification and PCR setup controlled by the AltoStar® Connect software. 
AltoStar® AM16 with description of main elements: The work surface is called a ‘deck’, for placing loadable carriers. These carriers hold reagent containers, such as tubes, microplates, and other kinds of labware. 
The UV Kit has been developed in order to offer the possibility of UV decontamination of the AltoStar® AM16 workspace.
Introduction AltoStar® Automation System AM16
Key features
Entire workflow
- The AltoStar® AM16 is CE-IVD marked
- DNA and RNA purification in parallel with one-for-all chemistry AltoStar® Purification Kit 1.5 (CE-IVD)
- Real-time PCR reaction setup by using the altona Diagnostics PCR kits (CE-IVD)
- Automated cycler programming with AltoStar® Connect software (CE-IVD)
- Expandable system for additional thermal cycler (CFX96™ Deep Well Dx System, IVD / Bio-Rad)
Process safety
- Traceability: barcoded reagents for full process control
- Ready-to-use reagents for consistent quality
- Lot checking
- Expiry date checking
- Total Aspiration and Dispense Monitoring (TADM) – proven technology from Hamilton
High flexibility
- All sample types in one run
- Analyze up to four pathogens from a single sample
- Combine up to eight real-time PCR assays on a 96 well plate
- Scalable from 1–96 reactions, no minimum batch size
- 500 µl and 1000 µl sample volume possible in one run
- Sample carriers can be unloaded any time after sample processing
Any sample type
- CE-IVD marked purification kit validated for whole blood, EDTA plasma, urine, stool and swabs in UTM
- One purification kit for both DNA and RNA assays
- One universal internal control for entire workflow (AltoStar® Internal Control 1.5, CE-IVD)
Convenience
- Ready-to-use reagents for extraction and real-time PCR
- Use of primary or secondary sample tubes
- Freely selectable positions for samples
- Load backup reagents and consumables
- No refill or mixing of solutions necessary
- Full access to eluates
- User friendly control software AltoStar® Connect (see under AltoStar® product range)
AltoStar® Automation System AM16
| Order no. | AM16 |
| For use with | AltoStar® Purification Kit 1.5 AltoStar® Internal Control 1.5 CFX96™ Deep Well Dx System (IVD, Bio-Rad) |
Additionally included in package AltoStar® Molecular Diagnostic Workflow
| Products | AltoStar® Connect software AltoStar® Plate Sealer AltoStar® AM16 PC |
Dimensions and weight
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 1124 mm x 903 mm x 795 mm (transport size) 1010 mm (with loading tray) 1200 mm (with loading tray and carriers on loading tray) |
| Weight | Approx. 140 kg |
Operating data
| Maximum power consumption | ≤ 600VA |
| Voltage | 115 VAC / 230 VAC ± 10 % |
| Delayed action fuse | 115 V~: 6.3 A (T6.3AL250) 230 V~: 3.15 A (T3.15A250) |
| Installation category | II |
| Pollution degree | 2 |
| Temperature range | 15 °C to 30 °C / indoor use only |
| Relative humidity | 15 % to 85 % (no condensation) |
| Noise level | < 65dBA (regarding EN27779) |
| Altitude | Up to 2000 m above sea level |
Transportation and storage
| Transportation | Truckage company / AltoStar® AM16 instrument is installed or relocated by a Hamilton trained field service engineer. |
| Temperature range | -25 °C to +70 °C / Indoor storage only |
| Relative humidity | 10 % to 90 % (no condensation, indoors) |
AltoStar® Automation System AM16
| Veröffentlichungsdatum: | 10/2017 |
| Release date: | 10/2017 |
| Date de sortie: | 10/2017 |
| Fecha de lanzamiento: | 10/2017 |
| Data de lançamento: | 10/2017 |
| Data di rilascio: | 10/2017 |
| Ngày ban hành: | 10/2017 |
• Input samples and PCR assays assignments or import all information from LIMS – Create run
• Preparation / pretreatment of samples – Start purification – Load reagents and samples
• Sample purification results – Purification run results are saved in the AltoStar® Connect SW
• Unload reagents and samples after purification
• Prepare reagents (thawed, mixed, centrifuged) and samples (eluate plate)
• Prepare material required for the PCR run (PCR plate sealing foil, plate sealer, CFX96™ cycler)
• Start PCR setup run – System now performs the PCR setup automatically
• PCR setup run results are saved in the AltoStar® Connect software
• After a PCR setup run a PCR setup report (pdf file), a file for the LIMS and a cycler file are created
• Cycler file contains information regarding the temperature profile, fluorescence detector settings,
controls (QS and NTC) and sample names – Start PCR run
• PCR results automatically be saved in a defined folder in LIMS and a PDF-report is created at a
predefined location for analysis
AltoStar® Automation System AM16
| Release date: | 03.02.2020 |
| Release date: | 18.02.2020 |
| Release date: | 08/2022 |
| Release date: | 09/2022 |