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Scientists study the activity of thousands of genes at any given time through expression microarray technology. A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots, commonly representing single genes, displayed on a solid surface. Microarrays can be fabricated using a variety of technologies, including printing with fine-pointed pins onto glass slides. Thousands of gene sequences are printed onto a single microscope slide, resulting in a microarray.
Microarrays provides custom microarray printing. Microarray printing involves a robot that takes DNA or RNA samples and puts an array of that sample onto microscope slides (up to 240 slides at one time). Microarrays creates and sells slides to labs; it also custom prints samples to customer specifications. And it provides a “roadmap” of the slides to customers.
Soltus was initially engaged to help Microarrays with their robot. A power surge had corrupted its programming. Soltus provided a solution in three areas. First, we fixed the mechanical problem with the robot. Second, we rewrote the system job file, enabling Microarrays to perform different kinds of printing. Finally, we provided the missing training and documentation for the operators.
After Soltus fixed the initial problem, Microarrays contracted our services to help expand their service offering into the pre-arrayed marketplace. This was accomplished by modifying the system to allow for higher density printing on each slide. In addition, this project helps increase their sample plate capacity from 15 to 40.
Software Applied
- Microsoft Visual Basic 6
Hardware Utilized
- Compumotor 6K
Who We Worked With
- Internal Engineering Department