September 12, Poway, CA, Brooks Life Science Systems, a division of Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS), a leading worldwide provider of automation solutions for compound and biological sample storage and management, announced today that Karolinska Institute Biobank (KI Biobank) is successfully using Brooks’ REMP single-use heat sealed sample tubes to secure the long-term storage of plasma, serum and urine samples in its automated biorepositories.
Brooks has worked with the biobanking experts at KI Biobank to support the development of a best practice workflow which minimizes freeze-thaw cycles and sample contamination. Brooks’ REMP single-use tubes were successfully integrated into a novel robot-driven automated workflow that offers maximum sample security within a temperature controlled environment to ensure the long-term availability of high quality biological samples to support biomedical research.
With hospitals and research institutes around the world building collections of biological samples as a resource for biomedical research, these biorepositories must be able to guarantee the long term, secure storage of vast sample sets. A number of studies (1, 2) have demonstrated the importance of minimizing freeze-thaw cycles and the negative effects of repeated sample exposure to the quality of blood serum and plasma samples.
Clint Haris, Vice President, General Manager, Brooks Life Science Systems added: “The adoption of single-use tubes by such a prestigious organization is validation of Brooks’ technology and we are very proud to be part of this collaboration. The development carried out by the team at the KI Biobank will help ensure a focus on sample integrity and set the standard for secure biological sample processing.”
Brooks’ REMP tubes address the key issues faced in biorepository sample management by providing a format that enables tubes to be picked and thawed once, avoiding repeated freezing and thawing and potential for contamination. In addition, the use of heat sealed tubes can save space and offer higher sample integrity at low temperatures versus alternative solutions.
1. Title: “Effect of haemolysis and repeated freeze-thawing cycles on wild boar serum antibody testing by ELISA”, by Mariana Boadella and Christian Gortázar, published in BMC Research Notes 2011, 4:498.
2. Title: “Impact of Freeze-thaw Cycles and Storage Time on Plasma Samples Used in Mass Spectrometry Based Biomarker Discovery Projects”, by Breeana L Mitchell, Yutaka Yasuie, Christopher I Li, Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Paul D Lampe, published in Cancer Informatics 2005:1 98-104.
About Brooks Life Science Systems
Brooks Life Science Systems is a leading worldwide provider of automation and related solutions for compound and biological sample storage, management and analysis. The Company combines the specialist expertise of industry-renowned brands, REMP®, Nexus, and RTS, together with the extensive R&D and global service capabilities of Brooks Automation.
REMP consumables are the industry leading solution for high integrity, cost effective sample storage tubes and plates. The heat seal provides the highest integrity of any sealing system at low temperatures, saving significant space when compared to a traditional cap and reducing potential interference of the sample caused by adhesives. The heat seal is available on all tubes in the range with working volumes of 40µl to 900µl.
Brooks Life Science Systems partners with its customers, working as a trusted advisor from specification, to system installation and ongoing service and customer support. From standardized bench top systems to custom installations, Brooks has the largest installed base of automated storage systems and support network in the Life Sciences industry, with more than 180 systems across the globe including the top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
As pioneers in automated storage, Brooks Life Science Systems continually focuses its R&D activities on providing innovative solutions to maintaining sample integrity and security during sample storage, handling, analyzing and processing applications. Solutions provided by Brooks are transforming the productivity and streamlining the workflow of scientists across a broad range of life science applications, including drug discovery and biobanking.
Brooks Life Science Systems is a division of Brooks Automation, Inc (NASDAQ: BRKS), a public listed company with headquarters in North America and operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.brooks.com
About Brooks Automation, Inc.
Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, life sciences, and clean energy. The Company’s technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market, and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, Brooks has been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing market and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions; the Company has expanded its reach to meet the needs of customers in the life sciences industry, analytical & research markets and clean energy solutions. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, with direct operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.brooks.com
“Safe Harbor Statement” under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Some statements in this release are forward-looking statements made under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause Brooks’ financial and business results to differ materially from our expectations. They are based on the facts known to management at the time they are made. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding future adoption of new technologies and our ability to develop further our business. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations and other risks that we have identified are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. As a result we can provide no assurance that our future results will not be materially different from those projected. Brooks expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Brooks undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dr Lynne Trowbridge, Dimithri Wignarajah, Dr Rebecca Caygill
College Hill Life Sciences
Tel: +44 20 7866 7858
Email: BLSS@collegehill.com
