How to provide state of the art equipment that must last for years Nicolas BONJEAN Head of Infrastructure and Technical implementation Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine University of Luxembourg 1
Get some knowledge, stating the obvious o Visit lab equipment fairs, conferences o Stay connected (newsletters, magazines) o Visit labs having the equipment for at least one year o During your visit talk to the final user o Do not purchase the recently developped 2
Criterias guiding an equipment purchase 3
Criterias guiding an equipment purchase Who is paying the bill? Does it mater? 4
Criterias guiding an equipment purchase Additionnal considerations following the EU public procurement directive: o Environmental protection o Social responsibility o Sustainability 5
Some safeguards: contractual clauses o Late commissioning penalties Usually 0,2% of total price / day with ceiling at 20% o FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) Specifications in the contract are met (quality, compliance, performances, ) o SAT (Site Acceptance Test) o CAT (Customer Acceptance Test) ( IQ OQ for basic equipment ) 6
Some safeguards: contractual clauses o Late commissioning penalties Usually 0,2% of total price / day with ceiling at 20% o FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) o SAT (Site Acceptance Test) o CAT (Customer Acceptance Test) o Warranty period 7
Involving final users 8
Involving final users 9
Who are the final users? Research project steps 1. Write projects to get grant (success rate, limited duration) 2. Recruit staff (temporary contract?) 3. Purchase equipment / materials (if tender min. 5 months) 4. Install equipment (from one week to 6 months installation) 5. Learn how to use equipment (from one day to several months) 6. Work on the research project 7. Write paper proposal 8. Choose the right journal to submit paper 9. Hopefully publish paper, patent, 10. Write report to the funding agency The result of the project output will determine the future of the career! 10
General lab equipment selection : a few considerations Fridges, freezers, Ultrafreezers Biosafety cabinet Incubators 11
Fridge/ freezer for Solvents* *safety presentation from Dr David Kinninson, Safety Adviser University of Southampton 12
Fridge/ freezer for Solvents* *safety presentation from Dr David Kinninson, Safety Adviser University of Southampton 13
Fridge/ freezer for Solvents* *safety presentation from Dr David Kinninson, Safety Adviser University of Southampton 14
Fridge / freezer: a few considerations o Domestic fridges are not designed for labs o Static vs dynamic cooling Dynamic: better homogeneity & reactivity Static: best for long storage (drying) or powders o Passage cable hole? o Independent monitoring? 15
Incubators: a few considerations o Static vs dynamic heat distribution: Dynamic offers better homogeneity & reactivity Static is best for long incubation (drying) or powders o Cooled incubator if setpoint <5 C above room temp. o Passage cable hole? o Independent monitoring? o Check by certification bodies? Acceptance if succeeded. 16
Incubators: a few considerations o Current trend : more and more Peltier effect «Integrated» heating and cooling => energy efficiency No compressor vibration 17
Biosafety cabinet: a few considerations o Passage cable hole? o VHP decontamination? o Custom design: agree early on about validation parameters 18
Ultrafreezers: protecting the treasure of the lab 19
Ultrafreezers: protecting the treasure of the lab 20
Ultrafreezers: protecting the treasure of the lab Zurich Municipal (insurance company UK) Ultra cold freezer storage: «Risk management guide for research material» 21
Ultrafreezer: what can go wrong? Failure to shut doors Maintenance Once a month Remove ice from the doors and the gaskets 22
Ultrafreezers: what can go wrong Heat exchanges in a -80 C freezer o Conventional air heat exchanger COMPRESSOR COMPRESSOR -10 +60 +10 +90 Evaporator Heat Air Cooled Chamber Exchanger Condenser -96-40 40-60 -40-26 +26 CAPILLARY TUBES CAPILLARY TUBES 23
Ultrafreezers: how does it work? Heat exchanges in a -80 C freezer o Water heat exchanger Advantages Less heat released in the room 30% faster recovery time Energy efficiency, cost saving, 24
Ultrafreezers: how does it work? Important considerations Localization The temperature of the room should be around 20 C If no water cooling system, 40 C are transferred to the air only with the air cooled condenser 25
Freezer maintenance Clean the filter to avoid accumulation of dust who could damage the condenser => Visual inspection of the gaskets of the doors and repair if damaged! 26
Ultrafreezers: preparing for disaster Monitoring systems In case of power failure, responsible people are notified by email or text message CO 2, LN 2 backup system In case of power failure, the samples are cooled with CO 2 (+/- 15 hours) or LN 2. Are the bottles full when you need them? Long Pull Up time in case of power failure Cryo accumulators (+ max 6 hours) You feel protected, but how long will it take to repair/replace your freezer? 27
Ultrafreezers: preparing for disaster Monitoring systems In case of power failure, responsible people are notified by email or text message Empty Backup freezers availability (free of samples but filled with water bottles to avoid unnecessary compressor usage) 2 Independent compressors In case of failure, the second one takes over Involve final user to know what backup strategy is best! 28
Ultrafreezers Power consumption Supplier Power consumption (KWh/day) Esco 16 (553 L) Thermo 15-17 (521 L) Panasonic 9.3 (526 L) Eppendorf 13.2 (535 L) Froilabo 18 (515 L) Arctiko 12 (413 L) Gram 13.5 (570 L) Binder 13.9 (483 L) * Based on information available on manufacturer website in April 2017 29
Ultrafreezers Power consumption Supplier Manufacturer A: Power consumption Energy consumption (KWh/day) at setpoint -80 C and ambient Esco 16 (553 L) temperature = 25 C (+/- 10 %) Are the numbers Thermo [kwh/d] 15-17 (521 L) presented in the Panasonic 9.3 (526 L) Manufacturer B: technical Eppendorf Typical data - individual 13.2 (535 units L) brochures Froilabomay vary and power 18 (515 L) comparable, consumption will depend on Arctiko 12 (413 L) reliable? loading and operating Gram conditions. 13.5 (570 L) Binder Freezer set-point 14-80 C, (711 L) ambient temperature 23 C, * Based on information unloaded, available 230V 50Hz on power manufacturer website in April 2017 supply. 30
Topten initiative Topten is strictly neutral and independent from manufacturers and retailers, its selection criteria are always published online. Topten ACT is supported by the European Commission s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 (grant agreement No. 649647), and many national organisations (energy agencies, environmental and consumer organisations, research institutes). The Topten ACT project involves 17 partners in 16 European countries. 31
Lab equipment trend o Microfluidic 32
An automated cell culture and screening platform Ibrahim Boussaad Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine University of Luxembourg 33 PEARL SAB Meeting 30.06.2016
Automated cell culture & screening platform 34
Implementation: Oct 2015 35
Devices and functions Instrument 1 BioMek FX 2 BioMek NX 3 Echo550 4 Opera 5 Zeiss Palm 6 ViCell 7 X-Peel 8 ALPS 3000 9 SCARA 10 Cytomat 11 Sigma 6K 12 Cap-it All 13 Sci-Print 14Biosafety Cabinet 36 Function Screening liquid handler Cell culture liquid handler Acoustic dispenser Confocal high content microscope Laser microscope for ipsc colony cleaning Cell viability Peeling foils on plates Sealing foils on plates Arm robot on rail Incubator (4 c to 37 c) Centrifuge Tube capper/decapper Printer / labeler BSL2 enclosure
Using the Zeiss PALM as stand alone device A C 37
Acoustic Dispenser (nanoliter range) Labcyte Echo - Contactless dispensing (no tips) - 2.5nl droplets dispensing - Transfer plate to plate - Dose Response Curve - Cherry Picking Compound library screening qpcr pipetting in 384-well format 38
Acoustic dispensing of compound libraries Advantages - Saves tip costs - Only 50 nl compound/well - Compound stored in DMSO - Easy cherry picking of hits Service we can offer Fast screenings Plates pre-spotted with compounds 39
Take home message o Energy cost: who is paying the bill at the end? o Involve user in the equipment selection to avoid future frustration o Create awareness on the importance of maintenance & its recording o Preparing the future : flexibility and more flexibility 40