Lab Med Online.  2023 Jul;13(3):199-204. 10.47429/lmo.2023.13.3.199.

Evaluation of a Robotic Liquid Handler, Andrew+, for Sample Preparation for LC-MS/MSBased Quantitation of Immunosuppressants in Whole Blood

• Chae H
• Kim H
• Kim JE
• Lee JJ
• Cho SE
• Kim S
• Lee K
• Lee SG
• Lee YW
• Park HD
• Park S
• Song SH
• Chun S
• Song J
• CMSRC(iawtKSoCC(

• KMID: 2552744
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47429/lmo.2023.13.3.199

Abstract

monitoring (TDM) of immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs). However, many laboratories that employ LC-MS/MS assays for TDM of ISDs use manual sample preparation steps.
Methods
We implemented a semi-automated sample preparation method based on protein precipitation, using an Andrew+ liquid handler, integrated with an LC-MS/MS-based TDM assay for four ISDs (tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus, and cyclosporine A). The feasibility and analytical performance were analyzed and compared with those of the manual sample preparation method using 163 clinical samples.
Results
The total execution time of Andrew+-based sample preparation method was 55 minutes (including off-line centrifugation) for 48 samples. However, the hands-on time was significantly reduced than that of the manual sample preparation method. The average repeatability and within-laboratory precision of the assay were acceptable (CV ≤ 10%), and the results of manual and Andrew+-based sample preparation methods were equivalent.
Conclusions
The sample preparation method using the Andrew+ liquid handler was successfully integrated with LC-MS/MS-based TDM assays for ISDs. Sample preparation using Andrew+ was reproducible, standardized, and enabled excellent utilization of technical staff time. Although further optimization for full automation is still pursued, this study indicates the potential of integrating liquid handers with LC-MS/MSbased assays in the clinical setting.

Keyword

Automated liquid handling; Immunosuppressive drug; Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry; Sample preparation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Andrew+ pipetting robot system layout. 1) A tool arm that holds and charges up to four pipettes, 2) a robotic arm for pipette and plate handling, 3) two pipette tip insertion system dominos, 4) two conical microtube dominos, 5) a deep well microplate domino, 6) a microplate domino, and 7) a microplate shaker device.

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  Fig. 2 Workflow of the sample preparation process using the Andrew+ pipetting robot system configured for liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry immunosuppressant analysis.

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