Sweatshops of biotechnology

From: Akos Szilvasi (Akos_Szilvasi@biogen.com)
Date: Wed Sep 04 2002 - 15:27:09 EST


We are a rather high volume biotech flow lab. I sent out a desperate
letter over a year ago about the lack of automated cytometers. The
situation is much worse this year. The volume is increasing (we generate
up to 2.6 GB data a month - just analyzes, without the sorter files). Most
of that "manually" on the Caliburs. A genuine, authentic sweatshop like
the ones in Asia making sneakers or other garment.

The flow cytometry labs are the bottleneck of biotech research. We slow
down the progress by not being able to handle enough samples. The
manufacturers admit the problem, acknowledge the need but in response new
9 color MANUAL cytometers come to the market with the promise of a FUTURE
automated sample handling extension as a teaser.

The sad and disappointing aspect is that the whole biotech and other
research is automated. The technology is out there. Only we have no access
to it because no one bothers to adopt it (if they can not invent such
devices).

How do you run  500+ sample experiments?


Regards, Akos

(PS: This is a 10+ years old request. )



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