(1353-B) Open-source, low-cost automation solution for passaging adherent cell cultures in 96-well microplates delivers time savings and more consistent results than manual methods

We have developed an automated cell culture appliance to passage cell libraries between 96-well plates while controlling for disparate cell density. The system is built around the low-cost Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot and features a custom imaging-based cell counting instrument to measure cell concentration for each well during harvesting. Here we present recent results from production usage and performance testing demonstrating a significant savings (>60%) in average hands-on time for a single plate as high quality outcomes of plates for microscopy and more consistent cell densities compared to manual methods. All software source code and hardware design material needed to reproduce the system is being published soon under open-source licenses.