Biotage Extrahera LV-200 Sample Prep Workstation

Significance of the Topic

The ability to prepare low-volume samples reproducibly and efficiently is critical in modern analytical chemistry, especially for bioanalysis, environmental testing and drug development workflows. Automation at volumes as low as 5 µL reduces human error, increases throughput and ensures data integrity under GLP regulations.

Objectives and Study Overview

This brochure introduces the Biotage Extrahera LV-200, an automated sample preparation workstation designed to process sample volumes from 5 to 800 µL using positive pressure. The system aims to combine the flexibility of manual pipetting with the digital traceability of a liquid handler in a compact footprint.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The LV-200 integrates:

• An eight-channel positive-pressure-driven pipette head compatible with 50, 200 and 1 000 µL tips (including wide-bore tips).
• Five solvent pumps with automatic and manual reservoir feed (5×100 mL each).
• Positive pressure unit adjustable from 0 to 5 bar for uniform flow control and plate drying at 5 bar, 600 mL/min.
• A 96-position deck (upper and lower) accommodating solvent tips, sample tips, extraction plates, collection plates and accessories.
• An intuitive 12″ capacitive touch interface with optional GLP upgrade, requiring no specialized programming skills.
• External interfaces: Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), USB 2.0, compressed air and optional nitrogen for plate drying.

Main Features and Discussion

The LV-200 demonstrates pipetting precision within 1–5 % CV across tip sizes and volumes. Positive-pressure operation ensures consistent processing regardless of sample viscosity, unlike vacuum manifolds. The simple user interface allows point-and-click method setup, facilitating rapid training of new operators without dedicated software engineering support.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Extrahera LV-200 provides:

• High reproducibility and accuracy in low-volume SPE, SLE, PPT and protein/phospholipid depletion protocols.
• Reduced consumable costs and bench space due to its small footprint.
• Enhanced GLP compliance with audit trails and optional barcode scanning.
• Seamless integration into drug discovery, clinical, forensic, environmental and food safety laboratories.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advancements in analytical automation may include AI-driven method optimization, expanded multimode workflows for biomolecule purification, integration with LC-MS/MS systems through direct plate interfaces and further miniaturization for single-cell analysis. Enhanced connectivity and cloud-based data management will support remote monitoring and data integrity.

Conclusion

The Biotage Extrahera LV-200 addresses the growing demand for reliable, low-volume automated sample preparation. Its combination of positive-pressure control, flexible deck configuration and user-friendly software delivers robust performance across diverse analytical applications while maintaining GLP traceability.

References

1. Biotage. Extrahera LV-200 Sample Prep Workstation Brochure. 2021.