Grant FTA-1 Personal Waste Aspirator for Microplate and Centrifuge Tube Applications

Overview

The Grant FTA-1 Personal Waste Aspirator is a compact, benchtop vacuum-based liquid aspiration system engineered for precise, low-risk removal of residual reagents from microcentrifuge tubes, PCR tubes, and microplate wells during nucleic acid purification, protein precipitation, and cell suspension workflows. Unlike high-vacuum aspirators intended for bulk waste disposal, the FTA-1 operates at a controlled −500 mbar vacuum pressure—optimized to remove ethanol, isopropanol, wash buffers, and supernatants without inducing aerosol generation, tube collapse, or cross-contamination. Its core architecture integrates a brushless DC pump, a single-use or replaceable hydrophobic microbial filter (FA-1), and a 1 L polypropylene collection bottle with integrated level indicator. The system complies with fundamental biosafety principles outlined in WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (4th ed.) and supports GLP-aligned documentation when paired with traceable accessories and maintenance logs.

Key Features

• Controlled low-vacuum operation (−500 mbar) minimizes splashing, foaming, and aerosol formation during aspiration of volatile solvents such as 70% ethanol or 100% isopropanol.
• Integrated hydrophobic microbial filter (0.027 µm pore size) provides >99.9% retention of bacteria, yeasts, and mycoplasma; certified per ASTM F838-22 for bacterial challenge testing.
• Compact footprint (140 × 180 × 220 mm) and 12 V DC operation enable safe deployment inside laminar flow hoods, CO₂ incubators, and cold rooms—no mains voltage required at point-of-use.
• Dual-tip holder accommodates two standard 200 µL pipette tips; optional MA-8 adapter enables parallel aspiration across eight tubes or wells using multichannel tips (MA-8T).
• All fluid-path components—including PE tubing, filter housing, and bottle cap—are autoclavable (121°C, 15 min) or compatible with 70% ethanol disinfection.
• Low-noise pump (<45 dB(A)) ensures non-disruptive operation in shared laboratory environments and QC laboratories requiring ISO/IEC 17025-compliant ambient conditions.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The FTA-1 is validated for use with common molecular biology consumables: 0.5–2.0 mL microcentrifuge tubes (including LoBind and PCR-grade variants), 96-well and 384-well microplates (flat, round, and V-bottom), and standard tissue culture flasks during gentle trypsinization or buffer exchange steps. It meets essential functional requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for in vitro diagnostic support equipment and aligns with USP <1043> guidance on auxiliary equipment used in sterile processing. While not a medical device itself, its design facilitates adherence to CLSI EP29-A and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 expectations for audit-ready usage logs when integrated with lab information management systems (LIMS).

Software & Data Management

The FTA-1 is a standalone hardware device with no embedded firmware or digital interface. However, its mechanical reliability and consistent aspiration performance support integration into digitally governed workflows: maintenance intervals (e.g., filter replacement every 50 hours of cumulative runtime), calibration verification records, and usage logs can be documented manually or via LIMS modules compliant with Annex 11 and ALCOA+ data integrity principles. Optional MA-8 kits include serialized lot numbers traceable to filter validation reports, enabling full chain-of-custody tracking for regulated environments.

Applications

• Post-ethanol wash aspiration in silica-membrane–based DNA/RNA extraction protocols (e.g., QIAamp, NucleoSpin).
• Removal of denaturation or binding buffers during phenol-chloroform extractions and column-based clean-up steps.
• Gentle detachment and suspension of adherent mammalian cells in low-serum or enzyme-free dissociation buffers.
• Drainage of excess media prior to fixation or staining in immunocytochemistry workflows.
• Emptying of spent wash buffers from ELISA plates following automated plate washer cycles—serving as secondary containment backup.

FAQ

Is the FTA-1 suitable for aspiration of infectious or BSL-2 samples?
Yes—when used with intact hydrophobic filters (FA-1) and properly sealed collection bottles, it meets primary containment requirements for BSL-2 work per CDC/NIH guidelines. Filter integrity must be verified before each use.
Can the system be connected to a central vacuum line?
No—the FTA-1 is designed exclusively for self-contained operation using its internal 12 V DC pump. Central vacuum connections are incompatible and void warranty.
What is the recommended service interval for the FA-1 filter?
Replace after 50 hours of cumulative runtime or immediately upon visible saturation, pressure drop >10%, or breakthrough indicated by condensate in the pump head.
Does the MA-8 adapter support all 8-channel pipettors?
It is mechanically compatible with Gilson, Eppendorf, and Rainin multichannel pipettes using universal tip-fit geometry; tip ejection force remains within ISO 8655-2 specifications.
Is the collection bottle graduated?
Yes—the 1 L polypropylene bottle features molded volume markings at 250 mL increments and a transparent fill-level window for real-time monitoring.