KURABO AUTO24S Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System

Overview

The KURABO AUTO24S Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction System is a benchtop, pressure-driven nucleic acid purification platform engineered for precision, reproducibility, and workflow integration in molecular diagnostics, clinical research, and high-throughput genomics laboratories. Unlike bead-based or centrifuge-dependent systems, the AUTO24S employs a proprietary multi-pore membrane technology—featuring an ultra-thin 80 µm membrane—to enable solid-phase binding, washing, and elution through controlled pneumatic pressure cycles. This eliminates reliance on external centrifuges, magnetic separators, or consumable beads, reducing variability introduced by mechanical inconsistencies or reagent lot differences. The system supports both genomic DNA and RNA isolation from diverse sample types including whole blood, buffy coat, cultured cells, and homogenized tissue, with validated recovery of fragments ranging from 175 bp to 97 kb—critical for long-read sequencing library preparation and PCR-based assays requiring intact high-molecular-weight DNA.

Key Features

• Benchtop footprint (W × D × H: 360 × 420 × 380 mm) designed for space-constrained BSL-2 labs and core facility integration.
• True walk-away automation: Load samples and reagents into standardized cartridges, select pre-validated protocol via intuitive touchscreen interface, and initiate processing—no manual intervention required during lysis, binding, wash, or elution steps.
• Integrated thermal lysis module (programmable up to 85°C) enables efficient cell disruption without external heating blocks or protease addition for many sample types.
• UV-C irradiation chamber (254 nm, 15 W) automatically activates between runs to decontaminate internal fluid paths and cartridge interfaces, minimizing carryover risk and supporting GLP-compliant operation.
• Three-stage pressure-controlled fluid handling: precise differential pressure application ensures uniform membrane wetting, consistent binding kinetics, and quantitative elution—eliminating vortexing, pipetting, or centrifugal force variability.
• Protocol library includes optimized workflows for blood, saliva, FFPE-derived tissue, bacterial pellets, and plant tissues—with A260/A280 ratios consistently >1.7 and A260/A230 >1.8 across replicates.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AUTO24S accepts primary tubes (e.g., EDTA blood collection tubes), microcentrifuge tubes (1.5–2.0 mL), and custom lysis buffer formulations compatible with KURABO’s membrane chemistry. It complies with ISO 13485:2016 design control requirements for IVD-related instrumentation and supports audit-ready documentation under FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with optional networked data logging software. All protocols are validated per CLSI EP12-A2 and ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines for precision, accuracy, and robustness. Cross-contamination testing demonstrates <0.001% carryover (measured by qPCR amplification of spiked human gDNA across consecutive runs), satisfying CAP and COLA pre-analytical quality standards.

Software & Data Management

The embedded operating system provides touch-enabled protocol selection, real-time status monitoring (pressure curves, temperature logs, cycle timers), and automatic error detection with context-sensitive troubleshooting prompts. Raw instrument logs—including timestamped pressure profiles, heater duty cycles, and UV exposure duration—are exportable in CSV format. Optional KURABO LabLink software enables centralized fleet management, electronic signature capture, and secure cloud backup compliant with HIPAA and GDPR data residency requirements. Audit trails meet ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available) for regulatory submissions.

Applications

• Clinical microbiology: Rapid extraction of pathogen nucleic acids from blood cultures and respiratory swabs for downstream multiplex PCR and digital PCR quantification.
• Oncology liquid biopsy: Isolation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from plasma with minimal fragmentation bias—enabling reliable variant allele frequency (VAF) determination.
• Biobanking: High-integrity gDNA isolation from archived frozen tissue sections prior to whole-genome sequencing or methylation array analysis.
• Veterinary diagnostics: Species-agnostic extraction from avian, porcine, and bovine samples using standardized lysis buffers and membrane-compatible wash chemistries.
• Academic core facilities: Scalable batch processing (1–24 samples) with identical hands-on time regardless of throughput—optimizing technician utilization and cost-per-sample efficiency.

FAQ

Does the AUTO24S require magnetic beads or centrifugation?
No. It uses pressure-driven flow through KURABO’s proprietary thin-film membrane—eliminating magnetic separation hardware and centrifuge dependency.
Can I use third-party lysis buffers?
Yes, provided they are non-corrosive to stainless steel and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) fluidic components; KURABO provides compatibility testing support upon request.
What maintenance is required?
Daily UV chamber wipe-down and monthly calibration of pressure transducers using supplied reference standards; no consumable service kits beyond disposable cartridges.
Is remote monitoring supported?
Yes—via Ethernet-connected LabLink software, enabling real-time run status alerts, historical performance analytics, and predictive maintenance notifications.
How is cross-contamination prevented between runs?
Through automated UV-C irradiation (≥30 mJ/cm² dose), positive-pressure air purge of fluid paths, and single-use membrane cartridges with sealed waste collection.