Longlight AccurPi-960 Automated Colony Picking Workstation

Overview

The Longlight AccurPi-960 Automated Colony Picking Workstation is an engineered solution for medium-to-high-throughput microbial strain isolation, designed to replace manual colony picking in academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical R&D laboratories. It operates on a vision-guided robotic platform integrating high-resolution monochrome imaging, ultrasonic substrate thickness measurement, and precision XYZ robotic motion control. The system identifies viable microbial colonies—whether unmarked, chromogenic, or fluorescence-labeled—based on morphological features (e.g., circularity, edge gradient, optical density) and spectral signatures (RGB or optional narrowband filter inputs). Each pick is executed via disposable sterile tips mounted on a multi-pin (up to 8-channel) actuator, enabling parallel transfer from source agar plates to destination microtiter plates in solid-to-liquid format. Its architecture supports reproducible, GLP-aligned workflows where traceability, contamination control, and positional fidelity are critical—particularly in CRISPR library screening, recombinant protein expression strain development, and industrial fermentation starter culture qualification.

Key Features

• High-fidelity imaging subsystem with micron-level pixel resolution and adjustable LED illumination (white + optional 365 nm UV excitation), optimized for low-contrast colony detection on opaque or semi-transparent agar media.
• Ultrasonic substrate thickness sensor dynamically calibrates Z-axis probe depth prior to each pick, compensating for batch-to-batch variations in agar pour height (range: 2–8 mm).
• Robotic arm with <0.4 mm repeatability and 1/8-channel modular pin configuration, supporting both single-colony and multi-colony parallel picking strategies without tip cross-contamination.
• Integrated biosafety enclosure featuring UV-C (254 nm) irradiation cycle (programmable pre/post-run duration) and HEPA H14 filtration (tested per EN 1822-1), maintaining ISO Class 5 (Class 100) air quality inside the working chamber.
• AI-driven image analysis engine trained on >12,000 annotated colony images; supports custom classifier training via user-uploaded ground-truth datasets (TIFF/PNG input, ROI annotation via GUI).
• Fully traceable digital logbook compliant with ALCOA+ principles: timestamps, operator ID, plate barcodes, pick coordinates, tip lot numbers, and environmental sensor readouts (UV dose, HEPA pressure drop) are embedded in each exportable .csv/.xlsx report.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AccurPi-960 accommodates standard microbiological growth substrates including LB, TB, SOC, YPD, and selective media (e.g., X-Gal/IPTG, antibiotic-supplemented agars). It accepts source plates ranging from 60 mm Petri dishes to 120 mm rectangular formats, and targets 96-/384-well plates conforming to ANSI/SLAS standards. All fluidic pathways are autoclavable or disposable; no wetted metal surfaces contact samples. The system meets IEC 61000-6-2 (EMC immunity) and IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emission) requirements. While not FDA-cleared, its audit trail, electronic signature support (via optional LDAP/Active Directory integration), and 21 CFR Part 11–ready software architecture align with GxP environments requiring validated colony isolation processes under ISO 13485 or ISO/IEC 17025 frameworks.

Software & Data Management

The workstation runs on Longlight’s proprietary ColonyTrack™ v3.2 software, built on a Qt-based cross-platform framework with SQLite backend. Core modules include: (1) Acquisition Suite (real-time focus stacking, background subtraction, dynamic thresholding); (2) Classifier Studio (drag-and-drop training interface with confusion matrix visualization); (3) Protocol Manager (modular SOP templates for streak-to-plate, replica plating, or fluorescence-gated sorting); (4) Export Hub (CSV, PDF, and LIMS-compatible XML exports with configurable metadata fields). Raw images and processed masks are stored with SHA-256 checksums; database backups support incremental encryption (AES-256). Optional API access enables integration with LabVantage, STARLIMS, or custom Python-based pipeline orchestrators.

Applications

• CRISPR-Cas9 and base-editing clone validation: isolating monoclonal populations post-transfection followed by Sanger sequencing prep.
• Directed evolution campaigns: recovering variants from mutagenesis libraries plated on selective media, with morphology-based pre-screening prior to DNA extraction.
• Recombinant expression host screening: picking colonies from autoinduction plates for microscale expression testing in 96-deep-well blocks.
• Antibiotic resistance profiling: quantifying colony count reduction across gradient plates and correlating morphology shifts with MIC values.
• Yeast two-hybrid interaction mapping: automated replica plating from master arrays onto selective dropout media with integrated β-galactosidase activity scoring.

FAQ

What types of agar plates are supported as source plates?
Standard circular Petri dishes (60–90 mm), rectangular 120 mm plates, and custom 8-channel agar strips—all compatible with standard lab-grade agar formulations.
Does the system require calibration before daily use?
Yes: a 5-minute automated calibration routine verifies tip alignment, Z-axis zero point, and illumination uniformity; results are logged and alert thresholds configurable.
Can the software distinguish between satellite colonies and true monoclonals?
Yes: the AI model incorporates proximity-based suppression logic and edge-intensity gradient analysis to suppress false positives within 1.2 mm of dominant colonies.
Is remote monitoring or troubleshooting supported?
Yes: secure HTTPS web interface provides real-time status dashboard, live camera feed (with optional RTSP streaming), and diagnostic logs accessible via corporate VPN.
How is sterility maintained during high-throughput operation?
Each pick uses a new sterile tip; UV/HEPA cycles run automatically between batches; all internal surfaces are stainless steel 316L with IP54-rated seals against aerosol ingress.