Revvity FlexDrop iQ Nanoliter Non-Contact Dispenser

Overview

The Revvity FlexDrop iQ is a nanoliter-scale, non-contact acoustic dispensing platform engineered for precision liquid transfer in high-value life science applications. Utilizing focused acoustic energy—rather than physical tips or pins—the system ejects discrete droplets from source wells into destination plates without cross-contamination, surface contact, or carryover. This piezoelectric transducer–driven technology operates on the principle of acoustic droplet ejection (ADE), where ultrasonic pulses generate controlled cavitation at the liquid–air interface, propelling sub-microliter volumes with deterministic placement. Designed specifically for low-volume, high-sensitivity workflows—including next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation, qPCR assay setup, and compound screening—the FlexDrop iQ bridges the gap between manual pipetting limitations and full-scale robotic integration. Its architecture prioritizes reproducibility, minimal reagent consumption, and rapid method deployment, making it suitable for both core facilities and regulated research environments requiring traceable, auditable liquid handling.

Key Features

• Non-contact acoustic dispensing eliminates tip-based contamination, wetting, and dead-volume losses associated with traditional positive-displacement or air-displacement pipettors.
• Dispense range spans 8 nL to 80 µL per droplet, supporting serial dilutions, assay miniaturization, and reagent conservation across microtiter formats (96-, 384-, and 1536-well plates).
• Precision performance: coefficient of variation (CV) < 8% for volumes 8–100 nL; CV 100 nL—validated per ISO 8655-6 and ASTM E2758 standards for low-volume liquid handlers.
• Dynamic range of 10,000-fold enables seamless 1:2 to 1:10,000 serial dilutions within a single run, reducing manual intervention and inter-run variability.
• Source well dead volume limited to 1 µL—critical for preserving costly NGS enzymes, polymerases, and probe sets—and compatible with standard low-retention 96- and 384-well source plates.
• Integrated droplet verification system captures real-time optical feedback for each dispense event, logging success/failure status and enabling immediate quality assessment prior to downstream processing.
• Modular design supports standalone operation or seamless integration with third-party automation platforms (e.g., Hamilton STAR, Tecan Fluent, Agilent Bravo) via standard RS-232, Ethernet, and LabVIEW-compatible APIs.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The FlexDrop iQ handles aqueous buffers, glycerol-containing solutions (up to 40% v/v), DMSO-based compound stocks (up to 100% DMSO), and viscous enzyme mixes typical in molecular biology workflows. It is not intended for highly volatile solvents, suspensions, or particulate-laden samples. The system complies with IEC 61000-6-3 (EMC emission) and IEC 61000-6-2 (immunity) standards. Software operation supports 21 CFR Part 11-compliant audit trails, electronic signatures, and role-based access control when deployed with Revvity’s optional IQ/OQ/PQ validation packages. All hardware and firmware revisions are documented per GLP/GMP-aligned change control procedures.

Software & Data Management

Controlled via Revvity’s intuitive FlexDrop Control Suite—a Windows-based application featuring drag-and-drop protocol builder, real-time dispense monitoring, and integrated QC dashboards. Protocols are stored as XML-based files with embedded metadata (user ID, timestamp, calibration version). Raw droplet verification logs, plate maps, and error reports export in CSV and PDF formats. The software supports LIMS integration through HL7 and RESTful API endpoints, and maintains full traceability for regulatory submissions. Version-controlled firmware updates are delivered via secure HTTPS channels with SHA-256 integrity verification.

Applications

• NGS library normalization and pooling with sub-100 nL accuracy to minimize adapter dimer bias.
• qPCR master mix dispensing into multiwell plates for gene expression profiling and pathogen detection assays.
• High-throughput compound reformatting and dose-response matrix generation in early drug discovery.
• CRISPR guide RNA and Cas9 protein titration in functional genomics screens.
• Cell-free expression system component dosing for synthetic biology prototyping.
• Microarray spotting support where spot uniformity and low-volume fidelity directly impact hybridization signal-to-noise ratios.

FAQ

What minimum volume can the FlexDrop iQ reliably dispense?
The system achieves consistent, validated dispensing down to 8 nL per droplet, with CV < 8% under standard operating conditions (PBS buffer, 22°C, 40% RH).
Does the FlexDrop iQ require routine calibration?
Yes—daily performance verification using the onboard droplet imaging system is recommended; full volumetric calibration per ISO 8655-6 is required quarterly or after maintenance.
Can the FlexDrop iQ dispense into non-standard plate formats?
It supports ANSI/SBS-compliant plates only; custom plate definitions may be loaded via user-configurable plate map templates, but mechanical compatibility is constrained by standard deck footprint and Z-height limits.
Is source plate priming required before dispensing?
No—acoustic ejection does not rely on capillary action or meniscus formation; however, source wells must contain ≥1 µL above the acoustic focus plane for reliable droplet generation.
How is data integrity ensured during automated runs?
All dispense events are time-stamped, logged with droplet verification status, and cryptographically signed; audit trails are immutable and exportable for FDA or EMA inspection readiness.