Rhinostics and Azenta Life Sciences are excited to announce a joint solution that focuses on the combination of the RHINOstic® Automated Swab and IntelliXcap™ Automated Screw Cap Decapper/Recapper 96-format. By joining the sample collection device ingenuity from Rhinostics with industry-leading decapper technology from Azenta, laboratories can benefit from an instantly scalable automated swab processing workflow. The IntelliXcap combined with the RHINOstic Automated Swab increases throughput while decreasing turnaround times and per-test costs for laboratories using swab sample collection for COVID-19, multi-analyte respiratory panels, sexually transmitted infections, and genetic testing.
“We’re excited to partner with Azenta Life Sciences on this game-changing automated workflow, which allows rapid decapping of a full plate of 96 automated swabs in well under one minute,” explained Cheri Walker, Ph.D., President and CEO of Rhinostics. “At Rhinostics, we are creating industry-changing, purpose-built sample collection devices that are automation-enabled, initially focused on improving inefficient swab workflows followed by small volume blood collection and additional applications.”
As part of the partnership, the IntelliXcap from Azenta has been optimized for use with the RHINOstic Automated Swab – a patent-pending sample collection device that integrates a unique polypropylene-based swab with an automatable cap.
“The Rhinostics swab with an integral cap for automated decapping is an exciting solution to increase efficiency in a laboratory workflow,” stated Dr. Gerrit Gutzke, Sr. Director/General Manager of Consumables and Instruments at Azenta Life Sciences. “We are eager to unite our strengths with an extended height version of our automated sample tube capper/decapper to allow for processing 96 swab caps at a time. The IntelliXcap from Azenta is engineered for increased throughput, ease of use, and high system reliability. The full rack capping/decapping makes the system ideal for any laboratory managing compound libraries or biological samples. Uniting our strengths with those of Rhinostics will empower customers with greater efficiency and lower costs through full automation which is a game-changing solution.”
How it works
Nasal, buccal, or vaginal samples may be comfortably collected in a clinical setting or easily self-collected as part of an at-home test kit. After collection, the swab is securely screwed into a small, barcoded transport tube. This transport tube may be shipped without use of viral transport or other media to reduce reagent costs as well as risks of leaking, accidental biohazard exposure, and potential PCR interference due to VTM or other media components. Dry shipment also enables greater sample concentrations to boost confidence in sensitive PCR, next generation sequencing (NGS), ELISA methods, even at very low pathogen levels.
Once in the laboratory, samples may be loaded onto the IntelliXcap for automated decapping and capping of up to 96 samples in as little as 20 seconds. Azenta’s Camera-Based Reader for SBS Racks may also be used to rapidly accession 2D barcodes located on the tube bottoms. This hands-free workflow eliminates user variability and reduces labor time by up to 80+% to significantly decrease per-test costs.
For additional information around the combined Rhinostics and Azenta solution, please contact: