Build Consistency into Your Lab’s Workflow

Importance of the Topic

Quality assessment of nucleic acids and proteins underpins reliable molecular biology workflows and biopharmaceutical research. Automated electrophoresis delivers objective, reproducible metrics of sample integrity, concentration, and fragment size, ensuring consistency across laboratories and throughput levels.

Study Objectives and Overview

This text introduces Agilent’s automated electrophoresis portfolio, encompassing instruments, application-specific assays, intuitive software, and expert services. The goal is to provide flexible solutions for robust sample quality control and fragment analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins in low to ultra-high throughput settings.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The portfolio comprises:

• TapeStation Systems (4150, 4200) for walk-away DNA/RNA integrity and sizing
• Fragment Analyzer Systems (5200, 5300, 5400) for high-resolution fragment analysis
• Femto Pulse System for ultra-sensitive DNA/RNA sizing
• ProteoAnalyzer System for automated protein quality control
• ZAG DNA Analyzer System for capillary-based DNA sizing
• Oligo Pro II System for high-resolution oligonucleotide purity assessment

Each instrument is paired with application-specific ScreenTape devices or capillary electrophoresis kits and supported by software for automated control, data analysis, and reporting.

Main Findings and Discussion

The portfolio offers:

• Objective integrity metrics: RINe and RQN for RNA, DV200 for FFPE RNA, DIN and GQN for genomic and FFPE DNA, and percent cfDNA
• Throughput scalability: instruments addressing ultra-low to ultra-high sample volumes
• Key benefits: fast analysis, constant per-sample cost, ready-to-use consumables, high resolution (n–1 purity separations up to 60 nt), and rapid protein QC without gel staining
• Comprehensive service plans to maximize uptime, maintain compliance (IQ/OQ), and manage support costs

Practical Benefits and Applications

Automated electrophoresis enhances workflows such as next-generation sequencing, gene engineering, vaccine development, and biobank QC by delivering reproducible data on sample quality with minimal hands-on time.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Integration with single-cell and long-read sequencing platforms for advanced fragment analysis
• Development of new assays for modified nucleic acids, epigenetic markers, and complex protein conjugates
• AI-driven software enhancements for predictive quality control and advanced data interpretation
• Cloud-based data management to enable lab-wide standardization and remote collaboration

Conclusion

Agilent’s automated electrophoresis portfolio provides a unified, scalable approach to sample quality assessment across DNA, RNA, and protein workflows. By combining robust instrumentation, tailored assays, and comprehensive support, laboratories achieve higher consistency, efficiency, and confidence in downstream applications.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent TapeStation Systems (4150, 4200)
• Agilent Fragment Analyzer Systems (5200, 5300, 5400)
• Agilent Femto Pulse System
• Agilent ProteoAnalyzer System
• Agilent ZAG DNA Analyzer System
• Agilent Oligo Pro II System
• ScreenTape devices and capillary electrophoresis kits
• Protein Broad Range P240 kit