Frequently Asked Questions: LeviCell 96 System
Quick answers to frequently asked questions of the LeviCell 96 system
- What is the LeviCell 96 System and what does it do?
- The LeviCell 96 System is a high-throughput platform designed for cell enrichment and washing. It utilizes levitation technology to isolate and process cells in 96-well plates. It enables cell washing, sample enrichment, debris removal, and targeted cell selection in a single step. This streamlines sample preparation for various downstream applications.
- What are the key benefits of using the LeviCell 96 System compared to traditional methods?
- The LeviCell 96 System offers several advantages over traditional cell processing methods. These include higher throughput (processing up to 96 samples in under 50 minutes), lower cost per sample (approximately $10 vs. >$100), increased viability of cells post-processing, reduced myelin and debris contamination, and walkaway automation, as well as higher purity and yields. The system provides scalable, fast, simple, and efficient workflow with high reproducibility, independent of operator.
- How does the LeviCell 96 System work?
- The system employs Selective Arrayed Levitation Technology (SALT™), where cells are levitated based on their properties in a specialized levitation agent. The levitation height depends on cell viability and interactions. This allows for the separation of live cells from dead cells and debris. Targeted selection can also be achieved through antibody-mediated removal of unwanted cells. The process involves three simple steps: adding the levitation agent, levitating the cells, and collecting the fraction of interest.
- What types of samples can be processed using the LeviCell 96 System?
- The system offers sample flexibility and can handle a wide range of sample types, including non-adherent and adherent cells, bacteria, and organoids. It is also tolerant to debris and contaminants.
- What applications is the LeviCell 96 System suitable for?
- The LeviCell 96 System is suitable for a variety of applications, including cytometry (washing away unbound antibodies, dyes, and debris), CITE-Seq and scRNA-Seq (cell washing, background removal, pre-sorting enrichment, and pre-encapsulation enrichment), live cell enrichment, targeted cell selection, cell washing, and debris removal. It can be used for downstream applications such as sequencing, culture, and PDX (patient-derived xenograft) studies.
- How does the LeviCell 96 System improve the quality of data obtained from downstream assays?
- By removing debris, dead cells, and unwanted cells, the LeviCell 96 System delivers cleaner, more reliable data. It maintains an unbiased cellular profile and response, as it does not require stains or markers and avoids high pressures or microfluidics. This ensures that cells remain unlabeled and unperturbed, preserving their activation and expression states. As a result, users can analyze more cells per sample and achieve higher quality data.
- What are the system specifications of the LeviCell 96?
- The LeviCell 96 system can process up to 96 samples per plate, with a volume of 50 µL per sample. The minimum number of input cells is 10,000 per well, while the maximum is 500,000 per well. The enrichment time is typically 45 minutes. The system dimensions are 750 mm x 500 mm x 630 mm (30" x 19" x 25"), and it weighs 27 kg (59 pounds).
- How does LeviSelect work, and what are its advantages?
- LeviSelect is a feature of the LeviCell 96 system which enables targeted cell removal during the washing process. It uses antibody-mediated selection to remove unwanted cells or contaminants, enabling simultaneous target cell and viable cell enrichment. The key advantages are a quick and easy workflow with no additional centrifugation or washing steps, and significant performance improvements over market leaders, making it faster, easier, more sensitive, and less expensive.
