The custom kit development process places the operational efficiency of the laboratory’s workflow as a central area of focus. This can result in less hands-on time, a reduced number of processing steps, shortened extraction times and increased throughput.
This is achieved by understanding the DNA/RNA output requirements, range of sample types, available equipment and downstream applications of the workflow, before using our unique development process to create a kit that delivers on these requirements.
During the custom kit development process, Azora Biosciences models the custom kit workflow in their laboratories and a deep understanding of the workflow is developed.
Using this understanding, and its unique development process, changes can be quickly developed and validated to the kit to meet changing operational demands on the laboratory. Typical examples include challenging new sample types, changing downstream applications or increasing extraction throughput.
Off-the-shelf extractions kits encourage excessive extraction volumes and sample washing steps. The result is longer instrument run times, increased hands-on time and overuse of consumables.
Often a custom kit can cut down on the number of processing steps, which can significantly increase the laboratories extraction capacity and reduce labour requirements.
With a custom kit, the format of the kit can be accurately matched to the operational needs of the laboratory. This may include optimised kit sizes, pre-measured reagent volumes, bottle types that integrate with automation equipment such as plate fillers and lyophilised reagents.
For laboratories with multiple extraction workstreams (for different sample types, downstream applications, targets etc.) a custom kit may be developed to streamline these into a single workstream. This can have profound effects on the efficiency of the laboratory operation.
During the custom kit development process, all necessary stages of the extraction workflow can be optimised including sample preparation and downstream processing. An extraction kit can be formatted to include components not usually included in extraction kits such as bead beating tubes, pre-filters, pre-washes, enzymes and plasticware.
Azora Biosciences’ custom extraction kits are designed for the specific requirements of each laboratory. Using a portfolio of extraction chemistries and components, the extraction workflow is optimised using the sample types and equipment used in the clients' workflow. Optimising the kit specifically for the laboratories unique circumstances and goals allows for DNA or RNA outputs that meet their performance targets.
Off-the-shelf kits are designed to be general-purpose and function with a wide range of sample types, using various automated extraction platforms and an ever-increasing diversity of downstream applications. This results in sub-optimal performance across the majority of use cases.
A custom kit is developed specifically for the sample types, downstream application, automation equipment and DNA/RNA storage requirements of the laboratory. This makes them inherently better suited for high-performance workflows.
Azora Biosciences’ technology portfolio includes a range of different lysis buffers and techniques, nucleic acid binding chemistries, magnetic beads and other components. Unlike off-the-shelf kit manufacturers, which are typically limited to a narrow range of components, a custom kit is developed without restriction, meaning there are no compromises in the development process.
Off-the-shelf kits are designed to be general-purpose and need to function with a broad range of sample types, downstream applications and automation equipment. They often contain unnecessary processing steps, sub-optimal reagent volumes or require the addition of supplementary reagents.
Azora Biosciences’ unique and rapid development process provides customised kits that overcome these issues. Pre-optimised for your unique workflow, Azora Bioscience custom kits provide an affordable, more efficient and high-performance alternative to off-the-shelf kits reducing the cost of operating your extraction workflow.
Nucleic acid extraction workflows are diverse with different sample inputs, processing equipment and output requirements. Off-the-shelf extraction kits attempt to provide a one-size-fits-all solution, which rarely perform well out of the box. Instead, laboratory scientists need to “hack” these kits to make them work. This often includes using additional reagents and changing extraction volumes, leading to extra costs, or excessive reagents which need to be disposed of.
A custom kit is designed to provide exactly what you need to achieve your required outcomes, and nothing else. This means kit cost can be kept low.
Azora Biosciences' custom extraction kits are supplied directly from our production facility to your laboratory. This efficient supply arrangement minimises supply chain uncertainty and logistics costs.
Many of the reagents provided with off-the-shelf extractions kits are simple solutions such as 80% ethanol and Tris solution. Custom kits provide laboratories with the option of using their existing supply of solutions, rather than paying a premium for proprietary reagents, and further saving in their extraction costs.
In order to function with the widest possible range of sample types, off-the-shelf extractions kits encourage excessive extraction volumes and sample washing steps. The result is excessive use of heavy, plastic deepwell plates and/or pipette tips on liquid handling platforms.
In most cases, lower-volume extractions and washing with high-performance reagents reduces the size and number of plates used in an extraction. A custom kit can be designed to achieve this reduction, and can save around a 40-60% reduction in plastic usage.
Custom kits are designed specifically for the laboratories' workflow and can be optimised for operational efficiency. Optimisations may include a reduction in processing steps, careful setting of volumes to reduce mixing steps, and customisation of reagent bottles to match plate fillers or liquid handler positions. This increased efficiency leads to higher throughput and reduces labour costs.
An extraction kit designed specifically for the needs of the workflow ensures that the environmental impact of the workflow is minimised. Reducing the number of processing steps to a minimum, reducing the amount of plasticware used, minimising extraction volumes and providing suitable low-impact packaging are a few of the ways a custom kit can enable better environmental outcomes.
Laboratories following off-the-shelf extraction kit guidelines often use larger extraction volumes and an excessive number of steps than is required for optimum results. Additionally, kits often provide additional reagents, enzymes and plasticware that are never used. The raw materials used and waste generated using these kits are often excessive.
Custom kits provide what is needed for the extraction and nothing else. This leads to lower waste per extraction and no unused reagents.
In order to provide clean outputs for the most crude of sample types, off-the-shelf extractions kits encourage excessive extraction volumes and sample washing steps. The result is excessive use of heavy, plastic deep-well plates and/or pipette tips on liquid handling platforms.
In most cases, lower-volume extractions and washing with high-performance reagents reduces the size and number of plates used in an extraction. A custom kit can be designed to achieve this reduction, and can save around a 40-60% reduction in plastic usage.
Off-the-shelf extraction kits are often provided in small kit sizes of 500 extractions. For high throughput laboratories, this can mean using hundreds or thousands of kits per year producing hundreds of kilograms of cardboard and plastic waste.
The volume of reagents in a custom kit can be optimised to reduce the amount of packaging and custom packaging can be selected so that all reagent packaging is reused.
In many cases, there are steps in the extraction process that use simple water-based reagents that can be sourced locally, rather than the kit manufacturer including these.
A custom kit can provide the option to use locally sourced reagents, such as Tris solution for eluting DNA, or ethanol for wash steps, which significantly cuts down on transport weight.
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), a world leader in pasture-based dairy cattle genetics based in Hamilton, New Zealand, process over 1.5 million samples per year through their laboratories. The LIC Genemark team engaged Azora Biosciences to develop a custom DNA extraction kit to improve operational efficiency, manage their environmental footprint and reduce the total operational costs. The resulting custom kit provided benefits including 260 hours of labour savings per year through efficiency gains, 565kg of plastic waste savings and significantly reduced operational costs.
To learn more about the custom kit development process, and the journey with LIC, please get in touch to request a copy of the case study.
