Hands-on Liquid Handling Training – Challenges and Opportunities

Douglas Gurevitch, Liquidhandlingbootcamp.com & UC San Diego

Liquid handling automation has become an accepted feature of the high-throughput laboratory environment since its introduction in the early 1980s. The challenge now is for smaller and academic laboratory settings to adopt these technologies at scales appropriate for their needs. One obstacle is obtaining exposure to these technologies prior to purchase in order for potential users to understand liquid handling automation technology. Starting in 2006 we presented the first Liquid Handling Boot Camp in order to remedy this situation. This course concentrates on familiarizing the student with the terminology and methods of automated liquid handling, optimal pipetting techniques, reagent and chemical compatibility issues, discusses validation/QC testing techniques, and proper decontamination before letting the students loose are actual liquid handling robots. In this presentation we will discuss the challenges associated with creating such a class and an optimal environment for presenting liquid handling technology as well as the opportunities going forward.