2.1 INTRODUCTION The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) seeks pricing and a contract for the purchase of an automated liquid handling system to assist in the qualitative and quantitative procedures in the Toxicology section, performed on biological specimens. 2.2 ANALYZER A. The automated handler must be fully automated with minimal technician monitoring, operation, intervention, or assistance needed after the beginning of analysis. B. The automated handler must include a bar-code reader that can automatically read carriers, tubes, and plates. C. The automated handler must have an 8-channel liquid handling arm with a disposable tip assembly and a filtration system. D. The automated handler system’s pipetting arms must be able to pipette specified volumes from 0.5 μL to 100 μL. E. The automated handler system must be capable of adjusting dimensions for pipetting 48 and 96-well plates and 10mm glass tubes F. The automated handler system must not require ventilation in a hood and must be able to stand alone. G. The automated handler must have safety door locks and safety shield. H. The automated handler must be able to hold a minimum three (3) different liquids. I. The automated handler must have non-reactive containers that will hold the liquids. J. The automated handler must have liquid detection in each channel using capacitance and/or pressure measurements. K. The automated handler must by capable of conducting analysis on the following: 1. Whole blood 2. Post-mortem blood 3. Urine 4. Oral fluid 5. Vitreous humor 6. Synthetic blood 7. Other viscous fluids L. The automated handler system must be able to re-rack tips after the disposal of tips. M. The automated handler must have a built-in orbital shaker for room temperature shaking as well as heated incubation shaking. The shaker must have a microplate adapter. N. The automated liquid handler must include a vacuum module for solid phase extractions. O. The automated handler must have a visible status indicator. P. The automated handler must be able to be calibrated by more than one ISO 17025 accredited calibration service provider under the scope of their accreditation.
