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Text Content

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MENUMENU
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QUALASSURE™ SOLUTIONS FOR MVS

OPTIMIZE YOUR AUTOMATED LIQUID HANDLERS WITH THE IDEAL LIQUID FOR YOUR
APPLICATION.

MVS QUALASSURE SOLUTIONS CAN MEASURE PERFORMANCE OVER A WIDE VOLUME RANGE OF
0.0001 TO 350 ΜL. QUALASSURE SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR AQUEOUS AND NON-AQUEOUS
VOLUME TRANSFERS, INCLUDING DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE (DMSO) AND PCR MASTER MIX-LIKE
(PCRMIX).

Request Pricing

Download SDS


LIQUID CLASS OPTIMIZATION FOR DECREASED VARIABLILTY

MVS QualAssure solutions mimic some of the most common reagents used with liquid
handlers, so that you can optimize the performance of your assay, and tailor
your liquid handler settings to your specific liquid class, tips and plates. By
making the necessary adjustments to your liquid handler, you can ensure accurate
and precise liquid handling and minimize the variability of your results.


HOW IT WORKS

MVS QualAssure solutions contain two dyes: red and blue. Each solution A-E and
HV are designated to cover target volume range. As the volume-of-interest
decreases, the appropriate QualAssure contains an increased concentration of red
dye, thereby maintaining constant signal strength to the plate reader detector.
The blue dye is used as an internal standard to measure the solution depth in
every well. MVS QualAssure are solutions prepared by Artel and conform to
rigorous performance specifications.


SOLUTIONS TO MIMIC YOUR ASSAY REAGENTS

When optimizing your automatic liquid handlers (ALHs), it is best to use liquid
types similar to what you use your assay. Indeed, different liquids have
different physical properties (density, viscosity, surface tension), and behave
differently when handled by your ALHs. Using water as the default liquid class
for your volume verification method can lead to biased data and costly errors
down the road. To help you with your ALH optimization, Artel offers 3 different
QualAssure solutions, so you can choose the ones that best mimic your liquid
types:

 * Aqueous QualAssure for a fast and straightforward optimization process with
   water-based solutions
 * DMSO QualAssure to validate your liquid transfers whenever dimethyl sulfoxide
   solvent is used
 * PCRMix QualAssure to mimic commercial PCR master mix in any of your molecular
   assays (qPCR, NGS)
 * Stock Solution to prepare and test your alternative custom solutions


INTRODUCING THE NEW PCRMIX


DO YOU KNOW WHAT VOLUME OF MASTER MIX YOU ARE DELIVERING?

The PCRMix QualAssure solutions provide a reliable way to optimize automated
liquid handlers, ensuring they deliver the correct volume of PCR master mix.
Delivering the expected volume of master mix can have implications for reducing
false or inconsistent results.






SIMPLE VOLUME VERIFICATION,
WITH RESULTS IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES

DISPENSE SOLUTIONS

Dispense the Artel QualAssure solution and diluent into a verification plate &
mix.

No need to prepare in-house dyes or generate a standard curve.

READ THE PLATE

MVS measures absorbance values and generates volume measurements independently
in each well of the verification plate.

No weighing is involved and environmental controls are not required.

VERIFY AND RECORD PERFORMANCE

The system automatically calculates accuracy and precision for individual volume
values, for each tip or channel and provides summary statistics by well, row,
and column.

Results are stored in the MVS Data Manager software, and reports are ready to
print or export.



Artel just released their new PCRMix solution and this really is a game changer.
If we had this during development, it would have saved us hundreds of
development hours as we tried to optimize our master mix.

ROB GRBAC

DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL LABORATORY SERVICES, CLINICAL REFERENCE LABORATORY




RELATED RESOURCES

TESTING LIQUID HANDLER PERFORMANCE WITH PCRMIX

LEARN MORE

PCRMIX WHITE PAPER

LEARN MORE

PCRMIX TECH BULLETIN

LEARN MORE



According to customers using the PCRMix QualAssure solution, they found that it
behaves like the commercial master mixes they are using and therefore meets
their needs. They also indicate that integrating PCRMix into their workflow
ensures accurate assay results.

DR. MELINDA GOLD

PRODUCT MANAGER


QualAssure Manufacturing

Metrological Traceability

Metrological traceability is maintained to the international system of units
(SI). Photometric standards are calibrated at the National Physical Laboratory
of the United Kingdom. Qualification of reference spectrophotometers meets
applicable standards such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), ISO, CLSI,
and ASTM International.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Solution Manufacturing

 * Solutions are manufactured in a HEPA filtered clean room.
 * Precise chemical formulations are made according to gravimetric and
   volumetric standard operating procedures by qualified chemists.
 * Solutions are manufactured, preserved and sub-micron filtered to ensure
   stability and performance.
 * Release testing is done in Artel’s accredited ISO 17025 laboratory.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Quality Testing

 * Calibration of all solutions is performed with very precise methods.
   * ±0.0004 AU for 730 nm measurements
   * Accuracy measured with uncertainty as low as 0.033%
 * The Artel laboratory maintains an ISO 17025 scope of accreditation for
   calibration methods used to test all manufactured solutions.
 * All laboratory chemists go through a rigorous training and qualification plan
   prior to performing methods.
 * Proficiency testing via inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory comparison
   monitors the competence of all laboratory chemists.
 * The laboratory environment meets the requirements of ISO 8655 and NIST SOP
   14.
 * The laboratory maintains a registered quality management system according to
   ISO 9001 which ensures document control, record control, risk/opportunity,
   improvement, corrective action, internal audits and management review.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Filling & Labeling

Filling is conducted in a clean room environment. Quality checks are performed
throughout the filling and labeling process and records are kept documenting all
data collected and indicating personnel involved in each step.



Aqueous QualAssure

Optimizing liquid classes can seem tedious but with an MVS, the process is fast
and straightforward. Simply set up your assay and use the MVS reagent that best
mimics your liquid. You can test different liquid class settings and then use
the MVS to measure how the setting affects liquid handling accuracy and
precision.

The above statistics presented in the “Before and After” ALH liquid class
optimization figure demonstrate how optimizing liquid classes can improve
accuracy and precision, ensuring reproducible results.

Aqueous QualAssure solutions will help you:

 * Verify the accuracy and precision of all automated liquid handlers (1–384
   dispensing tips) and handheld multichannel pipettes
 * Measure performance over a wide volume range of 0.0001 to 350 µL
 * Easily optimize liquid delivery volumes

DMSO QualAssure

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has become one of the most important solvents used for
high-throughput screening (HTS) and compound management applications due to its
ability to readily dissolve a wide range of compounds. DMSO has very different
physical properties than water it behaves differently when handled by
air-displacement pipettors, automated liquid handlers or acoustic droplet
ejectors, creating the need for a solvent-specific volume verification method
such as that provided by the DMSO QualAssure for the MVS. The MVS DMSO
QualAssure solutions can measure performance over a wide volume range of 0.0001
to 9.999 µL.

A 100% DMSO QualAsssure solution has been developed for use with the MVS. DMSO
QualAssure is capable of measuring volumes down to 10 nL. As with all MVS
QualAssure solutions, results are traceable to international standards.

Research has shown that the volumes dispensed during drug screening programs can
have a significant effect on the results obtained by assay screens.1 Any error
made during these deliveries affects the concentration of the drug candidate and
can lead to misleading data about compound activity being generated.

DMSO has very different physical properties than water, the liquid most commonly
used for calibration and performance verification, therefore,  it behaves
differently when handled by air-displacement pipettors or acoustic droplet
ejectors, creating the need for a solvent-specific volume verification methods,
which is provided by DMSO E for the MVS.

Artel has developed and characterized a 100% DMSO-based dye solution for use
with the Artel MVS® Multichannel Verification System. This article discusses the
challenges and performance capabilities of a DMSO-based dual-dye solution
developed for the MVS. The DMSO-based solution is capable of measuring dispensed
volumes as small as 10 nL. Data presented suggests that if two successive liquid
transfers are inaccurate, critical reagent concentrations could be affected by
as much as 50%.2

This data demonstrates that 100% DMSO E adds a significant capability to the MVS
for measuring liquid handling instrument performance. This capability answers
the need for those scientists working in the drug discovery arena for a fast and
reliable method to verify that their liquid handling instruments are accurately
and precisely dispensing DMSO-based solutions.

DMSO-based QualAssure solutions will help you:

 * Ensure concentrations of compounds in assay plates by measuring nL volumes of
   100% DMSO
 * Measure performance of acoustic dispensing systems and other low-volume
   liquid dispensers
 * Standardize nL volume delivery across liquid handler types with DMSO- and
   aqueous-based solutions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Customer Testimonial

“Our laboratory has used Artel’s MVS for the last five years to validate volume
transfers for our automated liquid handling devices. While the MVS has proved
valuable as an easy to use aqueous liquid volume validation, most of our liquid
transfers involve moving our compound library which is solvated in DMSO. We are
eagerly looking forward to Artel’s new DMSO-based Sample Solutions to make it
even easier to validate the liquid transfers of DMSO solutions on our systems.”

JASON HAELEWYN, CELGEN

PCRMix QualAssure
Learn More
PCRMix QualAssure are solutions for MVS that have been manufactured with a
proprietary formulation that includes some of the main constituents that
comprise commercial master mix. PCRMix is built to mimic the rheological
properties of commercial master mix. It is an “off the shelf” solution that
allows you to verify the volume of master mix that is dispensed by your
automated liquid handler.Regular aqueous solutions are too different to be used
for optimization of master mix liquid classes. While it is possible to make a
more viscous MVS solution using the Alternative Solution Helper, that can be
time-consuming to do, and you don’t really know if your viscous Alternative
Solution mimics the behavior of master mix. PCRMix can save money by decreasing
the amount of time you spend optimizing your liquid handler and preventing
costly pipetting mistakes.

Figure 1. This data demonstrates the difference in dispensed volume with Aqueous
QualASsure and PCRMix QualAssure at ~4°C using an ALH optimized with PCRMix
QualAssure solution to dispense 9.9µL. Figure 2. This data demonstrates a
comparison of PCRMix Sample Solution to the pipetted volumes of leading
commercial master mix at ~4°C using an ALH optimized with PCRMix Sample
Solution.

UNDER-DELIVERY OF QPCR MASTER MIX ALTERS ASSAY RESULTS

The volume of PCR master mix can have a direct effect on qPCR results. qPCR
reaction accuracy is dependent on the master mix performance and the volume
added. Under-delivery of master mix can lead to unexpected Cq values. In this
example, if the scientist had accidentally underdelivered the master mix by 40%
(they should have delivered 10uL but actually delivered 6uL) the results would
have yielded a Cq value significantly higher than if the correct volume of
master mix had been dispensed. Falsely high Cq values translates to improper
quantification of gene of interest in the sample by producing a false low
concentration. This further translates to the possibility of mis-diagnosing a
patient. All because an incorrect volume of master mix had been dispensed.

PCRMix QualAssure solutions will help you:

 * * Ensure master mix delivery volume is accurate and precise
   * Decrease variability of PCR assay results and even false results

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“The new PCRMix is another tool in Artel’s toolbox, allowing quick optimization
of liquid classes for tricky pipetting of viscous liquids, particularly at small
volumes.”

ARTEL CUSTOMER

Alternative Solutions

Custom test liquids using assay-specific reagents can be prepared and employed
to assess volume transfer performance of a liquid handler or multichannel
pipettes using the Artel MVS. Aqueous dye-based MVS Stock Solution is combined
with a solvent-of-interest to create the alternative test solution. Alternative
Solutions can be made for Target volumes between 0.1 and 49.9 µL in a 96 Well
Standard Profile plate, or between 0.03 and 9.9 µL in a 384 Well Standard
Profile plate.

Custom test liquids can be prepared to assess liquid handler performance for
assay-specific reagents. There are, however, many considerations when preparing
and testing alternative test solutions.



Product Documentation

• SDS SAFETY DATA SHEETS

• BROCHURE 

• QUICK START GUIDE

• SPECIFICATION SHEET

• TRACEABILITY DOCUMENT

• DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE TO ISO IWA 15

• MVS WHITE PAPER

• PCRMIX WHITE PAPER

• PCRMIX TECH BULLETIN

• APPLICATION NOTES

Support & Ordering

TECHNICAL SERVICES
ARTEL’S DEDICATED METROLOGISTS, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND SUPPORT SPECIALISTS
ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS, AND HELP YOU ENSURE
ACCURATE, PRECISE LIQUID DELIVERY FOR RELIABLE ASSAY RESULTS.

TEL: 1-888-406-3463, OPT 2 (8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ET)

EMAIL: SUPPORT@ARTEL.CO

ONLINE: SUBMIT ONLINE REQUEST

ORDERING
PLEASE PLACE ORDERS BY TELEPHONE, FAX, EMAIL, OR MAIL. OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVES ARE AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
EASTERN TIME.

 

MVS Part Numbers

PHONE: 207-854-0860 | 888-406-3463 TOLL-FREE (U.S. AND CANADA)

EMAIL: ORDERS@ARTEL.CO


Mail:
Artel
25 Bradley Drive
Westbrook, ME 04092 USA
International

FAX*: 207-854-0867

 

*PLEASE INCLUDE A FAX NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CONFIRMATION OF FAX ORDERS.

ORDERS FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA, PLEASE SEE OUR INTERNATIONAL
DISTRIBUTOR LIST FOR CONTACT INFORMATION.





RELATED PRODUCTS & SERVICES

MVS MULTICHANNEL VERIFICATION SYSTEM

LEARN MORE

ACCREDITED CALIBRATION SERVICE

LEARN MORE

ARTEL LIQUID HANDLING SERVICE

LEARN MORE




READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR
AUTOMATED LIQUID HANDLING PROCESS?

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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APPLICATIONS & SUPPORT

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POPULAR CONTENT

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BERNADETTE DANIS


DIRECTOR MARKETING & SALES

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1999

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS FOR SUCCESS

Bernadette is the driving force (and friendly face) behind Artel’s content-heavy
and customer-centric approach to marketing. She develops marketing/branding
strategies and communications campaigns, and leads program execution and
analysis by coordinating internal and external efforts, managing budgets, and
ensuring consistency and adherence to Artel’s high standards.

Bernie’s strength lies in her ability to reach across all disciplines at
Artel—scientific, engineering, metrology, technical support, product
development, production, sales, and field support—to make sure that customers
are getting the valuable information they need.

Bernie’s passion for detail, quality, and authentic content is expressed in her
extraordinary culinary skills, whether the cooking is for an (extensive) family
gathering or making a meal for the local community teen center.

“What people do with food is an act that reveals how they construe the world.”
Marcella Hazan



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WENDY VACCARO


DIRECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICES

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2001

PUTTING PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS TO WORK FOR THE CUSTOMER

Wendy puts her years of experience in the laboratory and her passion for helping
people and problem solving to good use as Artel’s Technical Services Manager.
Her background has given her hands-on knowledge of customers’ tests and assays,
enabling her to understand their pain points since she has experienced them
herself. Her goal is to ensure that first-class service is provided by Artel’s
customer-facing team, whether it’s directly interacting with customers or
through her management of the team. Through hiring, training and guiding her
team, she nurtures productive, long-lasting customer relationships.

Wendy’s focus on customers also makes her an excellent internal customer
representative to Artel’s teams, where she provides input on product development
to the R&D team and communicates any quality issues with Artel products and
services to the operations team.

Wendy’s drive to help others resolve problems is not limited to Artel but is
evident in all aspects of her life, especially with her children. When not
assisting customers, Wendy likes to stay active by biking, boating, and taking
long walks in beautiful Maine.

“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” commonly
attributed to Theodore Roosevelt



×


A. BJOERN CARLE


SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS AND APPLICATIONS MANAGER

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2007

STANDARDS DEVELOPER SINCE 2010

Keeping a continual focus on optimizing laboratory productivity, particularly in
an increasingly global environment, Bjoern has been contributing to the
development of international standards for over 10 years. He is a technical
expert contributing to the efforts of standards development committees of ISO
(International Standards Organization), ASTM International (formerly the
American Society for Testing and Materials), and CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory
Standards Institute).

Filling a void in testing guidance for users of automated liquid handling
systems, Bjoern was one of the industry experts who proposed the development of
the ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA) 15 “Specification and method for
the determination of performance of automated liquid handling systems,” serving
as project leader and technical editor for the development of this ISO document.
He is currently the project leader and technical editor for the development of a
series of ISO standards (ISO 23783 parts 1, 2, and 3) slated to succeed ISO/IWA
15.

Bjoern has been contributing as technical expert to the revision of the ISO 8655
series of standards, serving as lead author and project leader for the new Part
8 “Photometric reference measurement procedure for the determination of volume”
and project leader and technical editor for the revision of Part 7 “Alternative
measurement procedures for the determination of volume.” He is the co-proposer,
lead author, and project leader for the development of the new Part 10 “User
guidance and requirements for competence, training, and POVA suitability.”

Key Roles:

Project leader for development or revision of:
– ISO 8655-7
– ISO 8655-8
– ISO 8655-10
– ISO 23783-1, -2, and -3
– ASTM E1154
– ISO/IWA 15

Technical expert in:
– ISO/TC48/WG04
– ISO/TC48/WG05
– ANSI US TAG to ISO/TC48
– ASTM E41 and E13
– CLSI

Contact Bjoern



×


HEIDI REDLON


REGULATORY AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2001

REGULATORY AFFAIRS PROFESSIONAL SINCE 1981

Heidi contributes almost 40 years of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance
experience to the Standards Leadership team. Having worked for decades in
FDA-registered companies, she is well-versed in FDA regulations, audits, and
inspections. As a Certified QMS Auditor, she has been responsible for all
aspects of Artel’s ISO 9001 certification and ISO 17025 accreditation processes,
as well as the corresponding internal audits. Additionally, she is an expert in
industry-specific regulatory requirements, and ensures Artel’s continuous
compliance with all applicable regulations and international standards.

Heidi serves as the secretary to the ISO working group responsible for the
development of a series of new ISO standards for Automated Liquid Handling
Systems, after having provided significant support to the development of ISO/IWA
15. Her standards development expertise is further applied in handling the
balloting process of ISO and ASTM standards for the relevant technical
committees in the US.

Key Roles:

– ISO/TC48/WG05 – Secretary
– ANSI US TAG to ISO/TC48 – Vice Chair

Responsible for:

– FDA regulations
– ISO 9001 certification
– ISO 17025 accreditation
– Internal audits
– Compliance to RoHS, REACH, TSCA, and others

Contact Heidi



×


RICHARD CURTIS


TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, AND CHAIRMAN

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1982

STANDARDS DEVELOPER SINCE 1995

Richard has been applying his scientific expertise to the development of
international standards for over 25 years. He proposed and authored ISO
8655-7:2005 and ISO/TR 16153, based on the ratiometric photometric method for
volume determination.

He was an active member in the ASTM International (formerly American Society for
Testing and Materials) committee on laboratory apparatus, as well as in NCSL
International (formerly National Conference of Standards Laboratories) through
the 1990’s. In 1995, he became involved in the revision of DIN 12650 series of
standards related to pipettes and other piston-operated apparatus, which led to
the development of the ISO 8655 series of standards.

The co-founder of Artel, Richard was company’s original member delegate to the
NCSLI – an international metrology association founded at the request of the US
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This close engagement
with metrology and measurement excellence was formative in the development of
Artel’s measuring systems and laboratory capabilities.

He authored numerous papers and presentations on the topic of pipette
calibration, which are referenced in compliance standards, such as the
checklists issued by CAP (College of American Pathologists).

Key Roles:

Author of:
– ISO 8655-7:2005
– ISO/TR 16153:2004
– Performance verification of manual action pipettes, Am Clin Lab 1994

– Referenced in CLSI GP-31 A
– Referenced in CAP checklists
– NCLSI member delegate and appointing officer
– ASTM E41 member since mid-1990’s

Contact Richard



×


GEORGE RODRIGUES


VP SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1998

STANDARDS DEVELOPER SINCE 1999

George has been engaged in international standards and metrology for more than
20 years – working with colleagues at ISO, ASTM International (formerly the
American Society for Testing and Materials), CLSI, and NCSL International
(formerly the National Conference of Standards Laboratories).

He chairs the ISO working group responsible for the development of the new
standard for Automated Liquid Handling Systems, after having co-proposed and
chaired the development of ISO/IWA 15, which was published in 2015. He is the
former chair of the ISO working group responsible for pipettes and other
piston-operated apparatus, where he proposed the development of a new ISO
standard for the “Photometric Reference Measurement Procedure for the
Determination of Volume” (ISO 8655-8). George is also a technical expert in the
revision of all parts of the ISO 8655 series of standards and proposed the
development of the new ISO standard on Operator Training and Pipetting
Technique.

His deep expertise in metrology is applied in the current revision of the ISO
technical report on the estimation of uncertainty for the photometric reference
method, numerous articles, as well as across Artel’s product line.

Serving as chair of the US technical advisory group to the ISO technical
committee responsible for laboratory equipment, George is responsible for
achieving consensus among US experts and articulating this US consensus
positions the ISO international technical committee.

George chairs the ASTM sub-committee on laboratory apparatus and serves as
secretary to the parent main committee. His metrology expertise was applied in
the revision of the balance calibration standards ASTM E898 and E617, which is
referenced in the USP (United States Pharmacopeia).

He co-authored the chapters about pipettes and liquid handling processes in the
current edition of CSLI QMS-23.

Key Roles:
– Co-author of:
– ISO 8655-7
– ISO 8655-8
– ISO/TR 16153
– Proposer of ISO/IWA 15
– Proposer of ISO 23783-1, -2, -3

– CLSI QMS-23 – Contributing Author
– ISO/TC48/WG05 – Convenor
– ISO/TC48/WG04 – Former Convenor
– ASTM E41 – Secretary
– ASTM E41.06 – Chair
– ASTM E898:2020 – Revision Participant
– ASTM E617:2018 – Revision Participant
– ASTM E1154 – Technical Contact

– ANSI
– US TAG to ISO/TC48 (Laboratoy Equipment) – Chair
– ANSI International Forum – Participant
– NCLSI – Member Delegate & Healthcare Metrology Committee

Contact George



×


KATHLEEN CHASE


VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & STRATEGY

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2018

EXTENDING ARTEL’S COMMITMENT TO EFFICIENCY, QUALITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY TO
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

Kathleen extends Artel’s commitment to using innovative processes for error-free
results to Artel’s finance-related activities. Responsible for financial
planning and analysis, evaluating strategic opportunities, budgeting, benefits,
and compensation, Kathleen uses her long history of doing mergers and
acquisitions from a consulting and business side to bring analytical excellence
to strategic evaluations, and her experiences at larger companies to advance
established processes.

When not at Artel, Kathleen uses all her experience in efficiency and
productivity to care for her two daughters and their cat, dog, and horse and, in
the very little time left over after that, enjoys travelling to other countries,
meeting new people and learning about other cultures.

“Live life as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live
forever.” Mahatma Gandhi



×


JOHN BRADSHAW


DIRECTOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2001

CHARTING ARTEL’S PATH INTO THE FUTURE

John keeps one eye on the latest technologies and another on the challenges
facing today’s life science labs. He and his team of eagerly engaged scientists
and engineers test new ideas to enhance Artel’s current products and build out
tomorrow’s solutions.

Like many Artelians, John is driven by a lifelong curiosity in the physical
world around him. He has turned his fascination with spectroscopy and
understanding how light interacts with molecules into products that solve
real-world productivity and quality challenges for scientists. He was part of
the original team that created the MVS and has been involved in product
development at Artel since he walked through the front door.

Descended from a family whose motto is probably best expressed as “do a job
right, do it completely, and don’t let go until it’s done,” John embodies this
philosophy during the day at Artel. He propagates that motto to his kids through
gardening, tapping Maple trees and exploring the great backwoods and waterways
of Maine.

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for
sure that just ain’t so.” – something Mark Twain may, or may not, have
said…probably



×


RICHARD CURTIS


TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, AND CHAIRMAN

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1982

CREATING PRODUCTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF CORPORATE STRATEGY, MARKET NEED, AND
AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY

Richard combines his scientific education, love of learning, curiosity, and
passion for making things work better to build products that help life science
labs meet quality and productivity goals. His favorite challenge is finding the
bullseye at the intersection of corporate strategy, market need and available
technology, and then figuring out how to create a product which hits that
target. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping Artel’s products and
services into the effective, easy-to-use, and quality-focused offerings that
they are today.

When not creating tools and knowledge to help life science labs get the right
answers every time, Richard enjoys the great Maine outdoors—canoeing, camping,
and gardening—as well as woodworking (usually in the great Maine indoors).

TO MISQUOTE SHERLOCK HOLMES:

“When you have eliminated every possibility for inaccuracy, then accuracy
remains your only option.”



×


NATHANIEL HENTZ


DIRECTOR SCIENTIFIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT

A FULL-FLEDGED ARTELIAN SINCE 2018 (AN ARTEL CONSULTANT SINCE 2007)

HELPING CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO IMPROVE DATA QUALITY AND
PRODUCTIVITY WITH ARTEL TECHNOLOGY

With years of pharmaceutical industry experience centered around analytical
chemistry, automation, and new technologies, as well as a background in teaching
assay development and validation, Nat’s a natural in his role at Artel as the
primary driver and chief communicator of product applications. From optimizing
assays, processes, and workflows to pipette user training and calibration, Nat
communicates to customers how Artel products and services can improve quality
and productivity.

At the same time, he keeps track of key assay trends and applications to inform
new product development and strategic guidance for business development,
partnering, and collaborative opportunities.

While typically a casual and friendly person at Artel and at home, Nat’s
aggressive commitment to quality comes out when he homebrews beer and other
fermented beverages and he’s even been known to kick people out of the kitchen
to avoid contamination.

“Fast is fine but accuracy is everything.” Wyatt Earp



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KIRBY PILCHER


PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1982

COMBINING CREATIVITY AND PRECISION TO BUILD ROBUST SOLUTIONS BASED ON HARD-NOSED
SCIENCE

As a co-founder and President, Kirby’s role at Artel is similar to that of an
orchestra conductor—he melds the different elements of the company into a
powerful whole, bringing out the best in his colleagues and creating synergies
that together overcome customer challenges in liquid handling, quality, and
regulatory compliance.

Through a combination of curiosity and discipline, creativity and precision, he
works with his fellow Artelians to build outside-the-box solutions that are
efficient, easy-to-use, highly effective and based on science. Their goal: to
ensure that each customer finds new opportunities and executes new solutions to
achieve productivity and compliance objectives.

When not at Artel, Kirby takes up his own instruments, the saxophone and piano,
playing for the approval of Charlie Parker and Gabriel Faure.

“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. Master your
instrument, master the music. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your
horn.” Charlie Parker





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JIM KENNY


DIRECTOR PRODUCTION

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1988

MAKING SURE THAT CUSTOMERS CAN TRUST AND RELY ON ARTEL

As the Production Manager, Jim maximizes Artel’s productivity and quality by
ensuring that all supplies and components are in place, providing proper
training for production personnel, maintaining effective processes, and
supporting an overall positive, sound and safe working environment.

Driven by a desire to help others, Jim uses his 30-plus years of experience in
the photometric instrument field to ensure that customers know they can rely on
Artel, answering questions, solving problems, and guiding them through to
complete resolution of any issues they have with their lab’s systems.

Like many at Artel, Jim enjoys cooking and home renovation, and is currently
combining his helpfulness and home renovation skills by working on his daughter
and son-in-law’s house.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Stephen R. Covey



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JACK WOOD


DIRECTOR BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE & SUPPLY CHAIN

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2004

NURTURING SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF ARTEL’S PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES

An important part of building high-quality products, and providing services that
rely on those products, is ensuring that the components and supplies are also
high-quality and readily available. Which is why Jack focuses on keeping
supply-side relationships top notch. Responsible for the extended supply
chain—procurement, purchasing, inventory control, warehousing, shipping, and
trade compliance—as well as Artel’s facilities and physical plant, Jack ensures
quality by being both a good customer and delivering good customer service.

Jack’s adherence to high standards, quality, and attention to detail are a great
fit for his work at Artel and can also be seen in the years-long home renovation
project he and his wife have been undertaking. When not at Artel, Jack is an
avid traveller, gardener, and connoisseur of cinema and literature.

“No one knows the cost of a defective product – don’t tell me you do. You know
the cost of replacing it, but not the cost of a dissatisfied customer.” W.
Edwards Deming



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GRAHAM LONG


VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2017

IMPROVING DATA QUALITY BY SHINING A LIGHT ON SOURCES OF VARIABILITY AND NOISE

Officially, Graham is responsible for overseeing sales, strategic marketing,
business development, and applications of Artel’s technology. In practice, this
means listening to customers and leveraging his broadly eclectic scientific and
business background to identify technological solutions that improve data
quality and productivity.

Initially trained as a molecular biologist/protein biochemist, his many years
troubleshooting misbehaving assays and analytical methods make him particularly
well-suited to a role helping customers with their data quality. The many years
at the bench have given Graham a deep appreciation of the importance of reducing
sources of noise and variability which, together with experimental controls, can
help save weeks and even months of wasted time.

When not at work, Graham’s total embrace of the experimentalist’s spirit is
evident in his approach to cooking and baking, also known as “the experiment you
get to eat,” which requires precision and tight QC of the ingredients as well as
exact execution of the recipe steps to get the desired tasty outcome.

“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express
it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when
you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and
unsatisfactory kind.” Lord Kelvin



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GEORGE RODRIGUES


VP SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1998

HELPING LABS IN REGULATED ENVIRONMENTS

With a specialization in metrology and a lifelong interest in both science and
engineering, George is ideally suited for his role as Artel’s representative to
metrology and standards organizations, laboratory accreditation bodies, and
government regulators, where he helps shape regulatory frameworks around liquid
handling processes.

These activities give George a deep understanding of regulatory compliance
which, coupled with his metrology and quality expertise, he uses to help
customers improve data quality and efficiency while maintaining regulatory
compliance. This help is especially critical for customers making process
improvements, as change can be challenging in regulated environments.

George’s interest in metrology and standards extends beyond his work at Artel
(see how he celebrated World Standards Day in 2016). For example, in George’s
words, “Deflategate could have been avoided with a properly defined and
validated measurement process. With no stated reference temperature, the NFL
cannot possibly regulate ball pressure to plus or minus 0.5 psi. A game of
inches and seconds, $15 billion annual revenue, and zero metrologists!”

“Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets.” Often
attributed to W. Edwards Deming, but more likely from Paul Batalden.



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CARY OUELLETTE


DIRECTOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 1998

KEEPING ARTEL’S INTERNAL QUALITY SYSTEMS IN ORDER

As the person in charge of Artel’s Quality Management System, Cary plays a
critical role in making sure that Artel’s commitment to quality is always being
met. By training employees and keeping all quality processes and procedures
well-documented and up-to-date with current regulatory standards she ensures
regulatory compliance, and by assessing and evaluating performance both
internally and externally (Suppliers) and customer feedback, she supports
overall productivity and effectiveness to ensure we meet our customers’
expectations.

When not working closely with her team members to maintain Artel’s quality
management processes, Cary enjoys the peace found hiking in the beautiful Maine
outdoors.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” Lao Tzu



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DOREEN RUMERY


DIRECTOR LABORATORY

AN ARTELIAN SINCE 2000

ENSURING STANDARDIZATION, QUALITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY IN ARTEL’S OWN LABS

“Random is not one of my strengths.” Doreen Rumery

With a strong work ethic, thorough attention to detail, inquisitive mind that
needs to know why things work (or don’t work), and passion for standardization,
Doreen is exactly the right kind of person to manage Artel’s chemistry and
calibration labs. She’s responsible for making sure the labs run smoothly,
ensuring product and instrument quality, calibrations, regulatory compliance,
lab personnel training, timely delivery of products, troubleshooting, and
process improvements.

Doreen’s need for standardization is apparent even in her home life where
spreadsheets and planning tools are used to ensure the household runs smoothly.
When not at Artel, Doreen likes to spend time with her family (some of whom she
also sees at Artel), gardening, and travelling with her many sisters and
brother.

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention,
sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution; it represents the
wise choice of many alternatives.” William A. Foster



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COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION (CV) FOR ALL CHANNELS



 

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RELATIVE INACCURACY FOR ALL CHANNELS



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MEAN VOLUME FOR ALL CHANNELS (ΜL)



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Table 1. Regulations that require demonstration of pipette competency training
and/or assessment

ISO Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the Competence of
Testing and Calibration Laboratories ISO 15189:201 Medical Laboratories;
Requirements for Quality and Competence ISO 15195:2003 Laboratory Medicine;
Requirements for Reference Measurement Laboratories

FDA cGMP regulations (current Good Manufacturing Practice) 21 CFR Part 211 cGMP
for Finished Pharmaceuticals 21 CFR Part 225 cGMP for Medicated Feeds 21 CFR
Part 820 Quality System Regulation for Finished Devices for Human Use 21 CFR
Part 1271 Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-based Products

GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) FDA: 21 CFR Part 58 GLP for Non-clinical
Laboratory Studies EU: Directive 2004/10/EC Principles of Good Laboratory
Practice 1997 (Part 1), from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD)

GCP (Good Clinical Practice): International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) E6
Good Clinical Practice – Consolidated Guidance 1996

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