Array Transfers

 

Content

Overview Executing Transfers Custom Transfers Generate LHR Cherry Picking Deciding Whether to use Transfer or Cherry Picking Viewing Transfer Genealogy

 

Overview	Top

Array Transfer is the process of moving Array Item content from source Arrays to target Arrays or using ASL Grid Transfer, move Array Item content to or from an ASL Grid. Array Transfers may be homogeneous, in that you can transfer from one plate to another, or heterogeneous in that you can transfer from a plate to a gel. This is all defined by the ArrayType.

NOTE:

This document discusses Transfers between Arrays. For information about transfers between Arrays and ASL Grids see ASL Grid Transfer.

Array Transfers may be between like sized arrays, as when creating replica plates, or from different sized arrays as when you are condensing or splitting the arrays. Array Transfers are all dependent on both the source and target ArrayTypes.

There are two types of Transfers:

•	Standard Transfers are based on common Array operations; e.g. Replicating, Condensing, or Splitting. These common operations algorithmically define the Array Item to Array Item mappings.
•	Custom Transfers let you create a custom Array Item to Array Item map between the source and the target Array(s).

Whether you are executing standard transfers, custom transfers, homogeneous or heterogeneous transfers, the transfer method provides the option to generate Aliquot or Derivative child Arrays. An Aliquot Array is a transfer that produces a new array, whereby the new array contains aliquot Samples of all Samples loaded on the source array. A Derivative Array is a transfer that produces a new array, whereby the new array contains derivative Samples of all Samples loaded on the source array.

See Transfer Methods for details on establishing a Transfer Method.

 

Executing Transfers	Top

Standard Transfers are performed automatically based on common practices (algorithms) and require little interaction from the user. Transfer Methods are referenced during the Transfer to determine how the Source Array(s) are to be "placed" or mapped onto the Target(s).

Navigate to the Plates and Gels list page from either Lab Admin → Arrays → Arrays or LIMS → Tests → Plates and Gels tramstop.

From the Plates and Gels list page, using the Transfer options, you can perform the following types of Transfers.

Button	Description
Cherry Picking	Cherry Picking allows you to selectively decide which specific Array Items to transfer from the Source to the Target (such as Transfer only Array Items that fall within certain limits). See Cherry Picking for detailed information.
Generate LHR	Provides instructions for Liquid Handling Robots. See Generate LHR for more information.
Create Replica	Choose Create Replica when you need an exact copy of the Source Array. Zone definition and Content are copied based on the Transfer Rule in the Array Transfer Method.
Transfer	Create a custom Transfer. See Custom Transfers for more information.
Create Aliquot	Choose Create Aliquot when you need to create a new Array using a portion of the content from an existing Array. In addition to creating a new Array (an exact replica of the Source) Child Samples can optionally be created. A Child Sample will be created for each Sample used to load the Source Array. In other words, if 10 Samples were used to fill a 96 well plate, 10 Child Samples will be created for the new Array. The Child Sample Type will be the same as the Parent Sample. In the Method Details tab of the Transfer Method, the Create Child Samples field must be checked.
Condense	Choose Condense to condense multiple smaller Arrays into one larger Array. The Transfer Map in the Transfer Method determines how the Source Arrays are "placed" on the Target Array.
Split	Choose Splitting when you need to split one larger Array into multiple smaller Arrays (such as splitting a 384 well plate into four 96 well plates). The Transfer Map on the Transfer Method determines how the Source Array is split and "placed" into the Target Arrays (direction and start position).
Create Derivative	Creating a Derivative is the same as Creating an Aliquot, except during the Transfer you have the option to define a different Child Sample Type for the newly created Samples.
Transfer To Box	Transfer an Array to a Box (ASL Grid). See ASL Grid Transfer for more information.

Execute Transfers

From the Plates and Gels list page select the Source Array(s), then click the type of Transfer you want to perform. The Transfer dialog opens. Depending on the type of transfer being performed some or all of the following fields display.

Enter details concerning the Transfer:

Field	Description
Array Transfer Method	Choose the Transfer Method to use for this Transfer. Methods with a Transfer Operation matching the type of transfer being performed are displayed.
Target Volume Target Volume Units	Volume to transfer to the Target. An error occurs when the Target Volume entered is less than the Source Volume. Target Volume unit.
Target Concentration	Concentration of the content being transferred.
Target Concentration Units	Units of the Concentration.
Target Array	Used when Condensing. Choose the Target Array onto which you want to Transfer the Source Array. Use the lookup to find the Target. If blank, a new Array is created.
Source Index	Used when Condensing. Define how the next Source will be loaded. The Source Index indicates that the selected arrays are the specific ordinal number expected by the Array Method. For example, when condensing 8 1x12 single line arrays, into one 8x12 96 well plate, you may partially create this target plate by selecting less than 8 source lines. Then later, in subsequent condensing, you would choose more source lines, here we specify that the selected source lines are the nth line. If blank, the Source will overlay and continue according to the Transfer Map.
Sample Type ID	Used during Create Aliquot or Create Derivative. Choose a Sample Type for the Child Samples. You can choose a type different from the Parent Sample Type. If left blank the Parent Sample Type is used.

Click OK. Either a new Array is created or the Source is added to an existing Array. Source Array content is loaded according to the Transfer Rule defined in the Array Transfer Method. If the Transfer Rule did not include Content (Zone definition only), you will need to Apply an Array Method before loading the new Array.

When Condensing or Splitting, the number of Target Arrays to create is calculated using information defined on the Method Details tab of the Transfer Method. The Array Types defined for the Source and Target Arrays combined with the Transfer Operation (Splitting, Condensing) determine the number of Target Arrays to create. For example, if the Source Array Type is a 384 well plate and the Target is a 96 well plate, LABVANTAGE assumes there will be 1 Source Array and 4 Target Arrays. Define different Methods for each possible scenario.

If Aliquots or Derivatives are created, a new Array is created and if enabled on the Array Method, Child Samples are added. Note on the Plates and Gels list page (in the Sample column), the number of Samples associated with the Array is listed. Click the number to view the Samples.

Custom Transfers

 The Transfer option allows you to perform any type of Transfer using the Transfer Task. Select the Source Array(s) on the Plates and Gels List page, then click "Transfer".

The Select Arrays pane lets you choose the Array(s) you intend to Transfer. In this example, we plan to condense four 96 well plates onto one 384 well plate.

Select the Source Array(s) and click "Next".

The Select Array Transfer Method pane lets you choose the Transfer Method. Be sure to choose an Array Transfer Method that is compatible with the type of Transfer you wish to perform. For example, if you select four 96 well plates to Transfer, you must choose an Array Transfer Method that defines a 384 well Target Array.

Select the Transfer Method and click "Next".

The Transfer Details pane lets you define the Volume and Concentration.

Click "Next".

The View Array pane displays the newly created Array. Selecting an Array Item displays the details of the Transfer. See Viewing Transfer Genealogy for more about the information displayed.

Clicking "Next" generates and opens the LHR Report. See Generate LHR below for more information.

Completing the Task

After generating the LHR Report, click "Next" to return to the Plates and Gels list page where the newly created Plate is listed.

Generate LHR	Top

To provide instructions for Liquid Handling Robots (LHR), you must generate an LHR Report. This includes instructions for moving liquid from one Array Item to another. These instructions may be in the form of a spreadsheet. An example report is provided OOB to generate a spreadsheet. However, robots will have specific format requirements. These spreadsheets are sent directly to the robot.

LHR Reports can only be generated based on Transferred or Cherry Picked Arrays.

From the Plates and Gels List page, select the Array for which you want to generate the LHR report, then click Generate LHR. The OOB report is generated in the following format:

Cherry Picking	Top

Cherry Picking allows you to selectively decide which specific Array Items to transfer from the Source to the Target (such as Transfer only Array Items that fall within certain limits). Cherry Picking uses the Load Array functionality, but in place of a list of Samples, you will see the selected Source Array.

From the Plates and Gels list page select the Target Array (choose either a newly created Array or an existing Array) and click Cherry Picking. In the left panel, choose the Source Array from a list of Arrays in the Content dropdown.

In the following example we are loading from a 96 well Plate (140406-00001) to another 96 well Plate (140731-00009). The Target Plate has no Repeats or Dilutions. If the Target had Repeats or Dilutions, you would need to consider the Arrangement and ensure there are enough available Array Items in the Target.

In this example we searched for all Ct results that met the defined Limits. Note that the Array Items within the Limits are highlighted in green. Clicking Load loads the highlighted Array Items into the Target Array.

All but the 5 Array Items outside the Limits are loaded.

Optionally, drag and drop individual or groups of Array Items to the Target. In the following example, notice that Array Items A4 and C6 were selected and show in the tooltip while dragging. When loading, the system will distinguish which Array Item is first and next, using the order in which the cells were selected. In this example, A4 was selected first and will precede C6 once loaded.

Drop the selected Array Items into the Array Item you want to be the start position in the Target. The Array Items are loaded according to the arrangement defined on the associated Layout.

Zooming into the Target you can see that now, in addition to the Sample information, the Source Plate is also listed.

Cherry Picking Load Order

If a range or a group of Array Items are selected together, Array Items are loaded according to the Transfer Rule defined in the Target Array Method Content Editor. If multiple Array Items are selected individually, the selection order is remembered and those Array Items are loaded in the order in which they were selected. In the following example D5 will be loaded first, then E7, A2 and last, H11.

Whether to use a Standard Transfer or Cherry Picking depends on how involved the user needs to be when performing the Transfer. The following table will help determine which is best for your organization.

Viewing Transfer Genealogy	Top

Once a Transfer is complete, viewing the newly created Array shows the Zones, as copied from the Source Array, any Content that was transferred, and details of the Transfer. Select an Array Item to display details about the contents. Note in the example that in Array Item B3, the content is a Transfer from plate 161122-00001 Array Item B9. You can then click the link to open a view of the Source plate. When viewing the Source plate, the source Array item will be selected by default.