Available Worldwide

MVS® Multichannel Verification System

Accelerate assay optimization, simplify regulatory compliance, and ensure quality

Understand and manage the performance of your automated liquid handlers, multichannel pipettes, labware, operators, and more.

Compatible with virtually all automated liquid handling systems and multichannel handheld pipettes, the Artel MVS sits on a mobile workstation for portable rapid calibration, verifications and optimization of dispensed volumes with high precision and accuracy.

The MVS’s unique, dual-dye photometric measurements are robust against environmental influences and traceable to SI units to enable comparison across operators, protocols, equipment, and locations. Using the Calibrator Plate, Verification Plates, and an Artel-certified Plate Reader, the MVS supports an unbroken chain of traceability to national and international standards.

The MVS conforms to the Dual-Dye Ratiometric Photometric Method described in ISO 23783-2:2022, and the Ratiometric Photometric Method described in ISO/IWA 15:2015 for automated liquid handling systems. It can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld multichannel pipettes according to ISO 8655-7:2022. The MVS can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld or automated liquid handling systems according to CLSI QMS23:2019, ISO 17025:2017, cGMP, and cGLP. ArtelWare and Data Manager Software can be used in laboratories compliant to 21 CFR Part 11.

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Simplified and streamlined our QC process…

Natalie Grow
Bristol-Meyers Squibb



We rely on the MVS for verifications and liquid class development and optimization…

Thai Truong
Janssen R&D



MVS system has been vital to our lab operations.

Hyun-Wu Lee
Canada’s Michael Smith
Genome Sciences Centre

The Artel MVS System has greatly improved our laboratory quality processes, not only streamlining instrument qualifications but accelerating verification and validations.

Chris Trefil
SummerBio

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 ArtelWare software, and reports are ready to print or export.

Applications

Achieving quality and productivity with the MVS

With the ability to quickly assess the accuracy and precision of multi-channel liquid transfers, whether they are dispensed by an automated liquid handler or a multi-channel pipette, you can enhance quality and productivity in so many applications. Calibration is just one example. Learn about other ways the MVS can support your work (and workflows) in the links below.

We were doing liquid class development and realized that we couldn’t get anything <10 uL to pass. With the MVS, I was able to optimize our liquid classes in just 6 tests! We took it from a 16% inaccuracy down to 1.6% at 10 uL. Piece of cake when you’ve got something like the MVS in your corner.

Douglas Brown
CRL Clinical Reference Laboratory
Features

Key System Capabilities

  • Verifies the accuracy and precision of all automated liquid handlers (1–384 dispensing tips) and handheld multichannel pipettes
  • Measures performance over a wide volume range of 0.0001 to 350 µL
  • Measures aqueous and non-aqueous volume transfers, with specialized solutions such as DMSO, PCRMix, SerumSub, PlasProxy and more.
  • Obtains volume statistics tip-by-tip and well-by-well
  • Provides highly accurate, standardized results, traceable to national and international standards
  • Eliminates the need for rigorous environmental controls
  • Simplifies verification and calibration—easy-to-use for technicians of any skill level
  • Results traceable to national (NIST) and international (SI) standards

 

Flexible Applications

  • Assessment of step-wise dilution accuracy
  • Seamless integration with liquid handlers
  • Facilitating of scale-up and method transfer
  • Developing, troubleshooting, and validating assays, methods, and SOPs
  • Ensuring reproducibility
  • Site acceptance testing and establishing baseline performance of new equipment
  • Verifying performance before and after maintenance
  • Assessing performance of other essential liquid handling equipment such as plate shakers, plate washers, and bulk dispensers

 

Compliance

The MVS conforms with the Dual-Dye Ratiometric Photometric Method described in ISO 23783-2:2022 and the Ratiometric Photometric Method described in ISO/IWA 15:2015 for automated liquid handling systems. It can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld multichannel pipettes according to ISO 8655-7:2022. The MVS can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld or automated liquid handling systems according to CLSI QMS23:2019, ISO 17025:2017, cGMP, and cGLP. ArtelWare Software can be used in laboratories compliant to 21 CFR Part 11.

Software

System Software and Portable Computer

ArtelWare guides the user through the verification procedure and retrieves the data from the Plate Reader and Bar Code Reader. The data are used to determine liquid handler performance relative to set targets and pass/fail tolerance limits. Out-of-tolerance values are automatically flagged. The data output is automatically stored in a SQL database and can be easily exported and organized for audits.

MVS® and ArtelWare

  • Performance measurement over a wide volume range from 0.0001 to 350 µL
  • Ability to sum multiple wells for larger volumes
  • Customizable plate layouts with interactive plate designer
  • Uncertainty measurement calculation
  • Scheduling of pipette calibrations, operator trainings and liquid handler verification
  • Email notifications and reminders
  • Audit trail and e-signatures
  • Manage assets by uploading pipettes and liquid handling devices to inventory list
  • Improve audits with organized reporting
  • 21 CFR Part 11 compliance ready

Advantages & Benefits for labs

  • Save Time: Develop, troubleshoot and validate your assays and methods faster and more easily
  • Track Performance: Establish the baseline of your automated liquid handlers with individual channel statistics
  • Improve Accuracy: Optimize your liquid classes with the Aqueous, DMSO, PCRMix, SerumSub, and PlasProxy QualAssure solutions
  • Manage your Resources: Schedule your instruments verifications & keep track of your dispense protocols
Components

Artel 800TSNB Plate Reader

The Artel 800TSNB Plate Reader has been customized for the MVS by including wavelength-specific interference filters for measuring the absorbance values of the QualAssure solutions. The plate reader was selected for inclusion with the MVS because of its robust performance and reliability. The reader measures the absorbance values from each well of a 96-well plate at two wavelengths in approximately two minutes. A 384-well plate, in comparison, requires approximately four minutes.

MVS Plate Reader


Calibrator Plate

The MVS Calibrator Plate is a unique, highly sensitive device used to account for local drift in the daily performance of each MVS Plate Reader. Drift is removed from the MVS calculations by correlating the absorbance measurements from a Plate Reader with those made by the reference spectrophotometer at the Artel Laboratory, which is traceable to national and international standards.

ArtelWare software obtains critical information from the plate bar code concerning the absorbance of each standard as read in the reference spectrophotometer. The Calibrator Plate therefore allows any compatible Plate Reader in the field to generate standardized, traceable results at any location in the world.

The plate is composed of an aluminum frame with alignment apertures and a set of four sealed, custom-manufactured, precision cuvette absorbance standards. These solution-filled standards are manufactured to strict specifications which cover the working absorbance range of the system. This allows for more accurate wavelength-specific corrections of the plate reader for performing MVS calculations. Additionally, temperature dependencies of the QualAssure solutions are accounted for by the Calibrator Plate. A pane of neutral density glass is included to monitor any unlikely change in absorbance of the solution-filled standards.

MVS calibrator plate


Plate Shaker

The plate shaker is interfaced with the MVS Portable Computer to ensure consistent mixing of the QualAssure solutions.

MVS plate shaker


Bar Code Reader

The high-performance, hand-held 2D bar code scanner allows for easy recall of liquid handler devices and ease of use to enter required MVS bar code data into ArtelWare software.

MVS bar code reader


Mobile Workstation

The mobile workstation allows for convenient verification of equipment in multiple locations throughout your facility. The mobile workstation is equipped with two easy-to-clean shelves and an enclosed bottom shelf with locking door to secure supplies.

Mobile workstation


96-well and 384-well Verification Plates
Verification Plates are black, optical-bottom microplates that significantly improve the overall measurement capabilities of the MVS. When a microplate lot is manufactured, a statistical sampling plan is used to pull plates from throughout the manufacturing run. Proportional dilutions for volumes that span the entire MVS volume range are made on balances calibrated with mass standards traceable to national and international standards. These dilutions are used to characterize deviations from ideal performance within the operating absorbance range of the MVS using the sampling of plates. The statistical sampling plan and test method provide measurements representative of each well in that particular plate lot.

MVS Verification Plates


QualAssure Solutions
The MVS QualAssure solutions are prepared by Artel and conform to rigorous performance specifications. The solutions contain two dyes: red and blue. As shown in the table below, each of the different QualAssure solutions is employed to cover a designated target volume range. As the volume-of-interest decreases, the appropriate QualAssure solution 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 Solutions

Aqueous QualAssure
The standard MVS QualAssure solutions are aqueous and can measure performance over a wide volume range of 0.0001 to 350 µL.

Aqueous Solutions

DMSO QualAssure
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 solutions for the MVS. The DMSO QualAssure solutions can measure performance over a wide volume range of 0.0001 to 9.999 µL.

DMSO Solutions

PCRMix QualAssure
The PCRMix QualAssure solutions are being produced as a reliable way of optimizing automated liquid handlers so that 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 in qPCR/PCR. The PCRMix QualAssure solutions can measure performance between 2.000 and 49.99 μL.

PCRMix Solutions

PlasProxy QualAssure
PlasProxy mimics various animal and human plasma, allowing you to verify the volume of plasma that is dispensed by your automated liquid handler. The PlasProxy QualAssure solutions can measure performance between 10.00 and 200.0 μL.

PlasProxy Solutions

SerumSub QualAssure
SerumSub has been formulated to mimic the liquid handling properties of a variety of animal sera which allows you to verify the volume of serum that is dispensed by your automated liquid handler. The SerumSub QualAssure solutions can measure performance between 10.00 and 200.0 μL.

SerumSub Solutions

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 0.4 and 49.9 µL in a 96-Well Standard Profile plate, or between 0.1 and 9.9 µL in a 384-Well Standard Profile plate.

Alternative Solutions


System Software and Portable Computer
ArtelWare guides the user through the verification procedure and retrieves the data from the Plate Reader and Bar Code Reader. The data are used to determine liquid handler performance relative to set targets and pass/fail tolerance limits. Out-of-tolerance values are automatically flagged. The data output is automatically stored in a SQL database and can be easily exported and organized for audits.
MVS with ArtelWare
  • 21 CFR Part 11 compliance-ready.
  • Immediate display of pass/fail, dispense patterns via heat map, and volumetric results for each channel.
  • Automatic flagging of all deliveries exceeding tolerance limits.
  • Ability to schedule verifications and send email notifications.
  • Provides comprehensive reporting, including audit trail and printing of verification labels.
  • Easy exporting of data for analysis or viewing with other programs
  • Ability to re-evaluate data visually by modifying the pass/fail criteria after analysis.
  • Test the performance of multiple liquid delivery devices using a single plate.
  • Ability to use popular conventional microtiter plates when traceability is not a factor.
  • Measures aqueous and non-aqueous volume transfers, with specialized solutions such as DMSO, PCRMix, SerumSub, PlasProxy and more.
  • Compatible with Microsoft Windows® 10 or Windows® 11.

Optional Accessories
Additional Key-span USB adapter (for use with user-specific laptops that do not have an RS232 serial port)
Cleaning Kit for Calibrator Plate
Specifications

* Measurement of volumes outside of the traceable volume ranges are not traceable to the national and international standards and no declarations of relative inaccuracy and imprecision are made.

**Stated specifications apply when Artel MVS Plate Readers (ELx800 and 800TSNB) and MVS Verification Plates are used with Aqueous QualAssure and DMSO QualAssure.




On-site Installation, Validation, and Training

Product Installation and Validation

Have your new Artel instruments validated and ready to use quickly and efficiently. Certified Artel Application Specialists will set-up, install, and validate your instrument on-site, then train your staff to make best use of it.

• Execution of pre-packaged IQ/OQ protocols to ensure validated instrument performance and operation
• On-site, hands-on training for your laboratory at no additional cost

Installation Qualification (IQ)

Artel IQ protocols ensure proper setup, connection, and communication between all components of the system. Your Artel IQ specialist will perform and provide documentation of the IQ validation procedure, which details the correct installation of the system in your laboratory.

 

Operational Qualification (OQ)

Artel OQ protocols ensure that the instrument or application performs to its intended specifications in the environment where it will be used. Your Artel IQ specialist will perform and provide documentation of the OQ validation procedure, which details the performance of the instrument or application after a successful IQ protocol is completed.

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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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.
Warranty & Service Plans

Free your staff to focus on science and let us provide peace of mind, with Artel warranty and product support programs.

Instrument Warranty Programs

These programs include insurance and shipping within the U.S. and Canada of a loaner instrument.

Standard Warranty
Provides basic coverage against defects in materials or manufacture of the instrument.

Extended Warranty
Provides continued protection against unanticipated expenses associated with instrument repairs.

Product Support Service Programs

MVS Calibrator Plate Recertifications
Provides documented factory recertification and ongoing standardization of measurement results via annual factory recertification of the MVS Calibrator Plate, suitable for Quality Assurance purposes.

On-Site Preventive Maintenance
Provides periodic checks of system components for wear and tear, replacement of worn or outdated parts, and testing for accuracy and precision against factory specifications.

On-Site Installation, Validation, and Training
Provides installation, IQ/OQ documentation, and usage overview for instruments and software. Artel can also revalidate instruments that have been relocated or undergone maintenance or service.

Tel: 1-888-406-3463, opt 2 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET)
Email: [email protected]

Ratings & Reviews

We needed an operational qualification for one of our liquid handlers and we chose Artel as the provider to calibrate and qualify our instrument performance. The Artel team was very communicative throughout the service process. They came on-site to perform the ALH Service, utilizing the MVS technology to calibrate our instrumentation. I was impressed by how easy the MVS platform was to setup and get going and how quickly it qualified our liquid handlers.

Jeff Cabello, ArcticDX, Inc.

 


4.7 / 5.0 | 34 review from SelectScience.net


Saves time and material cost.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 16/12/2022

The manual guide of the MVS data manager software is well written and easy to follow. Without hands-on training, I can start and use the system for the volume verification setup . There are also webinars and white papers available on the Artel web page. After sales care, the application scientist is easy to work with, knowledgeable about interpreting test data and giving advise, and flexible to help onsite if needed. I would recommend this Artel product because it saves time and material cost. Most important is having a standard method to calibrate different pipettes and optimize liquid class on automated liquid handlers while managing the sources of variability systematically.

Michelle Mak, 10x Genomics

Business type: Biotechnology

Review from: Select Science


A very viable instrument.

Rating:5






Reviewed on 12/12/2022

The MVS is really helpful in verifying the performance of our liquid handlers. It is a very viable instrument.

Henry Dea, BillionToOne, Inc.

Business type: Biotechnology

Review from: Select Science


The product is accurate and reliable.

Rating:5






Reviewed on 04/11/2022

The product is accurate and reliable. With the addition of the pre-owned models of MVS readers, it also becomes affordable. The expansion of the dye solutions to include MasterMix and Serum along with their original aqueous offering makes Artel a definitive liquid class setup solution. The FSE performing setup and the account manager were on-time, responsive, and supportive during install and (most importantly) afterwards.

Kevin Kim, Biotechnology

Business type: Avellino Labs

Review from: Select Science


Great way to do QC on liquid handlers.

Rating:4.3





Reviewed on 10/06/2022

The Artel kit is easy to use, gives accurate and reliable results. It's a great way to quickly determine the functioning of the automation systems that we install and maintain.

Thobias Haakman, Automated Liquid Handlers

Business type: Beckman Coulter

Review from: Select Science


MVS system has been vital to our lab operations.

Rating:5






Reviewed on 10/06/2022

The MVS system is extremely useful for periodic performance QC testing of high-throughput liquid handlers, high-throughput liquid handler calibration, and various liquid handler/single channel pipette tip type/lot QC. The MVS system requires minimal maintenance and MVS manager software is intuitive to use and flexible to set up various plate layouts to meet user’s need. The customer service is very responsive and helpful. They provide a notification for calibrator plate re-certification annually and all communications during the re-certification service has been excellent. Also, MVS solution orders have been processed in a timely manner, even during the pandemic related global supply chain issue periods.

Hyun-Wu Lee, Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

Business type: Reference Laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Couldn't ask for anything better

Rating:5






Reviewed on 09/06/2022

The Artel MVS has been a huge help for our lab in validating volumes on new automated liquid handlers. Always gives consistent results, easy to use, software is extremely straight-foward, and any time we have an issue it's super easy to get help from the Artel team. Thank you!!

Leah Chong, Invitae

Business type: Biotechnology

Review from: Select Science


Artel just fills so many gaps for our lab automation team.

Rating:5






Reviewed on 21/03/2022

This is the third biotech company I have used the Artel MVS system at and I find it so extremely useful. We have a very sensitive gravimetric system as well but the Artel just fills so many gaps for our lab automation team. Channel to channel variation in 96/384 heads, environmental insensitivity, and we can even get deep into the weeds of nL dispenses. All of which is not doable with an analytical scale.

,

Business type: Biotechnology

Review from: Select Science


We have been using the system to offer external volume verification service to our collaborators

Rating:4.0





Reviewed on 21/05/2021

The MVS system is fairly intuitive to use. Not only we use this for our internal automated liquid handler volume verification, tip test and calibration work, we have been using the system to offer external volume verification service to our collaborators. The system is very durable without significant issues and easy to maintain. MVS reagent orders are always been processed and delivered in a timely manner. Our regional specialist periodically checks in to ask if the system is working as expected.

Hyun-Wu Lee, Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre

Business type: Reference Laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Really like how easy it is to use.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 14/10/2020

Easy to use. Fast. High quality product.

Jennifer Smith, BioFire Diagnostics

Business type: Clinical laboratory

Review from: Select Science


We’ve relied on the MVS for verifications and liquid class optimization.

Rating:4.7






Reviewed on 01/10/2020

We've been relied on Artel for our robotic instruments for nearly 10 years or so, mostly are quarterly verifications to determine consistency of the instrument performance. We've also used it for liquid class development and optimization. What I've noticed about the Artel MVS Multi-channel Verification System is that it's very reliable and rarely break down. The programing and the use of its application is very straight forward, once you've used it once or two, you'll know it.

Thai Truong, Biopharmaceuticals

Business type: Janssen R&D

Review from: Select Science


Great content and statisfied with my experience and the product.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 06/06/2020

Effective in practice.

Axhibajram Mashkulli, General Hospital Debar

Business type: Clinical Laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Plate reader used to analyze sample volume.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 28/01/2020

The MVS is very user friendly and easy to personalize for your specific needs.

Matt Blazek, Foundation Medicine

Business type: Clinical laboratory

Review from: Select Science


The MVS makes maintaining GxP compliance easy.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 16/12/2019

The Artel MVS makes it so easy to do a monthly verification that the 96 channel CORE head on my Hamilton Vantage is dispensing the correct volumes. Doing the confirmation gravimetrically would be so time consuming, but using the Artel dyes and the MVS makes it something one person can do in a single morning. The software is easy to use, and the instrument has not had any maintenance issues.

Katherine Schneider, Pfizer

Business type: Immunology

Review from: Select Science


For powerful QC data, look no further than Artel.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 05/02/2019

The MVS is a powerful tool for consistent and user-friendly quality control of liquid handlers that use a multitude of handling methods, including syringe, air displacement, and acoustic. The unique combination of dyes along with the well-designed UI make for an indispensable tool in my lab’s arsenal.

Samuel Mayo, Broad Institute

Business type: Environmental laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Excellent equipment. When you need it, you need it immediately and the MVS is great.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 01/01/2018

The system is well designed and the engineers clearly kept ease-of-use and footprint in mind. The support staff is FANTASTIC! They are always open to questions and troubleshooting, they have a great understanding of the intersection between our needs and their products.

Rebecca Kohnz, Merck

Business type: Compound management and liquid handling verification

Review from: Select Science


Great!

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 01/01/2018

Our Artel MVS system is one of the most reliable and easy to use instruments in our lab. We use it weekly to verify volumes dispensed by our Hamilton robots and they've produced strong, reliable results with little maintenance.

Anna Alvarado, Pfizer

Business type: Immunology

Review from: Select Science


Easy to use

Rating:4.7






Reviewed on 17/12/2018

Much easier than calibrating each channel one at a time; great customer care after purchase

Penny Yaste, Nevada State Public Health Laboratory

Business type: Clinical laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Reliable and straightforward to use

Rating:4.7






Reviewed on 01/01/2018

The Artel MVS is straightforward to use and does an excellent job of maintaining the required records in the database.

Ken Queen, Foundation Medicine

Business type: Clinical laboratory

Review from: Select Science


Reproducible results! Simple to use!

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 01/01/2018

We use the Artel MVS system to verify the accuracy & precision of our 7 Tecan EVO 96 channel liquid handling robots weekly. Our results are reproducible. The system is VERY easy to use. It tells you every step using very simple words. You can make up your own scripts for your use or use the ones provided. We began using the MVS system to verify the precision & accuracy of our devices because everything is trackable-the plates, and solutions all have barcodes. These barcodes can be tracked back to a lot number from the manufacturer. I also went through the Artel pipette training, which was very helpful to learn proper technique and our pipetting skills were tested on the MVS system.

Dianna Monroe, Myriad RBM

Business type: To verify precision and accuracy pipetting of Tecan 96 channel liquid handling robot

Review from: Select Science


Great item. My boss says I should have pushed harder to buy it sooner.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 06/03/2017

We sell our services noting the Artel system is the Gold Standard. The accuracy and reporting verifies the quality of the system to the customer. Customers that are already familiar with Artel usually just sign on at that point.

Thomas Esparza, Excalibur Lab Specialists

Business type: Volume verifications on liquid handling instrumentation

Review from: Select Science


The MVS system is extremely easy to set-up and use. The results are easy to interpret.

Rating:5.0






Reviewed on 27/10/2016

The MVS system is a superb in every way. This system is easy to use with minimal use of instructions. Our lab uses the system to check the accuracy and precision of our automation workstations. The MVS has given us a quick way to test and correct for the issues of over pipetting or under pipetting, making our process more efficient. Our robots transfer less than 5ul into 384-well plates, so accuracy and precision is key to all of our assay development and validation pipelines. Introducing the MVS system has allowed the lab staff to perform several tasks with confidence using the automation workstation's. I would suggest to novice users of the system to measure the amount of reagent needed for your transfer and discard the remainder. When reagents are exposed for extended periods we have noticed a decline in accuracy, especially for the low volume transfers.

Keisha Hines-Harris, Leidos Biomedical/NCI

Business type: Assay development and validation

Review from: Select Science


TRUSTED BY

Once we brought Artel into the lab, we realized we could push to small volumes. We typically work beyond the liquid handler’s specifications, and we can do this because we have Artel to verify their performance.

Robert Grbac
Senior Scientist at XenoTech

MVS® Multichannel Verification System

Verify precision and accuracy of volume transfers in your lab and simplify regulatory compliance with the easy-to-use MVS.

Questions and Answers

Does the MVS comply with my laboratory requirements?
The MVS conforms to the Dual-Dye Ratiometric Photometric Method according to ISO 23783-2:2022, and the Ratiometric Photometric Method described in ISO/IWA 15:2015 for automated liquid handling systems. It can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld multi-channel pipettes according to ISO 8655-7:2022. The MVS can be used to fulfill test and calibration requirements of handheld or automated liquid handling systems according to CLSI QMS23:2019, ISO 17025:2017, cGMP, and cGLP. ArtelWare Software can be used in laboratories compliant to 21 CFR Part 11.
What are QualAssure solutions?
Artel has evolved our brand to better align with our values and the customers we serve, and to symbolize where we are today. But the Artel mission has remained the same – to help labs achieve their goals for quality, productivity, and compliance. One of the changes made during the transition was consolidating the array of verification solutions under the new QualAssure label. The QualAssure name describes the assurance of accurate, precise, and reproducible data that customers have come to expect from using Artel technology, products and services. The products themselves are the same proven formulations and volumes as users have come to depend on and customers do not need to change their ordering processes.
What is the MVS?
The MVS Multichannel Verification System is the first commercially-available volume verification system. It includes equipment, software, QualAssure solutions and characterized microtiter plates to allow operators to quickly and easily verify the liquid delivery performance for automated liquid handlers and multichannel pipettes within minutes.
The MVS also allows for multichannel pipette operators to be assessed for pipetting competency and then trained accordingly. The system is suitable for liquid volume measurements from 0.01 µL to 350 µL and dilution measurements up to 1:2048 of the starting material. The MVS is positioned on a mobile workstation to allow for portable, convenient volume verification of pipettors in multiple locations.
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How does the MVS work?
MVS employs a dual-dye, dual-wavelength, ratiometric absorbance-based measurement method for calculating the volume of sample dispensed into a well of a microtiter plate.
The results of the verification tests are traceable to national and international standards. Specially formulated QualAssure solutions containing dyes of known concentration are dispensed into dimensionally-characterized microtiter plate wells. The plate is mixed on a microtiter plate shaker to ensure homogeneity of samples. Absorbance readings are taken in the plate reader at 520 nm and 730 nm. The system software, MVS Data Manager, creates a summary report containing the calculated dispensed volume for each dispensing tip. Accuracy and precision of the dispensed volumes are measured against user-defined tolerance limits and failing values are flagged in the report. Summary statistics by well, by row, and by column are also contained in the summary report. Results are saved in a secured database using the MVS Data Manager software and are available for printout or export in HTML or XML format.
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Can the MVS be used to verify any liquid handler?
Artel has designed the MVS to be universally applicable to virtually any liquid handler. Currently, any 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, 24-, 96- and 384- channel device, such as handheld pipettes or automated liquid handlers, may be checked for volume dispensing performance.
These devices must be capable of dispensing into a standard 96- or 384- well microtiter plate.
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What is included with the purchase of an MVS?
The MVS is sold as a complete system. The system components include a customized Plate Reader, a unique Calibrator Plate, a microtiter Plate Shaker, a bar code reader, a portable computer with ArtelWare software, a mobile workstation and a user guide.
On-site system installation and validation are also included with an MVS purchase.
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Can I use my own microwell plate reader?
No, we do not support the use of other plate readers at this time.
Is the MVS designed to be mobile?
The MVS includes a mobile workstation for convenient verification of equipment in multiple locations throughout a laboratory or facility.
Can the MVS be used to calibrate hand-held multichannel pipettes?
Yes, the MVS is a convenient way to verify the accuracy and precision performance of each independent channel at the same time.
What are the advantages of the MVS over other volume verification methods?
The MVS allows for analysis of accuracy and precision for each independent dispensing channel simultaneously, which saves labor and liquid handler down-time. It is relatively immune to environmental conditions and provides measurements traceable to national and international standards.
The MVS QualAssure solutions are manufactured by Artel to tight tolerances using ISO-acknowledged methods. There is no need to generate standard curves. MVS provides standardized results making it possible to compare instrument performance between makes and models of liquid handlers as well as between locations, i.e., 2 µL dispensed by liquid handler X on Tuesday in Boston can be directly compared to 2 µL dispensed by liquid handler Y on Friday in San Diego. Please refer to the MVS White Paper for more information.
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Is the MVS FDA approved?
The MVS does not require FDA approval because it is not directly associated with human samples or specimens. The MVS results are traceable to national and international standards.
Does the MVS require regular maintenance?
The only regular maintenance required is the recertification of the MVS Calibrator Plate, which has a shelf-life of 1-year. At the one year mark, the Calibrator Plate must be shipped back to Artel for the recertification process.
Aside from Calibrator Plate recertification, the only other routine maintenance required is the occasional replacement of the lamp in the Artel Plate Reader (dependent on plate reader used), which can be easily completed by the user.
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Does the MVS require a skilled technician?
No. The MVS can be easily used by technicians and scientists of any education level. Artel has done all the work for liquid handler QC to make volume verification fast, easy, and reliable.
ArtelWare software guides the user through the entire volume verification process and all the QualAssure solutions are prepared by Artel. The user simply pours the solutions into a reservoir, dispenses the solution with the liquid handler under test, and measures the tip-by-tip volume values using the MVS. Artel performs on-site MVS training on the day the MVS is installed and our Technical Support team is available (by phone, email and/or future support visits).
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What types of laboratories use the MVS?
The MVS is used by many different types of laboratories serving many different fields. Basically, it is used wherever laboratories have liquid handlers and wherever they are serious about liquid handling quality control. Customers and laboratories using the MVS include:
1. research and development labs (including HTS, compound management, lead optimization);
2. clinical and reference labs;
3. governmental labs;
4. forensic labs;
5. manufacturers of automated liquid handlers;
6. liquid handling (or automation) engineers;
7. manufacturing labs; and
8. production support labs.
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What kind of impact does the MVS have in my laboratory?
The MVS will have a tremendous impact on liquid handler QC in any environment. Concentration of reagents in microtiter plates is volume dependent. If the right volume is not being dispensed, the reagent concentrations could be different as compared to the theoretical values.
Without the right concentrations, the assay results might be called into question or could be falsely interpreted. The MVS offers an advantage for liquid handling QC so that users can trust their assay results.
Here are a few of the many ways the MVS can impact a laboratory or company:
1. parallel efforts within and between labs/sites can be streamlined;
2. experimental, assay and data integrity preserved;
3. laboratory productivity, motivation, and confidence are maintained;
4. GMP/GLP compliance and documentation facilitated;
5.method transfer and setting up automated tasks to deliver the proper (correct) volume facilitated;
6. equipment downtime and costs reduced;
7. the volume verification results are standardized meaning they can be compared regardless of make, model, manufacturer or location of the liquid handler.
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How can I learn more about the MVS?
Contact Artel toll free at 888-406-3463 and speak with one of our Sales Representatives.

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