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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.
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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.
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.
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, including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
- 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
- Complies with the ratiometric photometric test method of ISO/IWA 15:2015
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
MVS® Data Manager Software
Software Features
- 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.
- 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.
- Ability to verify and optimize a volume dispensing instrument using specific test solutions such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
- Compatible with Microsoft Windows® 7 or Windows® 10.
Artel 800TSNB 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.
The MVS Data Manager 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.
Plate Shaker
Bar Code Reader
Mobile Workstation
- 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.
- 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.
- Ability to verify and optimize a volume dispensing instrument using specific test solutions such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
- Compatible with Microsoft Windows® 7 or Windows® 10.
- x86 Processor: 1.4 GHz or faster
- Memory: 1 GB
- I/O Ports: 3 USB Connectors
- Network: 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b Wireless
- Storage: 20 GB of hard drive space
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows® 7 or Windows® 10
Cleaning Kit for Calibrator Plate
System Performance | ||
Standard & Advanced Editions 96-Well Verification Plate |
Advanced Edition Only 384-Well Verification Plate |
|
Time Requirements | < 5 minutes | < 10 minutes |
Tip Configurations | 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 96 | 1, 8, 12, 16, 24, 96, and 384 |
Traceable Volume Range | 0.1000 – 350.0 μL | 0.0100 – 55.00 μL |
Operating Volume Range* | 0.0001 – 350.0 μL | 0.0001 – 55.00 μL |
Artel 800TSNB Plate Reader Uncertainty (Inaccuracy)** |
0.2000 – 350.0 μL, ± 2.0% 0.1000 – 0.1999 μL, ± 3.0% 0.0001 – 0.0999 μL, N/A |
0.0500 – 55.00 μL, ± 2.5% 0.0200 – 0.0499 μL, ± 3.5% 0.0100 – 0.0199 μL, ± 5.5% 0.0001 – 0.0099 μL, N/A |
Random Error (Imprecision)** | 0.2000 – 350.0 μL, ≤ 0.4% 0.1000 – 0.1999 μL, ≤ 0.4% 0.0001 – 0.0999 μL, N/A |
0.0500 – 55.00 μL, ≤ 0.8% 0.0200 – 0.0499 μL, ≤ 0.8% 0.0100 – 0.0199 μL, ≤ 0.9% 0.0001 – 0.0099 μL, N/A |
Traceability to national & international standards using Artel verification plates |
Yes | Yes |
* 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 Plate Readers are used.
MVS Volume Ranges | ||
96 well standard profile plate | 384 well for standard profile plate | |
Aqueous Solutions | ||
Range HV Sample Solution | 200.1 – 350.0 μL | N/A |
Range A Sample Solution | 50.00 – 200.0 μL | 10.00 – 55.00 μL |
Range B Sample Solution | 10.00 – 49.99 μL | 2.500 – 9.999 μL |
Range C Sample Solution | 2.000 – 9.999 μL | 0.500 – 2.499 μL |
Range D Sample Solution | 1.000 – 1.999 μL | 0.3000 – 0.4999 μL |
Range E Sample Solution Traceable Volume Range Non-traceable Volume Range |
0.1000 – 0.9999 μL 0.0001 – 0.0999 μL |
0.0100 – 0.2999 μL 0.0001 – 0.0099 μL |
Stock Solution 1 | 0.4 – 9.9 μL | 0.1 – 2.49 μL |
Stock Solution 2 | 10 – 49.9 μL | 2.5 – 9.9 μL |
Shelf Life | 24 months from date of manufacture. | |
Storage/ Operation | 15 – 30 °C tightly capped, in closed box, out of direct light |
DMSO Solutions | ||
DMSO Range C Solution | 2.000 – 9.999 μL | 0.500 – 2.499 μL |
DMSO Range D Solution | 1.000 – 1.999 μL | 0.3000 – 0.4999 μL |
DMSO Range E Sample Solution Traceable Volume Range Non-traceable Volume Range |
0.1000 – 0.9999 μL 0.0001 – 0.0999 μL |
0.0100 – 0.2999 μL 0.0001 – 0.0099 μL |
Shelf Life | 24 months from date of manufacture. | |
Storage Temperature | 19 – 30 °C tightly capped, in closed box, out of direct light. For users who need to store reagents between 1 – 30 °C see the User Guide | |
Operation Temperature | 19 to 30 °C |
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.

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.
Phone: 207-854-0860 | 888-406-3463 toll-free (U.S. and Canada)
Email: orders@artel.co
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.

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: support@artel.co
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.
Really like how easy it is to use.
Easy to use. Fast. High quality product.
We’ve relied on the MVS for verifications and liquid class optimization.
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.
Great content and statisfied with my experience and the product.
Effective in practice.
Axhibajram Mashkulli, General Hospital Debar
Business type: Clinical Laboratory
Review from: Select Science
Plate reader used to analyze sample volume.
The MVS is very user friendly and easy to personalize for your specific needs.
The MVS makes maintaining GxP compliance easy.
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.
For powerful QC data, look no further than Artel.
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.
Excellent equipment. When you need it, you need it immediately and the MVS is great.
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!
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.
Easy to use
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
The Artel MVS is straightforward to use and does an excellent job of maintaining the required records in the database.
Reproducible results! Simple to use!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.READ MORE +
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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.READ MORE +
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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.READ MORE +
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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 the MVS Data Manager system software, a mobile workstation and a user guide.
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.READ MORE +
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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.READ MORE +
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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.MVS Data Manager system 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).READ MORE +
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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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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.
READ MORE +
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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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