Enhancing CRISPR analysis with INTEGRA automation

Biotechnology company QUiCKR Bio is using liquid handling solutions from INTEGRA Biosciences to run its CRISPR edit confirmation assays. QUiCKR's proprietary assays eliminate key bottlenecks of sequencing-based confirmation in CRISPR gene editing, ensuring more efficient workflows and accelerating downstream research.

Quantifying the outcome of CRISPR gene editing to modify, delete or correct specific regions of DNA has traditionally been performed using costly and time-consuming NGS or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). 

QUiCKR Bio, based in New York, offers pre-plated assays and cloud platform analysis for quantification of DNA sequences with NGS-level accuracy in just 20 minutes, helping pharma and biotech companies to optimize therapeutic candidates and accelerate regulatory approval.

Charles Blanluet, Co-founder and CEO of QUiCKR, explained why the company chose to partner with INTEGRA: "We offer end-to-end kit and software solutions tailored to customers' specific throughput and regulatory needs. This includes ready-to-use, 384 well assay plates that can be run on existing lab readers and automation platforms. Setting up these assays manually is tedious, time consuming and potentially error prone, so we looked for alternative solutions. We partnered with INTEGRA because we found its pipetting tools very easy to use and implement, and the quality of the liquid handling matched the demands of our assays. Within 5 hours, we can set up the entire QUiCKR workflow and confirm its accuracy on 200 edited samples."

For our highest throughput formats, the VIAFLO 96 can run the whole workflow - comprising serial dilutions and plate transfer - in just a few clicks using preloaded scripts. For lower throughput, we first prepare serial dilutions of the DNA samples in a 96 well plate using an ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot mounted with a VIAFLO 96 electronic pipette. We then use the ASSIST PLUS and VIAFLO 96 to transfer these dilutions to each quadrant of the 384 well QUiCKR plate. We then use the VIAFLO 96 and ASSIST PLUS enable walk-away processing and increase reproducibility, and simultaneous pipetting of 96 samples with the MINI 96 further saves time and reduces variation. Speed is of the essence for our customers, so we ensure fast onboarding of pre-validated, turnkey solutions. INTEGRA's liquid handling solutions have enabled us to implement these same-day, reproducible processes. Most of our workflows are pre-validated on INTEGRA's instruments, and INTEGRA offers a 30-day trial period to support QUiCKR's onboarding. We are happy to recommend the company as an automation partner to all our customers."

Charles Blanluet, Co-founder and CEO, QUiCKR