For the list of countries in which Grifols is licensed to promote and distribute these products.

Please click the link.

See countries

For the list of countries in which Grifols is licensed to promote and distribute these products.

See countries

Please click the link.

HELMED Automated System for IFA

HELMED Automated System for IFA

Reduce operator steps on IFA processing and maximize your throughput with HELMED's reagent capacity and practicability. Automate your IFA processing steps to ensure operator consistency and eliminate transcription errors with a built-in barcode reader and LIS communication all in a compact system with multiple options to maximize your lab space.

Main benefits

Faster processing

With three independent needles and rings, increase your processing speed and improve your results. Load and run more tests in just five minutes.

Higher Capacity

Automate up to 20 slides and four different tests per run with four different substrates. Combine several reagent racks in the outer ring, each with a capacity of up to 16 reagent bottles and fit AESKUSLIDES reagents, calibrators, and control vials directly into their corresponding positions.

Streamlined

Automate your processes to increase tracebility and consistency. Standardize IFA processes with flexible protocol programming and automate detection and scanning of sample tube ID's to reduce human operating error.

Product specifications

HELMED Automated System for IFA
Technical Detail

Slide capacity
Specification

Similar to ELISA, except solid phase uses nitrocellilose membrane

Test capacity
Specification

Up to 4 different tests with 4 different substrates and 4 different conjugates per slide

Sample capacity
Specification
  • With barcode: up to 120
  • Without barcode: up to 150

Sample tubes
Specification
  • Height: 75-100 mm (2.95-3.94 in)
  • Diameter: 13 mm (0.519 in)

Sample microtubes
Specification

Yes, 2 mL (0.07 fl oz)

Sample identification
Specification

Built-in multi-type barcode reader for sample detection and identification

Sample and reagent support
Specification

Customized multi-format extractable racks

Slide support
Specification
  • 26.1 × 76.1 mm (1.03 × 2.9 in)
  • 25 and 26 mm (0.98 and 1.02 in) slide thickness within the same run

Sample dilution capacity
Specification
  • Free titration ratio programmable from 1:1 to 1:25.600
  • 1-step dilution: 1:1 through 1:160 using a MT well
  • 2-step dilution: 1:161 through 1:25.600 using MT wells

Dilution fluid
Specification

User choice of wash solution or dedicated diluent solution in the carousel

Positions available for
IF sample dilution
 
Specification

192 (performed in 2 x 96 MTP)

Pipetting station
Specification
  • 3 low-carbon stainless steel needles (2 fixed and 1 retractable)
  • The third retractable needle provides an independent reagent pipetting channel
  • One peristaltic pump for aspiration of fluids
  • One peristaltic pump for slide well and MT well washing
  • One 50 mL syringe (1.69 fl oz)
  • One 1 mL syringe (0.03 fl oz)

Level detection
Specification

Continuous level tracking by conductivity

Precision
Specification
  • CV <3% @ 5 μL
  • CV <1% @ 10 μL

Minimum sample volume pick-up
Specification

1 μl

Minimum sample volume required
Specification

50 μL

Reagents capacity
Specification

Several reagent racks can be combined in the outer ring, each of them with capacity for 16 reagent and control bottles

Wash solutions
Specification

2 different wash solutions

Wash type
Specification

Free slide and well wash. programming (well-by-well wash)

Incubator
Specification

For slides and MT programmable from RT to 40°C

Software requirements
Specification
  • PC (not included) with 32 & 64 bits compatible processor
  • Runs on Windows Vista, 2000 & XP, Windows 7
  • PC communication port is bidirectional USB

LIS link
Specification
  • Unidirectional. HELMED can query LIS to automatically select test & dilution
  • Conforms to ASTM standards
  • Bidirectional with the HELPS+
  • IFA data management software

Modularity
Specification

Up to 3 HELMED systems controlled by a single PC

Programming
Specification

User-friendly software interface including an intuitive slide and test designer that supports different slide thickness, different well formats, multiple substrates in the same slide, multiple sample dispensing points, and multiple number of well rows within the same slide

Certifications
Specification

CE mark and FDA approved

Dimensions

(W × D × H)
Specification

57 × 62 × 75 cm (22.4 × 24.4 × 29.5 in)

Weight
Specification

25 kg (55.12 lb)

Voltage
Specification

100-240 V

Frequency
Specification

50/60 Hz

Power
Specification
  • Without incubator: 50 W max
  • With incubator: 250 W max
Technical Detail Specification

Slide capacity

Similar to ELISA, except solid phase uses nitrocellilose membrane

Test capacity

Up to 4 different tests with 4 different substrates and 4 different conjugates per slide

Sample capacity
  • With barcode: up to 120
  • Without barcode: up to 150

Sample tubes
  • Height: 75-100 mm (2.95-3.94 in)
  • Diameter: 13 mm (0.519 in)

Sample microtubes

Yes, 2 mL (0.07 fl oz)

Sample identification

Built-in multi-type barcode reader for sample detection and identification

Sample and reagent support

Customized multi-format extractable racks

Slide support
  • 26.1 × 76.1 mm (1.03 × 2.9 in)
  • 25 and 26 mm (0.98 and 1.02 in) slide thickness within the same run

Sample dilution capacity
  • Free titration ratio programmable from 1:1 to 1:25.600
  • 1-step dilution: 1:1 through 1:160 using a MT well
  • 2-step dilution: 1:161 through 1:25.600 using MT wells

Dilution fluid

User choice of wash solution or dedicated diluent solution in the carousel

Positions available for
IF sample dilution
 

192 (performed in 2 x 96 MTP)

Pipetting station
  • 3 low-carbon stainless steel needles (2 fixed and 1 retractable)
  • The third retractable needle provides an independent reagent pipetting channel
  • One peristaltic pump for aspiration of fluids
  • One peristaltic pump for slide well and MT well washing
  • One 50 mL syringe (1.69 fl oz)
  • One 1 mL syringe (0.03 fl oz)

Level detection

Continuous level tracking by conductivity

Precision
  • CV <3% @ 5 μL
  • CV <1% @ 10 μL

Minimum sample volume pick-up

1 μl

Minimum sample volume required

50 μL

Reagents capacity

Several reagent racks can be combined in the outer ring, each of them with capacity for 16 reagent and control bottles

Wash solutions

2 different wash solutions

Wash type

Free slide and well wash. programming (well-by-well wash)

Incubator

For slides and MT programmable from RT to 40°C

Software requirements
  • PC (not included) with 32 & 64 bits compatible processor
  • Runs on Windows Vista, 2000 & XP, Windows 7
  • PC communication port is bidirectional USB

LIS link
  • Unidirectional. HELMED can query LIS to automatically select test & dilution
  • Conforms to ASTM standards
  • Bidirectional with the HELPS+
  • IFA data management software

Modularity

Up to 3 HELMED systems controlled by a single PC

Programming

User-friendly software interface including an intuitive slide and test designer that supports different slide thickness, different well formats, multiple substrates in the same slide, multiple sample dispensing points, and multiple number of well rows within the same slide

Certifications

CE mark and FDA approved

Dimensions

(W × D × H)

57 × 62 × 75 cm (22.4 × 24.4 × 29.5 in)

Weight

25 kg (55.12 lb)

Voltage

100-240 V

Frequency

50/60 Hz

Power
  • Without incubator: 50 W max
  • With incubator: 250 W max