Quick Transfer

Quick transfer is a touchscreen-only feature that lets you create, save, and run simple procedures that move liquid from a source to a destination, all without creating a protocol or writing code. Available starting in robot software version 8.0.0, this feature is ideal for preparing labware you need to use in other, more complex procedures. For example, you can use quick transfers to:

• Provision well plates with a reagent, buffer, or other liquid.

• Consolidate liquid from many wells to one well.

• Distribute liquid from a single well to multiple wells.

• Move culture to growth media or to prepare it for long-term storage.

There are two sections of the quick transfer screen:

• Pinned transfers: Large cards on a horizontal carousel. You can pin 8 cards, maximum.

• Saved transfers: A vertical list at the bottom of the screen. Flex can save a maximum of 20 quick transfers. You have to delete older quick transfers to maintain this limit.

The remainder of this section goes through quick transfer features in detail.

Creating a quick transfer

From the Quick Transfer tab on the touchscreen, tap + Quick transfer. This starts a guided setup. Follow the instructions on the screen. You can run, save, pin, or delete the transfer when finished.

Deck slots and hardware requirements

Quick transfers require a Flex pipette, a tip rack in slot B2, source labware in slot C2, and destination labware in slot D2. For tip disposal, quick transfer relies on the robot's deck configuration to determine where the trash bin or waste chute is on the deck. It shows the trash bin in slot A3 if no trash container is configured. You cannot use the gripper, modules, and custom labware in a quick transfer.

If everything is set up correctly, you'll move on to selecting pipettes and tips.

Pipettes and tips

Creating a quick transfer involves selecting a pipette and appropriate tips. Quick transfer can use any 1-, 8-, or 96-channel pipette that's attached to the robot. When selecting a pipette tip, try to match the tip to a pipette of the same capacity or larger. For best performance, use the smallest tips that can hold the amount of liquid you need to aspirate.

Labware

Quick transfer works with most of the labware in the Opentrons Labware Library. It omits labware from the source and destination menus when those items are incompatible with the selected pipette. For example, only the 1-channel pipette can aspirate or dispense from tube racks. If you select a multi-channel pipette, quick transfer won't let you choose a tube rack as a source or destination.

Well selection

Well selection depends upon the pipette and labware you're using. When using a 1-or 8-channel pipette and a 96-well plate, you select individual wells by tapping or tapping and dragging on the touchscreen. Or, when using multi-channel pipettes and high-density well plates, quick transfer provides button controls that let you select columns and well groups instead of individual wells.

For example, these controls let you select wells and columns with an 8-channel pipette and a 384-well plate.

And these controls let you select wells and columns with a 96-channel pipette and 384-well plate.

Quick transfer checks your pipette, source, and destination choices to prevent incompatible combinations. If you make a mistake while selecting wells, or want to start over, tap Reset to clear your selections.

After making instrument and well selections, you'll set the transfer volume and give your new quick transfer a name.

Transfer volumes and name

You'll set the amount of liquid to transfer (in μL) after specifying the source and destination wells. You'll also have a chance to name the transfer after setting the transfer volume. A good, concise name helps you find a quick transfer in a list of saved or pinned transfers and indicates what it does.

Advanced settings

These are available after you name a quick transfer and before you save it. If some settings are familiar to you that's because they're the same as those offered in Protocol Designer. Advanced settings are optional; select any that you need or just save or run the transfer.

Setting	Description
Aspirate and dispense flow rates	Set how quickly the pipette will aspirate or dispense, in μL/s.
Pipette path	Choose how the pipette moves between wells. Options include: single transfer (1 well to 1 well) multi-aspirate (many wells to 1 well) multi-dispense (1 well to many wells)
Tip position	Change where in the well the pipette aspirates or dispenses. By default, the robot positions the tip 1 mm from the bottom center of a well.
Pre-wet tip	Pre-wet the pipette tip by aspirating and dispensing ⅔ of the tip's maximum volume.
Mix	Aspirate and dispense repeatedly from a single location. Used to mix the contents of a well together.
Delay	Adds a timed delay (in seconds) before an aspirate or dispense action.
Touch tip	Move the pipette so the tip touches the wall of a well. Used to help knock off any droplets that might cling to the pipette's tip. Not supported on all labware.
Air gap	When used during aspiration, draw in extra air after the liquid. When used during dispense, draw in extra air before moving to the trash container to dispose of the tip. Used to prevent liquid from leaking out of the pipette tip.
Blowout	Blow an extra amount of air through the tip to clear it. The pipette can blow out into the trash bin, source well, or destination well.
Change tip	Replace the tip at the start of the transfer, before every aspirate, or per source well.

Managing transfers

Click Create Transfer when you're satisfied with your transfer settings. After creating a quick transfer, you can run, save, or delete it.

• Flex saves a maximum of 20 transfers in a vertical list under the Quick Transfer tab.

• Long press a saved transfer to run it, pin it, or delete it. Flex pins a maximum of 8 quick transfers.

• Long press a pinned transfer to run it, un-pin it (returns it to the saved list), or delete it.