The CLASS laboratory is a 1,700 sq. ft. facility remote from the main University
campus that contains equipment to run assays on ACS:180 automated immunoassay analyzers
(currently five); log raw data from the analyzers; analyze the data offline; assess
validity of assay results; re-freeze samples rapidly; return samples to their established
locations; transfer encrypted data over ethernet and fiberoptic links; store data
in a central SQL database; format results into a form for electronic transfer; and
transfer data by any of several means including PGP encrypted e-mail attachments
and FTP servers. The chemiluminescence-based ACS:180 analyzers are equipped with
extended operations modules to manage water supply and waste fluid, and manufacturing
software to permit independent assay development. It also includes an HPLC system
and resources to do column chromatography. The CLASS Laboratory contains a Hamilton
AT pipetting station capable of pipetting samples and reagents from tubes to ELISA
microtiter plates a Molecular Devices Spectramax and the associated SoftMAX Pro
data reduction software. These enable semi-automation of an entire ELISA protocol.
The CIACD currently houses (14) ultralow Revco and Scientemp freezers at the CLASS
labs in a temperature and humidity controlled environment with extensive automated
and human monitoring for temperature and power stability. Samples are barcoded and
stored in specified freezer location (box, rack, freezer) and an electronic inventory
is maintained to characterize the barcoded sample, its location and characteristics
of the sample including volume, state of sample (i.e., hemolyzed), and relevant
participant characteristics (i.e., fasted).