Core system model: understanding the impact of reliability on high-throughput screening systems

Laboratory automation is an evolving technology that has grown in complexity and sophistication over the past decade. High-throughput screening (HTS) is the discipline that has driven the technology to the point at which principles can be stated about how much and what is appropriate to automate in an HTS laboratory. The following analysis discusses the principles that are central to a successful and productive HTS system. Furthermore, an approach to designing and programming HTS systems to achieve a higher degree of reliability than has been experienced in the past is described.