Enhancing usability and compliance: Latest updates to firefly® liquid handling software
31/10/2024
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31/10/2024
We believe automation should be accessible to as many scientists as possible, regardless of their automated liquid handling expertise. That's why from the beginning, we've put usability at the forefront of firefly software development. Our goal has always been to deliver an intuitive, easy-to-use liquid handling solution that simplifies workflows and maximizes productivity in the lab.
By continuously listening to and incorporating user feedback, we make sure that firefly meets the evolving needs of researchers, helping you to work more efficiently and focus on what truly matters - delivering impactful results.
Keep reading to learn some of the latest updates and enhancements in firefly software, designed to improve usability and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
We’ve added new feature that allows you to configure on-deck lighting settings during protocol runs. You can now choose specific lighting colors—down to the exact HEX code—or turn off the lights completely. This is particularly helpful for visually segmenting different phases of your protocol at a glance. For instance, if a manual intervention is required, you can pre-assign a distinct color to alert users, improving workflow awareness.
For those working with photosensitive compounds, the option to turn off the lighting ensures that your experiments are not compromised by unwanted exposure.
One of firefly’s key advantages is its cloud-based protocol library, providing all users with instant access to automation-verified protocols from leading kit providers across a broad range of applications. To make navigating this growing library easier, we’ve added new features, including:
These improvements make it quicker and easier to find the right protocol and get up and running with minimal delay.
We’ve made significant improvements to firefly’s audit log system to better support both operational and compliance needs, including compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 regulations. Every user and system action is logged, including protocol version histories, user activity, and changes to permissions.
These audit trails can be displayed, exported, or printed for review, providing transparency and traceability across your workflows. Additionally, when users request support from our engineers, the full audit trail can be seamlessly attached to a ticket, enabling faster and more efficient troubleshooting.
To improve data management and ensure compliance, firefly now supports barcode scanning and capture. During protocol setup, users are prompted to scan barcodes for labware, ensuring that the correct samples, reagents, and materials are placed in the right locations on the deck.
This not only enhances the accuracy of your workflow but also adds an additional layer of quality control, helping you maintain robust data management and ensuring research integrity.
For more details on how firefly software V1.8 supports compliance with 21 CFR Part 11, check out our white paper.
firefly now includes a Variables feature, allowing all users in your team to dynamically adjust protocols based on sample size. For example, if you’ve designed a protocol for a full 96-sample plate, you can easily modify it to accommodate different sample sizes, with the software automatically recalculating volumes, reagents, and labware requirements.
This flexibility saves valuable time in the lab by eliminating the need to create new protocols for every batch size, allowing you to scale up or down with ease.
To learn more about firefly, make sure to visit the firefly product page or reach out to our team.