Use a Plate Layout in the Input File Generator

See Configure the Rows of the input file generator for information on generating the rowConfigs object.

Overview

Plate layout specific transfers can be configured within a lab automation run to maintain the correct plate order and well position without consolidating all source wells into the minimum destination plates. This can be set at the inputFileConfig’s rowConfig by indicating a plateLayout type.

There are a list of key requirements to set up your plateLayout successfully:

• When using plateLayout, both the source and destination need to be plates (as opposed to the more common designation at the well level).

• isMulti should always be true for every lookupConfig

• the lookupSteps of common columnsMaps change when using plateLayout:PLATE and WELL_COORDINATES lookups directly follow SOURCE and DESTINATION lookups, without the typical intermediates

• the plateLayout removes the need to filter empty wells

Example JSON

"automationInputFileConfigs": [
        {
            "sortColumns": [],
            "rowConfigs": [
                {
                    "source": {
                        "isMulti": true,
                        "lookupSteps": [
                            {
                                "type": "SCHEMA_FIELD",
                                "schemaField": "source_plates"
                            }
                        ]
                    },
                    "destination": "destination_plate",
                    "columnsMap": {
                        "Destination Well": {
                            "isMulti": true,
                            "lookupSteps": [
                                {
                                    "type": "DESTINATION"
                                },
                                {
                                    "type": "WELL_COORDINATES"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        "Destination Plate": {
                            "isMulti": true,
                            "lookupSteps": [
                                {
                                    "type": "DESTINATION"
                                },
                                {
                                    "type": "PLATE"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        "Source Well": {
                            "isMulti": true,
                            "lookupSteps": [
                                {
                                    "type": "SOURCE"
                                },
                                {
                                    "type": "WELL_COORDINATES"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        "Source Plate": {
                            "isMulti": true,
                            "lookupSteps": [
                                {
                                    "type": "SOURCE"
                                },
                                {
                                    "type": "PLATE"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    },
                    "plateLayout": {
                        "layoutType": "STAMP"
                    }
                }
            ],
            "name": "Input File",
            "columns": [
                "Source Plate",
                "Source Well",
                "Destination Plate",
                "Destination Well"
            ],
            "destinationInfos": {
                "destination_plate": {
                    "lookupConfig": {
                        "isMulti": true,
                        "lookupSteps": [
                            {
                                "type": "SCHEMA_FIELD",
                                "schemaField": "destination_plates"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]

Example using the Run Configuration UI

Types of Plate Layouts in Lab Automation

There are three plateLayout types that can be chosen: STAMP, STAMP_TO_QUADRANTS, and INTERLEAVE

STAMP
Source plates often have unique plate mappings that must be stamped into an identical layout. The STAMP plateLayout accounts for partially filled plates and will preserve empty and filled locations as seen in the source plate.

STAMP_TO_QUADRANTS
Source plates are often transferred to a more scalable plate during processing to enable high throughput functions. Lab automation runs can be configured to stamp each source plate into a designated quadrant of a 4x destination plate. The STAMP_TO_QUADRANTS plateLayout accounts for partially filled plates and will preserve empty and filled locations as seen in the source plate.

INTERLEAVE
Alternatively, lab automation runs can be configured to interleave each source plate into a designated quad of a 4x destination plate. The INTERLEAVE plateLayout accounts for partially filled plates and will preserve empty and filled locations as seen in the source plate.