Positive Pressure for Sample Preparation: A Versatile Alternative to Current Techniques

Optimizing sample preparation is critical for generating high-quality, reproducible analytical data, particularly when working with complex matrices. Yet, it often demands significant time and effort. Traditional methods, including solid phase extraction (SPE), supported liquid extraction (SLE), filtration, and nucleic acid (NA) extraction, rely on column- or plate-based protocols and can face limitations in throughput, reproducibility, and the handling of difficult samples. Conventional approaches such as centrifugation and vacuum manifolds introduce further challenges, from added manual intervention and inconsistent flow to difficulty processing viscous samples. Positive pressure instrumentation uses controlled gas flow to push liquids through columns or plates, maintaining constant pressure across all positions to improve analyte recovery, reduce matrix effects, and support automation. This whitepaper examines how positive pressure compares to conventional methods and how Tecan's Resolvex platforms apply the technology across manual, semi-automated, and fully automated workflows.