TapeStation Systems

TapeStation Systems are automated microfluidic electrophoresis instruments used for sizing, quantification, and integrity analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein samples. They replace traditional agarose or polyacrylamide gels with disposable microfluidic “ScreenTape” cassettes that automate separation, staining, imaging, and data analysis within minutes.

Originally developed by Lab901 and acquired and broadly commercialized by Agilent Technologies, TapeStation represents one of the major automated electrophoresis platforms used across biopharmaceutical research, QC, and process development. It is particularly valuable for assessing nucleic acid integrity in workflows involving plasmid DNA, mRNA, and AAV vector production.

Key advantages include:

Rapid, automated analysis with minimal manual handling

Consistent quantification and sizing across a wide dynamic range

Generation of RNA Integrity Number equivalent (RINe) and DNA Integrity Number (DIN) values

High reproducibility, making it suitable for comparability and stability programs

While TapeStation is a leading microfluidic platform, it's part of a larger market for automated electrophoresis.

Agilent itself also offers the Fragment Analyzer system, which serves a similar market, often for higher-throughput needs.

Key comparable systems from other manufacturers include PerkinElmer’s LabChip GX II Touch and Bio-Rad’s Experion.