Rna Extraction Technician
CurrentInitially, the COVID samples are delivered to the RNA extraction department in batches of 94, and the paper work barcode number scanned and uploaded onto the online filing data system, LIMX. From here, I decap the samples by hand and put them into cassette racks with the correct plates for the initial run. I then put up to two batches onto a high throughput liquid sensing machine, called a Janus, and place the plates into the correct positions in order for the machine to dispense the required reagents into the correct plates. My main role here is to ensure that any samples or reagents that are not dispensed into the wells of the plates are manually added using the correct manual pipette, ranging from 20ul to 1000ul. After the run is complete, which usually takes about 50 minutes, I upload the files containing the sample barcodes onto the online data management software called Laboratory Information Management System (or LIMS) and generate another file for the next part of the run on the Chemagic. On this machine, I ensure the mag beads, sample and elution plates are again correctly filled and placed in the right orientation, with the A1 well facing the bottom left on each stand. This machine essentially purifies the RNA sample by binding the polyA tail to the mag beads which are then taken up by the magnetic rods before being washed by the buffers, which in turn bind more strongly to the mag beads and allowing the RNA sample to be isolated. Once the RNA is extracted and the run on the Chemagic is complete, I upload the data file onto the LIMS system again for the the next stage, which is run by PCR and check to make sure there is RNA in the elution plate. These elution plates are then sealed and placed in ice buckets to make sure the RNA doesn't degrade too quickly and I take them through to the PCR room where they are further processed.
