View our MILC Lab equipment and functions. 

Agilent SLIMS, Lab Workflow Management Software

Agilent SLIMS manages our many samples, experiments, and results by combining a laboratory information management system (LIMS) and an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) to enable end-to-end solutions and manage the full content and context of our MILC Biorepository.
VisionMate High Speed 2D Barcode Reader with Magnetic 1D Barcode Reader Attachment 

The VisionMate Barcode Reader can read barcodes on up to 96 tubes at a time and identify their location in an 8 by 12 box. This accelerates sample tracking, identification and sample metadata creation. 
Matrix™ 0.5mL ScrewTop Tubes in Barcoded Latch Racks

The Matrix Tube Racks are a key component to our work. They link to the VisionMate Barcode Reader (left) which integrates with our SLIMS (above) and fit seamlessly into our Ultra Low Freezers (below) for optimized sample management.
SpectraStar XT-R 2600 Near Infrared Spectrometer

The SpectraStar XT-R Near Infrared Spectrometer has been calibrated to analyze total Protein, Fat and Carbohydrate percentages in human milk samples and can also be used to estimate macronutrient content of other sample types.
Qsonica Sonicator 

The Sonicator is used to homogenize samples, this is important for accurate macronutrient analysis of human milk samples. 
1300 Series, Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinet

The biological safety cabinet allows for safe handling of samples, especially aerosol producing activities such as pooling and mixing samples, and it also helps prevent sample contamination. 
TSX Series Ultra-Low Freezer, -80 C

The Ultra-Low Freezers are used to store samples at a stable temperature of -80 C (Capacity is ~600 typical sample boxes or ~840 8x12 matrix tube boxes). They work with our Smart-Vue 2.2 Monitoring System so we can ensure temperatures remain stable. 
The Brady label printers rapidly print labels for tubes and tube boxes, including cryogenic labels that withstand autoclave and freezer temperatures (e.g., 100 to –196°C). 
Megafuge 8 Benchtop Centrifuge

The Megafuge 8 Benchtop Centrifuge is used to centrifuge samples (handles various tube sizes, including microcentrifuge tubes, 15 mL and 50 mL falcon tubes). Examples of purposes for centrifugation include defatting human milk samples and concentrating sample DNA prior to DNA extraction. 
Precision General Purpose Water/Bead Bath​

The water bath is used to evenly warm samples. Milk samples must be warmed to 35 to 37°C for the SpectraStar milk analyzer to accurately analyze macronutrient concentrations.