A scientist who could be saving time on antibody cocktail prep with automation

Automating Flow Cytometry Sample Prep: An ROI Calculation

Manual flow cytometry sample preparation is labor-intensive and costly, with multiple touchpoints for antibody cocktail prep, cell lysis, and staining. Each manual step adds labor cost, training time, and risk of error.

Here we highlight the ROI of automated sample preparation, showing how Pluto Workstation reduces hands-on time, freeing staff for higher-value work while staying within budget.

Hands-On Time of Manual vs. Automated Workflow

To illustrate these savings, we evaluated conventional vs. automated workflows using peripheral blood processed with a 12-color immunophenotyping panel. This is most commonly utilized by Pharmaceutical researchers validating their panel to standardize immune monitoring workflows and accelerate multi-site assay transfer.

In this evaluation, Pluto converted 88 minutes* of manual prep into fully walk-away automation (Table 1), streamlining:

  • Material preparation
  • Antibody cocktailing
  • Sample processing for flow cytometry
Time comparison of manual vs automated flow cytometry sample preparation
*Explore the full methodology and results:

From Time Savings to Measurable ROI

Automating this workflow with the Pluto Workstation eliminated 88 minutes of hands-on time per run. Of course, you’re probably running workflows like this repeatedly, and cumulative hands-on time savings scale rapidly, amplifying operational efficiency over time.

These efficiencies translate directly into measurable return on investment (ROI):

  • Reduced recurring time spent on manual steps
  • Free up staff from repetitive manual work
  • Faster onboarding and training for new users
Workflow Hands-on Time per Run Runs per Week Staff Cost/Run Annual Time Annual Hands-On Time Cost
Conventional
88 min
10
$73.33
763 hours
$38,133
Pluto Workstation
0 min
10
$0
0 hours
$0

*Assumes $50/hour staff cost.

It’s clear how these savings scale quickly—especially in high-throughput labs running multiple workflows per week. CROs commonly seek ways to study how automating batch prep reduces FTE cost and error rates for multi-client studies. Migrating just this workflow to the Pluto Workstation could save a lab up to 763 hours of hands-on time and repurpose over $38,000 in staffing costs.

Added Bonus: Reduced Training  Burden

In addition to hands-on time savings, the ease-of-use and reduced setup of Pluto improves training efficiency:

  • New users require less ramp-up time
  • Experienced staff spend less time instructing
  • Onboarding is faster and more consistent

Beyond Time: Operational Gains That Impact Your Pipline

The Pluto Workstation delivers operational benefits that support long-term efficiency and standardization. These gains directly impact your most critical objectives:

  • Improved reproducibility through standardized antibody cocktailing and wash protocols
  • Reduced human error and reagent waste via automated, consistent handling
  • Enhanced lab safety, minimizing aerosol exposure and manual centrifugation
  • Liquid level detection to ensure pipetting accuracy and avoid workflow interruptions
  • Scalable throughput to support high-volume immunophenotyping with consistent data integrity

These operational advantages extend the ROI of automation—not just in labor, but in quality, safety, and scale.

Ready to Eliminate Manual Sample Prep?

The Pluto Workstation delivers:

  • 88 minutes of hands-on time saved per run
  • Streamlined onboarding and reduced training burden
  • Reliable, reproducible, and high-quality results
  • Fully automated antibody cocktailing and sample prep with liquid level detection
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