SPEAR immunoassays detect protein biomarkers at attomolar levels from as low as 1 µL of diluted sample, a fraction of what other ultrasensitive platforms require. However, such sensitivity leaves little room for error during setup. Several steps are hard to do reproducibly by hand at scale: low-volume, sub-microliter transfers of viscous reagents, dispensing under oil overlays, serial dilutions for sub-femtomolar calibration curves, and time-critical reagent additions. These steps also introduce variability that directly compromises assay performance.
To address this, Spear Bio and Formulatrix collaborated to automate SPEAR immunoassays utilizing the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. Liquid Handler, a 96-channel positive displacement system that delivers precise, viscosity-independent transfers without cross-contamination. With SPEAR assay reagent reservoir definitions built into the F.A.S.T. software, the system automates all critical pipetting steps, including calibrator dilution series, sample dilution, and reagent additions, through to qPCR setup. Paired with the Q Instruments BioShake iQ for mixing and temperature control, it forms a complete semi-automated SPEAR UltraDetect workflow.
In this webinar, Spear Bio will introduce the SPEAR technology, and Formulatrix will present the F.A.S.T. and the capabilities that make ultrasensitive assay automation possible. The Spear Bio team will then walk through the automated SPEAR immunoassay workflow and share validation data comparing automated and manual assay setup, covering hands-on time, precision, and scalability. They will also give a first look at SPEAR S.W.I.F.T.™, their new benchtop platform designed to integrate with the F.A.S.T., which fully automates SPEAR workflows.
When
November 5th 2026
Session 1
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM CET
(09:00 AM - 09:30 AM GMT)
Session 2
01:00 PM - 01:30 PM ET
(10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT)
What You Will Learn
- How SPEAR's two-factor authentication mechanism achieves attomolar sensitivity from a 1 µL diluted sample
- A step-by-step overview of the automated SPEAR UltraDetect workflow on the F.A.S.T., from oil dispensing to qPCR master mix addition
- Validation data showing reduced hands-on time and improved precision compared with manual setup
- How positive displacement pipetting, a flexible 96-channel head, and built-in reagent reservoir definitions help scale biomarker studies to 384-well formats
- How the automated workflow supports 96- and 384-well formats and is compatible with most standard qPCR platforms
- An introduction to SPEAR S.W.I.F.T.™, an automation solution designed to integrate with the Formulatrix F.A.S.T. to process up to three 384-well plates (1,152 wells) in an eight-hour workday
Who Should Attend
- Biomarker researchers in neurology, immunology, and infectious disease
- Proteomics and immunoassay scientists working with limited or precious samples
- Automation and high-throughput screening specialists standardizing sensitive assay workflows
- Lab managers and core facility directors scaling biomarker studies without increasing staff burden
- R&D leaders in pharma and biotech accelerating translational and discovery research programs
About the Speakers
Dr. Tracy Liu is Director of Product Management at Spear Bio, where she leads product strategy and commercialization for the company’s ultrasensitive biomarker detection platform. She brings more than a decade of experience in life science research tools and a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology to translate scientific innovations into products that advance biomarker research and precision medicine.
Vlasta Schutzenhofer is a Product Manager at Formulatrix, where she oversees product development and strategy for the F.A.S.T. Liquid Handler, driving cross-functional execution across engineering, sales, and support. She brings her background in mechanical engineering, entrepreneurship, and user research together to build products researchers actually want to use.
Dr. Shawn Wang is Senior Director of Systems Design & Integration at Spear Bio, where he leads systems design and integration for the company’s life science instrumentation. He brings experience across spatial genomics, proteomics, and next-generation sequencing, including engineering leadership roles at Vizgen, Nautilus Biotechnology, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, together with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.