Merck will use Cerionx's new TipCharger Systems to slash pipette wash times and increase the productivity of automated siRNA screening - a research area that is buzzing in the biotech world.

The size of the combined RNA and DNA synthesis market is currently worth $700m (€567m), with an anticipated growth of 10 to 20 per cent per year.

TipCharger uses a revolutionary new "cold" atmospheric pressure plasma process to clean and sterilise fixed or disposable plastic pipettes and pin tools by removing organic substances from treated surfaces.

Traditional automated fluid handling systems use either a wash station with a solvent or have to dispose of and replace the plastic tips.

Cerionx developed the new steralisation system to save R&D labs time and money by reducing the cost, disposal, and contamination problems caused by these outdated cleaning procedures.

"The success we've seen in substituting the TipCharger System for more traditional wash protocols has been impressive," said Dr Oleg Kornienko, senior research fellow, Merck labs.

"By cutting our wash times in half and eliminating biological waste generated through solvent wash stations, we look forward to more productive and economic assay runs and will be working with Cerionx to test and verify new and different cleaning protocols that will further increase our productivity."