Description

The SARTORIUS MDB-8E is a high-precision, multi-channel peristaltic dispensing system engineered for laboratory environments demanding accuracy, repeatability, and workflow efficiency in liquid handling tasks. As part of Sartorius’s renowned portfolio of life science instrumentation, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E serves as an automated alternative to manual pipetting—significantly reducing human error, cross-contamination risk, and operator fatigue during repetitive dispensing operations such as buffer preparation, reagent addition, or sample dilution.

Designed with eight independently programmable channels, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E enables simultaneous dispensing into multiple vessels—including microplates (96- or 384-well), test tubes, or reservoirs—with volume accuracy typically within ±1% across a wide flow range. Its intuitive color touchscreen interface allows users to store and recall up to 20 protocols, while optional audit trail and user management features support compliance with GLP/GMP standards in regulated environments. The SARTORIUS MDB-8E integrates seamlessly into diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and research laboratories where consistency, traceability, and throughput are critical to operational success.

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

Independent channel programming for maximum flexibility: Each of the eight channels on the SARTORIUS MDB-8E can be individually configured for volume, flow rate, and dispense mode (continuous, timed, or volumetric). This allows complex workflows—such as adding different reagents to separate wells or creating serial dilutions—without manual intervention or hardware changes.

Superior fluid compatibility and contamination control: The SARTORIUS MDB-8E uses standard peristaltic pump tubing (e.g., PharMed® BPT, Tygon®) that never contacts internal pump mechanisms, ensuring complete separation between sample and instrument. This design eliminates cross-contamination and simplifies cleaning—users simply replace the tubing between runs. The open front panel also facilitates rapid access for maintenance or tube loading.

User-centric interface with regulatory support: The color touchscreen provides clear visual feedback and step-by-step guidance for protocol setup. When equipped with Sartorius’s optional validation package, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E supports electronic records, user login, and audit trails—meeting FDA 21 CFR Part 11 expectations for use in QC and clinical labs.

Robust performance across diverse applications: Whether dispensing viscous glycerol stocks, aqueous buffers, or ethanol-based solutions, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E maintains consistent delivery thanks to its calibrated rotor mechanism and adaptive motor control. Its compact footprint fits easily inside biosafety cabinets or on crowded benchtops, while low-noise operation ensures a quiet lab environment.

Scalable integration potential: Though primarily a standalone unit, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E can be incorporated into larger automation platforms via digital I/O signals or optional communication modules, making it suitable for semi-automated ELISA workstations or custom assay pipelines.

Application Field

The SARTORIUS MDB-8E is widely used in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical R&D, and academic research settings where precise, repeatable liquid transfer is essential. In high-throughput screening (HTS) labs, it rapidly dispenses assay reagents into 96-well plates for drug discovery campaigns, drastically accelerating workflow compared to manual multichannel pipettes. In molecular biology, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E prepares master mixes for qPCR or NGS library construction, ensuring uniform reagent distribution across dozens of samples—minimizing well-to-well variability.

In quality control (QC) laboratories within vaccine or biologics manufacturing, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E handles buffer exchange, media preparation, and standard curve generation under GMP conditions, with its protocol storage and optional audit trail supporting regulatory inspections. Environmental and food testing labs leverage its accuracy for spiking samples with calibration standards or distributing culture media into petri dishes. Even in educational institutions, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E serves as a teaching tool for demonstrating automated liquid handling principles. Because it accommodates a wide range of tubing materials and inner diameters, the SARTORIUS MDB-8E adapts effortlessly to new protocols—making it a versatile, long-term asset in evolving lab environments.

Related Products

MDB-4E: 4-channel version of the same platform—ideal for smaller-scale applications or budget-constrained labs
Minisart® Dispenser: Single-channel handheld dispenser from Sartorius—complements MDB-8E for spot tasks
Phenomenex Reagent Reservoirs: Compatible consumables often used with MDB-8E for plate filling
Sartorius Prospenser X: Next-gen electronic pipette—offers similar precision but for manual use
Cubis® II Balance: Sartorius analytical balance—frequently used alongside MDB-8E for gravimetric validation
BioClean™ Tubing: Sterile, DNAse/RNAse-free tubing recommended for molecular applications with MDB-8E
LabX Software: Optional Sartorius platform for centralized instrument control and data management