Table 1.

Sample instruments for assembling chemical microarray reactions

Process	Device	Technology	Manufacture	Specificity
Arrayer or spotter	QArray microarrayer	Solid pin	http://www.genetix.com	Contact nanoliter pin printing, higher coefficient of variation (CV), humidity control, fast, great for making multiple chips with large chemical library.
	NanoPrint™ microarrayer	Solid pin	http://www.arrayit.com	Contact nanoliter pin printing, humidity control, automatic plate handler, higher CV, fast, great for making multiple chips with large chemical library.
	Manual arrayer and pin tool	Solid pin	http://www.vp-scientific.com	Contact nanoliter pin printing, higher CV, great for research.
	Gilson Constellation	Solenoid dispensing	http://www.gilson.com	Non-contact printing, slow, 5–500 nl, low CV. Similar machines are available in most pharmaceutical laboratories.
	ArrayJet	Inkjet printing	http://www.arrayjet.co.uk	Non-contact printing, μl range, low CV, good for small chemical library printing.
	Piezorray	Piezo printing	http://las.perkinelmer.com	Non-contact printing, slow, pl to nl range, low CV.
	Echo 550	Acoustic	http://www.labcyte.com	With potential for nl range spotting.
	ATS-100	Acoustic	http://www.edcbiosystems.com	With potential for nl range spotting.
Activator	Sprayer	Aerosol	http://www.reactionbiology.com	Fast activation, low reagent consumption.
	Gel caster	SDS-page gel apparatus	http://www.bio-rad.com	Available in all biology laboratories.
Imager and data analysis	NovaRay®	Charge-coupled device (CCD) camera imager	http://www.alphainnotech.com	Fluorescence intensity, read microarray and plate, 4 μm resolution.
	ViewLux™	CCD camera imager	http://www.perkinelmer.com	Fluorescence polarization, fluorescence intensity, time-resolved fluorescence, luminescence and absorbance assays. Low resolution for high-density microarray.
	GenePix®	Laser scanner	http://www.moleculardevices.com	Fluorescence intensity, four lasers, 5–100 μm resolution, slide autoloader.
	LS Reloaded™	Laser scanner	http://www.tecan.com	Read microarray and plate, fluorescence intensity, four colors, 4–40 μm resolution, adjustable angle of laser beam for dual color scanning.
	Typhoon™	Laser scanner	http://www4.amershambiosciences.com	Applicable for fluorescence, luminescence and isotopic imaging, four colors, 10–100 μm resolution.
	IsoCyte™	Laser scanner	http://www.blueshiftbiotech.com	A plate reader with four channel intensity, two channel anisotropy, but with potential of fluorescence intensity and polarization detection for microarray.