As LNP screening expands beyond one scientist, the same formulation may be prepared by different operators, on different liquid handlers, and in different labs. Changes in mixing, reagent preparation, or sample handling can affect measured readouts like particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficiency. When those conditions differ between sites, teams can struggle to determine whether a promising result will hold when another lab prepares the formulation.

A shared method establishes the conditions needed to compare findings across sites. When one site identifies a promising formulation, another should be able to reproduce the preparation and assess whether the finding holds. To make that possible, teams need to agree on what stays constant, what the screen intentionally varies, and how each site checks that the workflow is performing as expected.

Build that agreement around three requirements:

• Shared formulation conditions: Define the mixer design, input composition, volumes, and flow conditions used for each comparison.
• Consistent execution and handling: Specify how each platform prepares, formulates, collects, and processes samples.
• A reference in every run: Prepare a defined formulation alongside candidates to help identify changes in the workflow.

For LNP Screening Array workflows, a shared method defines the formulation conditions each site needs to reproduce. The automation protocol translates those requirements into instructions for a particular liquid handler. Transferring the method requires checking that those instructions produce the intended conditions on the receiving platform.

Air-displacement, positive-displacement, and pressure-controlled systems handle liquids differently. Their settings may need to differ to achieve the intended formulation conditions. Define the shared requirements first, then configure and verify the workflow on each platform.

Before comparing candidate results, confirm that each platform delivers the specified input volumes, runs the intended formulation sequence, and recovers enough sample for downstream work. Record revisions to the shared method and its platform-specific protocols so teams can trace any workflow changes when results shift.

Consistent mixing conditions are one part of a comparable workflow. Two sites can use the same lipid composition but prepare stocks at different concentrations, handle RNA differently, or measure samples at different stages of processing. These differences can affect the results even when the formulation step is unchanged.

The method should therefore cover the full path from stock preparation to the reported result. Specify which conditions must match and record material or handling differences that could help explain a shift between sites.

On-deck collection and dilution allow teams to program the sequence and timing of these steps. For steps performed off deck, specify when samples should be transferred, how they should be stored, and when processing should resume. Record the processing stage with each result so teams can distinguish measurements taken immediately after formulation from those taken after buffer exchange.

A method is easier to transfer when another operator can follow it without relying on unwritten habits. Differences in source-plate preparation, labware placement, protocol selection, or sample recovery can persist even when teams share the same equipment.

Automating repeated dispensing, formulation, and collection steps lets training focus on preparing the run, checking setup, and handling samples afterward. A common application guide should explain those responsibilities, with platform-specific instructions wherever the equipment requires them.

Use a guided run to confirm that a new operator can follow the procedure and recognize when a step has not gone as expected. Incorporate recurring questions and setup issues into the shared instructions so each site benefits from the others’ experience.

Prepare the reference formulation as a sample in every screening run, alongside the candidates. Define its lipid composition, RNA or other cargo, input concentrations, volumes, and processing conditions in the shared method. Assign the reference a sample identifier and a position in the run plan, and follow the same procedure to prepare its inputs at every site.

In an automated workflow, specify where the reference inputs are loaded and include their formulation and collection in the programmed sequence. Apply the same downstream handling and measurement procedures used for the candidates. Before comparing runs, agree on the reference readouts and acceptable ranges based on the method’s established performance and the needs of the screen.

A shift in the reference gives teams a starting point for troubleshooting. Review the affected runs to identify what changed and determine whether candidate results need to be repeated. Agreement across sites supports comparison for the reference conditions tested; other lipid chemistries or cargos may respond differently. Confirm important candidate findings under matched conditions before using them to guide the next stage of development.

For guidance on comparing independent preparations within and across runs, see How to Measure Reproducibility in an LNP Screening Workflow.

Teams can use the same LNP Screening Array on standard liquid handlers, including Hamilton, Tecan, Opentrons, Formulatrix, and Dynamic Devices. Platform-specific protocols adapt the workflow to each system’s pipetting technology, so labs can standardize the formulation device while continuing to use their existing liquid handlers.

Using the same device across sites keeps the mixer design consistent and brings formulation and collection into a programmable workflow.

Confirm compatibility with each site’s liquid handler configuration, deck layout, and labware. Then assess whether the transferred method produces comparable results using the formulations and readouts relevant to the screen. Continue preparing the shared reference in each run to monitor consistency as additional operators and sites adopt the workflow.

See How the LNP Screening Array Works for the device architecture and platform integration.

Evaluate the LNP Screening Array using your own formulations and liquid handler to establish a workflow for your team. Get applications support to configure the platform-specific protocol and assess reference results before transferring the method to another operator or site.