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Agilent Introduces the NovoStation Sample Preparation System for Automated Flow Cytometry Workflows
Automated platform helps laboratories simplify sample preparation and move seamlessly to data acquisition
SANTA CLARA, Calif., October 01, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the launch of the NovoStation Sample Preparation System, a new automated platform designed to help laboratories simplify and streamline flow cytometry sample preparation. When paired with a NovoCyte flow cytometer and NovoExpress software, NovoStation offers an integration-ready solution that enables a hands-free sample-to-answer workflow, helping scientists spend less time preparing samples and more time interpreting results.
Flow cytometry laboratories are under increasing pressure to process more samples, support more complex assays, and deliver reliable results across multiple users, instruments, and sites. As higher-throughput workflows become more common in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, contract research, core laboratory, and academic settings, manual sample preparation can introduce bottlenecks, variability, and training challenges that slow research and affect data quality.
NovoStation addresses these challenges through automation built for flow cytometry sample preparation. The system automates onboard reagent cocktailing and sample washing, and integrates directly with compatible Agilent flow cytometers, allowing laboratories to move from preparation to acquisition within a single connected workflow. By reducing manual variability, NovoStation helps generate reproducible data that scientists can trust for critical research and development decisions, while simplified setup, operation, and training make it easier to standardize workflows across labs and teams.
NovoStation supports more efficient flow cytometry workflows by automating labor-intensive sample preparation steps. In validation studies, the system reduced hands-on time by more than 90% while maintaining data quality comparable to manual processing. For example, a 25-color immunophenotyping workflow involving 30 samples required just 7.9 minutes of operator time compared with 85.5 minutes manually. Similar efficiencies were demonstrated in a kappa/lambda light chain assay, where automation reduced hands-on time from 89.4 minutes to 6.8 minutes.
“At Agilent, we are committed to advancing laboratory productivity through end-to-end workflow automation that enables scientists to generate high-quality data with greater confidence,” said Knut Wintergerst, vice president and general manager of the Cell and Biomolecular Analysis Division at Agilent. “NovoStation builds on Agilent’s longstanding expertise in flow cytometry and laboratory automation, extending integrated workflow automation to flow cytometry to improve efficiency, consistency, and workflow simplicity, while enabling researchers to focus on scientific innovation.”
