Fig. 1

Workstation setup. a Liquid handling workstation. b Tube rack workstation setup. The P1 rack contains centrifuged PB (Peripheral Blood) in BD vacutainer EDTA tubes. The S1 rack holds 50 mL conical tubes containing density gradient media, DPBS, DPBS + 2% FBS and an empty tube for waste. P3 contains the 15 mL conical tubes where the DPBS-diluted blood will be stratified onto 3 mL of the previously dispensed density gradient media. After centrifugation, the 15 mL conical tubes containing the stratified PB will be relocated to rack P3, and PBMCs will be transferred and diluted in the 15 mL conical tubes located in rack P4 containing 5 mL of DPBS + 2% FBS solution. DiTi disposable tips; LiHa liquid handling arms