Highly automated capillary electrophoresis system

A multiplex capillary electrophoresis system capable of interfacing with an external robotic system, the multiplex capillary electrophoresis system comprising:

• a console comprising an injection position;
• a replaceable multiplex capillary array disposed in the console, and comprising a plurality of capillaries comprising respective capillary tips disposed at the injection position;
• a power supply disposed in the console and configured to apply a voltage across each of the capillaries effective for performing capillary electrophoresis on a sample in one or more of the capillaries;
• a plurality of drawers disposed in the console and configured to hold a plurality of multi-well plates for containing the sample or buffer, each drawer movable between a closed position inside the console and an open position outside the console at which the drawer is externally accessible by the robotic system;
• and
• a motion control system disposed in the console and comprising a movable stage assembly, wherein:
• the movable stage assembly is configured to move at least one of the multi-well plates from at least one of the drawers to the injection position;
• and
• the movable stage assembly is configured to releasably engage the at least one drawer and push the at least one drawer from the closed position to the open position or pull the at least one drawer from the open position to the closed position, and thereby allow the external robotic system to place one or more multi-well plates onto the at least one drawer or remove the one or more multi-well plates from the at least one drawer.