| January 20 2012
Microplate handlers are specialized robotic devices that transfer microtiter plates in three-dimensional space from one location within a workflow to another. The “locations” are actually operations such as solvent addition (through liquid handling), aspiration, heating, shaking, incubation, washing, reading, and storage.
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A new application note from Porvair Sciences details a protocol for its Chromatrap® ChIP assay kit that has been developed to enrich epigenetic marks from primary human tissue cells.
Microplate readers are widely used in research, drug discovery, bioassay validation, QC, and manufacturing processes for the detection of biological, chemical, or physical processes in samples contained in microtiter plates.
The history of microplate readers— now on the market for more than 30 years—explains the ongoing increase in applying this technology. Plate readers are used in many applications, including bioassay development, diagnostics, drug discovery, food testing, and quality control. The expanding range of applications parallels the large number of detection modes, including absorbance, AlphaScreen, fluorescence polarization, time-resolved fluorescence (TRF), time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET), luminescence, and spectrophotometry. In a survey by Lab Manager, 90 percent of the respondents used absorbance detection and roughly threequarters also used AlphaScreen and fluorescence polarization.
Cytation3
BioTek
www.biotek.com
Microplate handlers developed around the need to further automate liquid handling beyond its original function of dispensing fluids. “Integrating plate movement was a secondary feature,” says Eric Matthews, Midwest sales manager for BMG LABTECH (Chicago, IL). Today, robotics is central to integrating one or more devices with liquid handling.
The need for new capabilities— for new experiments and assays—is the major reason end-users need to either upgrade their current microplate readers or buy a new instrument. Edward Dell, Ph.D., BMG LABTECH international marketing director, adds that microplate readers often have multiple users, meaning there is lots of wear and tear on these instruments. Filters are also known to degrade over time and moving parts such as motors and belts can become misaligned. If maintenance can’t fix these problems, the reader will likely need to be replaced.
Lab Manager is hosting an educational webinar where a panel of technical experts from leading vendor companies will discuss the latest trends and innovations in microplate technology.
PX1
Bio-Rad
www.bio-rad.com
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. recently announced the launch of its semi-automated PX1 PCR plate sealer and heat seals for fast and consistent microplate sealing.
BioTek's BioStack3 microplate stacker adds speed and efficiency to your plate processing requirements.
A number of criteria need to be considered before purchasing a microplate reader in order to ensure that the instrument chosen is appropriate for its intended purpose.
Microplate readers are used to discern either physical, chemical, or biological events in microtiter plates and are common in academia and the biotech, pharmaceutical, and drug discovery industries, as well as in research. These instruments are
The editors of Lab Manager Magazine are conducting a brief survey on Microplate Readers.
The microplate has evolved over the past 60 years into an indispensable piece of equipment used in many labs today. Here, we share the results of our microplate technology survey.
Cytation3
BioTek
www.biotek.com
PX1
Bio-Rad
www.bio-rad.com
Lab Manager is hosting an educational webinar where a panel of technical experts from leading vendor companies will discuss the latest trends and innovations in microplate technology.
A new application note from Porvair Sciences details a protocol for its Chromatrap® ChIP assay kit that has been developed to enrich epigenetic marks from primary human tissue cells.
BMG LABTECH
Molecular Devices
Quantitation of nucleic acids is commonly performed using UV absorbance. Molecular Devices’ µMax Low Volume Microplate allows users to read up to 64 samples per plate on Spectra- Max® Microplate Readers, with sample volumes as low as 2
Microplate Handler Manufacturers
| Agilent | Beckman Coulter | Biotage | BioTek |
| BMG | Caliper | Douglas Scientific | Molecular Devices |
| PAA | PerkinElmer | Phenix | Porvair |
| Staubli | TECAN | Thermo Fisher Scientific | Tomtec |
Microplate Reader Manufacturers
| Applied Biosystems | Beckman Coulter | Berthold | Biochrom |
| Bio-Rad | BioTek | BMG | Douglas Scientific |
| Molecular Devices | PerkinElmer | TECAN | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
| Turner Biosystems |
Problem: There is little doubt that cell-based assays are becoming a mainstay across the pre-clinical drug discovery process. Many of these assays are end-point based, where live cells are cultured in microplates, incubated with compounds of
Problem: Performing long-term, cell-based applications with living cells using a multimode microplate reader is becoming more and more popular in life science research. There are various absorbance-, fluorescence- and luminescence-based assays that
Problem: As more analytes are discovered, more tests are required per biological sample for drug discovery, research analysis and diagnostic testing. However, an unlimited amount of sample is never available.
For nearly 30 years, BioTek has led the market in developing microplate washing technologies, and is well recognized for the industry standard ELx405™ Microplate Washer. As a market leader, BioTek closely interacts with customers, responding
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