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. Plate handlers are common in laboratories that process hundreds or thousands of microplates per week, for example, high-throughput screening labs in the life science and pharmaceutical industries. Most plate handlers are used in life science industries, particularly pharmaceuticals and biotech. One can make the case for incorporating some type of robotic handler even for low-volume labs. Unfortunately, cost and complexity frighten off many potential users. Microplate handlers are indeed the “glue” that binds mission-critical microplate applications. Their value accrues from accurate, timely, unattended plate transfer that frees lab workers to perform more complex analytical tasks such as secondary screens. Many users acquire microplate handlers for speed, but their greatest benefits are the abilities to standardize microplate operations and workflows, provide greater consistency, decrease the chance of error, and track every operation that plates undergo.
Respondents who are using a microplate handler are also using the following components:
| Barcode scanner | 52% |
| Additional stacker cassettes | 25% |
| De-lidding stacker cassettes | 16% |
| Other | 11% |
The specific types of microplate handlers our readers are using in their labs include:
| Microplate centrifuge | 36% |
| Microplate stacker | 24% |
| Microplate sealer | 18% |
| Other | 14% |
| Microplate labeler | 8% |
Main purposes our respondents are using their microplate handlers for in their labs:
| Assay development | 43% |
| Cell biology | 32% |
| Bioassay validation | 32% |
| DNA quantification | 21% |
| PCR setup and cleanup | 21% |
| High-throughput drug screening | 16% |
| Compound investigation | 14% |
| Biomarker research | 14% |
| Disease studies | 11% |
| Quality control | 11% |
| Biomolecule concentration measurement | 9% |
| Proteomics | 7% |
| In vitro fertilization (IVF) | 2% |
| Stem cell research | 2% |
| Other | 2% |
The top 10 factors in our readers’ decisions to purchase a microplate handler:
| Important | Not Important | Don’t Know | |
| Ease of use | 92% | 8% | 0% |
| Performance of product | 92% | 5% | 3% |
| Durability of product | 89% | 5% | 5% |
| Low maintenance/ easy to clean | 89% | 8% | 3% |
| Availability of supplies and accessories | 87% | 13% | 0% |
| Service and support | 85% | 13% | 3% |
| Total cost of ownership | 84% | 8% | 8% |
| Warranties | 84% | 11% | 5% |
| Price | 82% | 16% | 3% |
| Easy integration with other products | 79% | 21% | 0% |
For more information on microplate handlers, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/microplate
