PCR plates usually come in 96-well and 384-well formats, followed by 24-well and 48-well formats. The nature of the PCR machine used and the application in progress will determine whether a PCR plate is suitable for your experiment. So, how to choose the PCR plate of laboratory consumables correctly?
1. Different skirt types Skirtless panels lack surrounding panels.
This form of reaction plate can be adapted to the modules of most thermal cyclers and real-time thermal cyclers, but is not suitable for automated applications.
Semi-skirted plates have a short rim around the edge of the plate to provide adequate support during pipetting, and most Applied Biosystems thermal cyclers use semi-skirted plates.
Fully skirted PCR plates have edge panels that cover the height of the plate. This plate format is suitable for thermal cyclers with protruding modules (which may facilitate automation) and allows for a secure and secure fit. The full skirt also enhances mechanical strength, making it ideal for use with robotic platforms in automated workflows.
2. Different board types
The full flat plate design fits most thermal cyclers for easy sealing and handling.
The edge-raised plate design has a good fit for certain PCR instruments (such as Applied Biosystems PCR instruments) and helps to balance the lid pressure without the need for adapters, ensuring good heat transfer and reliable experimental results.
How to choose PCR plates for laboratory consumables?
Three, different colors of the tube body
PCR plates are often available in a variety of different color formats to facilitate visual differentiation and identification of samples, especially in high-throughput experiments. Although the color of the plastic has no effect on DNA amplification, white plastic filaments or frosted plastic filaments are more recommended than clear filaments when setting up real-time PCR reactions for sensitive and accurate fluorescence detection .
Four, different corner positions
Cut corners are missing a corner of the PCR plate, depending on the instrument that needs to be adapted. The cut corners may be at the H1, H12, or A12 positions for a 96-well plate, or A24 for a 384-well plate.
5. ANSI/SBS format In order to be compatible with different automated liquid handling high-throughput systems, the PCR plate should conform to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS, now part of the Laboratory Automation and Screening Society (SLAS)). ANSI/SBS compliant boards have standard dimensions, heights, hole locations, etc., thus facilitating automated processing.
6. Hole edge There is a raised edge around the hole. This design facilitates sealing with a sealing film to prevent evaporation.
7. Marking Raised alphanumeric marks in primary color, white or black writing for easy viewing.
