microplate

A microplate, or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple wells used as small reaction vessels for chemical, biochemical, and cell-based assays. It enables parallel processing of many samples in a compact format. The most common format is 96 wells (8 by 12), with higher-density formats such as 384 and 1536 wells used for high-throughput screening; smaller formats (6, 12, and 24 wells) remain common for culture and manual assays. Plates conform to the SBS standard for footprint, spacing, and labeling to ensure compatibility with automated liquid handling and plate readers. They are typically made from polystyrene or polypropylene and may be untreated, tissue-culture treated, or coated to promote binding or attachment. Bottoms vary from flat to U- or conical-shaped, and plates may be transparent, white, or black depending on detection needs.

Detection methods in microplates include absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence, with plate color and bottom design chosen to optimize signal. Working volumes range from tens to hundreds of microliters depending on format. Common applications include enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs), PCR setup and sequencing workflows, protein binding assays, and a wide range of cell-based assays and high-throughput screening campaigns in drug discovery and diagnostics.

Manufacturing and use: microplates are generally disposable and supplied sterile for many applications. They are used with plate readers, incubators, and automated liquid handlers, and are often sealed with adhesive films or lids during incubation or storage. Variants with low-binding coatings or special optical properties support specialized assays.