A plate reader, also known as a microplate reader, is an essential piece of equipment in scientific and academic research labs used to measure chemical and biological assays. METTLER TOLEDO introduces a compact and portable plate reader, the perfect solution for labs of all sizes seeking accurate, reproducible, and rapid results. The PlateDirect A96 delivers precise absorbance-based plate reads within 5 seconds, simultaneously analyzing up to 96 positions, fostering streamlined workflows.
With a rapid plate reading time of just 5 seconds, this 96-well microtiter plate reader maximizes productivity, ensuring accurate and reproducible results. The device's multiple detectors enable simultaneous analysis of up to 96 positions, eliminating experimental variability, allowing you to trust your results and make queuing for the plate reader a thing of the past.
Designed with the crowded lab in mind, the PlateDirect A96 redefines convenience and offers unparalleled flexibility for conducting assays. The compact reader, just slightly larger than a microtiter plate, optimizes lab space utilization, allowing users to run assays anywhere and easily share the device between labs. This mobility not only reduces ownership costs but also fosters collaboration, minimizes contamination risks, and protects cell integrity by limiting sample transport. Whether you're at your bench or under the hood, as long as you have access to a computer, our compact absorbance microplate reader is ready to streamline your assays.
PlateDirect A96 features a simplified design that eliminates moving parts and the need for consumables such as light sources, injectors, tubing, or reservoirs. This microplate reader's intuitive and straightforward onboarding and operations also reduce the downtime and costs of training, freeing valuable time for research and accelerating time to insights and discoveries.
PlateDirect A96's software, Absorbance A96 App, is as simple and intuitive as the device itself. Furthermore, it can seamlessly integrate into existing LIMS systems for streamlined setup and robust data management. From protein quantification to ELISA and everything in between, our advanced software guides you through everything you need to carry out the most frequently used microplate reader assays.
Tailored for diverse laboratory settings, PlateDirect A96 is an affordable solution that caters to the needs of smaller entities like start-ups and academic research labs and can also handle the demands of large-scale shared labs. Whether serving as an economical first device or complementing advanced instruments in established labs, PlateDirect A96 excels at alleviating equipment burdens and boosting overall productivity.
Capable of running multiple insights, including but not limited to: protein quantification (BCA, Bradford, Lowry), ELISA, cytotoxicity/proliferation assays (MTT/MTS, LDH, SRB), colorimetric enzyme-kinetics assays (NAD(H)) and other non-absorbance-based, kinetic plate reader assays.
A plate reader is a laboratory instrument that detects and measures the amount of light absorbed or emitted by a sample in a microplate. A microplate is a flat plate with multiple wells or depressions that hold samples in small volumes.
Plate readers employ advanced optical techniques to detect changes in the samples and provide insights into biological processes, such as cell viability, protein detection, enzyme activity, and drug efficacy. They are widely used in various scientific fields, such as drug discovery, genomics, and clinical diagnostics.
Overall, plate readers are powerful tools that enable researchers to obtain accurate, reproducible, and high-throughput data in a variety of applications. They have revolutionized the field of drug discovery and are essential instruments in many areas of research and development.
A microplate reader is used to detect and measure biological, chemical, or physical events in microplates. Microplates are flat plates containing multiple wells; each well can hold small volumes of samples.
Microplate readers are commonly used in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and drug discovery to measure various signals, including absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence.
The applications of microplate readers include:
Overall, microplate readers are versatile instruments used in many applications that require detecting and quantifying signals in microplates.
They are highly automated, allowing for high-throughput screening of large sample sets, and are essential tools in many areas of research and development.
A plate reader works by measuring the amount of light absorbed or transmitted by a sample. Typically, a plate reader consists of a light source, filters, a sample holder, and a detector. The light source emits light of a specific wavelength or range of wavelengths, which is then directed into the microplate through a series of lenses and mirrors. The light interacts with the sample in the wells, and the detector detects the amount of light absorbed or emitted. The signal detected by the detector is then processed and analyzed using software.
To use a microplate reader, follow the steps below:
To obtain accurate and reproducible results, it is important to follow the assay protocol and the manufacturer's instructions precisely.
The function of a microplate reader is to detect and measure the amount of light absorbed or emitted by samples in microplates. Microplate readers are highly specialized laboratory instruments designed to handle multiple samples simultaneously, making them essential in high-throughput screening, drug discovery, genomics, and clinical diagnostics.
The working principle of a microplate reader involves illuminating samples in microplates with specific wavelengths of light and measuring the light that is absorbed, emitted, or polarized by the samples. The different types of measurements (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, and polarizability) reveal information about the concentration, presence, activity, and structure of molecules in the samples.
The difference between a spectrophotometer and a microplate reader lies in their methods of measuring light absorption by samples. A spectrophotometer measures the absorbance of a sample at a specific wavelength in a cuvette, while a microplate reader measures the absorption, fluorescence, or luminescence of samples in a microplate.
Microplate readers offer several advantages, one of which is their ability to measure signals from multiple samples at once. This feature makes them the perfect choice for high-throughput screening. Additionally, microplate readers require only a small sample volume, which is highly beneficial when working with limited sample volumes.
In contrast, spectrophotometers require larger sample volumes and are designed to measure a single sample at a time. These differences in application and sample volume requirements make spectrophotometers and microplate readers complementary instruments in many laboratory settings.
Microplate readers are widely used in life sciences research and clinical diagnostics for various applications. Some of the most common applications of microplate readers include:
Overall, microplate readers are indispensable tools for life sciences research and clinical diagnostics with a wide range of applications.
Several factors can affect the performance and reliability of a microplate reader, including:
In order to achieve accurate and reliable results with a microplate reader, it is critical to maintain the instruments properly, optimize assay design, and handle samples carefully.
To maintain the optimal performance of your microplate reader, regular cleaning, calibration, performance verification, optimization of assay parameters, monitoring of instrument performance, and preventative maintenance are all important.
It is important to keep your instrument clean from dust, fingerprints, and other contaminants as they can affect the accuracy of measurements. Regular cleaning is necessary for consistent and reliable measurements. Additionally, calibration and performance verification can correct any errors and ensure consistent results.
To extend the instrument's lifespan, it's important to monitor its performance over time and conduct preventative maintenance according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Following these measures can help you get the most out of your instrument.
