Looking To Buy Microplates? Here Are Some Helpful Tips

August 09, 2022

  

Microplates are amazing for scientific and medical purposes. The development of these plates has allowed us to do better research. Their primary purpose is the storage and transportation of cell cultures. Specimens are usually contaminated by the atmosphere, and impurities are added to them.

Moreover, their interaction with the atmosphere also causes a wide range of problems, such as oxidation. Buying microplates can be quite challenging. Even though they have the same size and purpose to some extent, it's tricky to choose one. In this article, we'll look at some helpful tips if you're in the market for some microplates.

Check Your Requirements

Microplates have several types. They have different properties, and all microplates can be used for the same task. Sample analysis through microplates depends on the properties of the microplates themselves. Some are fluorescence-based, while others are reflection based.

To choose the right microplate for you, you need to first know the analytical procedure of your samples. They will decide which microplate will be best suited for them. If you happen to choose the wrong microplate, your analysis won't have the right results or may not even be performed properly. This is why it's important to check your requirements before buying a microplate.

Routine or Non-Routine Analysis

The sample processing technique will play a pivotal role in selecting your microplate. Microplates are universal and don't work under the same conditions or processes. There are three basic processes or detection methods. The light source is used for detection purposes. There's absorbance mode, in which light is absorbed by the specimen. In the Luminescence mode, light is emitted by the specimen, and lastly, the Fluorescence mode in which fluorescence is used. Microplates vary depending on the detection method being used or selected.

Moreover, if the same type of samples is being studied on a plate, it doesn't cause problems.
Problems arise when different types of samples are studied. Then you need multiple plates to run more than one type of process detection. This is applicable, and combinations of detecting systems into one system are being used nowadays.

Purpose of Microplates

All kinds of cell culture dealings require microplates. However, a single microplate can't be used for all purposes. You need different plates for storage, detection, and transportation. You'll also need a sealant. There are several microplates for scientific and medical applications available in the market, and they have additional features as well. There's a variety of external problems to be confronted. These could be sources of contamination, humidity, temperature, pressure, and various other factors. To overcome these, microplates are carefully selected alongside the sealant to ensure the structural integrity of the sample is not compromised.

Environmental Effects

You need to understand that there are several environmental factors that play a pivotal role in the selection of a microplate. Relative humidity and temperature are the two most common and important factors, and these factors influence storage, transportation, and even processing. Not all samples behave the same way under the same conditions.

Some samples may be temperature sensitive. They may condense at room temperature or become more viscous. For this purpose, several features are required in a microplate. For example, it's a good idea to buy a microplate that has a shaker along with it or an incubator. This will give you utmost control over your samples, and environmental conditions will not affect them.

Analysis of the Sample

The level of analysis will also influence the type of microplate to be used. There are two types of data analysis. One is the in situ data analysis procedure. In situ testing, the results are displayed while the processing is being done. On the other hand, you can connect the microplate to a microplate reader and use it with an external computer. This is going to open doors for a user to analyze data in many different ways. It's a better choice or option. To select the right microplate, you must first establish which analysis approach you'll want. Do you want a depth analysis? Or are you okay with surface analysis of a sample? This will help you decide which microplate to choose.

Microplates and sealants can be tough to choose from. With so many products in the market, it becomes difficult to choose the right one. You need first to know your basic requirements. Are you getting a microplate for storage? What's your budget? Do you want a performance-driven product or a cost-effective one? Once you understand your requirements and then know about your samples and analysis technique, you can search the market for a microplate that fulfills those needs.

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