Microtiter plate

Definition

A microtiter plate is a flat plate with multiple wells used as small test tubes in laboratory experiments. It is commonly used for assays like agglutination to analyze immune responses.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Microtiter plates typically come in 24, 48, 96, or 384 well formats.
2. They are essential for high-throughput screening and simultaneous testing of multiple samples.
3. Each well can hold a minuscule volume of liquid, making it ideal for assays like ELISA and agglutination tests.
4. Microtiter plates enhance the efficiency and consistency of lab experiments by allowing parallel analysis.
5. Plates are often made from polystyrene or polypropylene, which are chemically inert and suitable for biological assays.

Review Questions

• What are two common materials used to manufacture microtiter plates?
• Why are microtiter plates important in high-throughput screening?
• In what type of assay would you most likely use a microtiter plate?

Related terms

Agglutination Assay: A method to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a sample by observing clumping.

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): A plate-based assay technique designed for detecting and quantifying soluble substances such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones.

High-Throughput Screening: A method used in drug discovery and biology to quickly conduct millions of chemical, genetic, or pharmacological tests.