| Microplate Washers combine dispension and aspiration | | | | washer for changing formats and applications. The |
| cycles to eliminate reagents from sample wells. A | | | | system's multiple well wash heads are interchangeable |
| microplate washer may be an automatic washing | | | | to extend the capabilities of the system on a single |
| device or a manually-operated washer and is available | | | | instrument platform. Most modern microplate washers |
| in many different configurations for various types of | | | | have on board, touchscreen programming which gives |
| microplates and strips. | | | | laboratory personnel control over the unit's microplate |
| These washers are differentiated by specifications, | | | | processing parameters. |
| including speed and number of wash cycles, the | | | | The system's washing capability minimizes |
| number of available preprogrammed settings, the fluid | | | | background interference, maximizing the sensitivity of |
| volume used per cycle, soak time and dispensing | | | | assays. There is even a hand held style washer |
| volume. They can be used to wash and prepare | | | | available. These washers generally consist of a |
| plates for a variety of test routines, including ELISA | | | | microplate workstation, a reservoir kit, a pump |
| assays, cytotoxicity assays, agglutination tests and | | | | module and wash manifolds with either 8 or 12 |
| cell washing applications. | | | | probes. This style of washer has proven to be useful |
| Manual microplate washers consist of a reservoir | | | | for in-the-field applications for its ease of use. While |
| fitted with multiple channel pipettes that can be used | | | | certainly not suitable for every application, these hand |
| to wash multiple-well microplates. A strip washer | | | | held portable plate washers have caught on with |
| typically includes multiple channel manifolds for rinsing | | | | many users who have a need for a portable washing |
| down larger microplates. | | | | solution or simply have very little free space in the |
| For large microplates, such as those with 384 wells, | | | | laboratory. |
| automatic manifolds can be used to dispense liquids | | | | Microplate washers are an essential piece of |
| with the use of precision tips. An automated | | | | equipment in the life sciences or quality control |
| microplate washer can wash single strips or full plates | | | | testing laboratory, where they ensure reliable, |
| and can also wash plates from the side and bottom. | | | | accurate results. It's almost unimaginable that there |
| Automated plate washers can be programmed for | | | | was a time when laboratory personnel had to rely |
| column or row washing for the partial washing of | | | | entirely on manual washing for the microplates used |
| large microplates. | | | | in high sensitivity applications, but like every other |
| Microplate washers use different solutions for various | | | | type of laboratory equipment, great strides have |
| applications. Some automated plate washers can be | | | | been made in the technologies behind them. |
| programmed with specific wash protocols to dispense | | | | There is now a microplate washer available to suit |
| only certain types of solutions or allow defined soak | | | | the needs of virtually any application and to provide |
| times. Many plate washers also feature an alarm | | | | laboratories with the thorough cleaning required for |
| function to indicate when the waste reservoir is full | | | | the highest in sensitivity and accuracy for exacting |
| or nearly full. | | | | assays in the modern high throughput laboratory |
| Newer modular plate washers are now available. The | | | | environment. |
| modular design permits easy configuration of the | | | | |