99% of people don`t know the secrets of PCR consumables!

The skirtless panel lacks the surrounding panel (Figure A). This type of reaction plate can be adapted to the modules of most PCR machines and real-time PCR machines, but it is not suitable for automation applications.

The semi-skirt plate has short edges around the edge of the plate (Figure B) to provide sufficient support during pipetting. Most Applied Biosystems PCR machines use semi-skirt plates.

The fully skirted PCR plate has an edge panel covering the height of the plate (Figure C). This plate format is suitable for PCR machines with protruding modules (which can be conducive to automated operation), and can be safely and stably adapted. The full skirt also enhances mechanical strength, making it ideal for using robotic platforms in automated workflows.

Board surface
The surface of the board refers to its upper surface.
The full flat panel design is suitable for most PCR machines and is easy to seal and handle.
The raised edge plate design has the best adaptability to certain PCR instruments (such as Applied Biosystems PCR instruments), which helps to balance the pressure of the hot cover without the need for adapters, ensuring the best heat transfer and reliable experiments result.

PCR plate with full flat plate and raised edges
colour
PCR plates are usually available in a variety of different color formats to facilitate visual differentiation and identification of samples, especially in high-throughput experiments. Although the color of the plastic has no effect on DNA amplification, when setting up real-time PCR reactions, we recommend using white plastic consumables or frosted plastic consumables to achieve sensitive and accurate fluorescence compared to transparent consumables. Detection.

Comparison of the results of qPCR using clear and white consumables (A) Compared with clear holes, white holes have a lower Ct value (higher sensitivity). (B) The white holes also show higher consistency in technical repetition.
White consumables improve the sensitivity and consistency of qPCR data by preventing fluorescence from refracting out of the tube. When refraction is minimized, more signal is reflected back to the detector, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the white tube wall prevents the fluorescent signal from being transmitted to the PCR instrument module, avoiding being absorbed or inconsistently reflecting the fluorescent signal, thereby minimizing the difference in repeated experiments.
Different brands of instruments, due to the different design of the position of the fluorescence detector, please refer to the manufacturer's recommended consumables. Generally, for Applied Biosystems PCR machines, we recommend that you use original frosted-well PCR plates. These consumables have undergone rigorous research and development tests to ensure that you get accurate and reliable experimental data. For Bio-Rad CFX or Roche 480 fluorescent quantitative PCR instrument, the manufacturer recommends using a white PCR plate.
Profile
The shape of the PCR plate refers to its height, so "low profile" means lower height. The shorter design of low-volume consumables minimizes the space above the reaction system, reduces the effect of evaporation and improves the heat transfer efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to choose low-capacity consumables first when compatible at the same time, that is, "fast" boards or low boards.

Standard and low volume PCR consumables
Cut corner
The cut corner is a missing corner of the PCR plate, which depends on the instrument that needs to be adapted. The cut corner may be located at the H1, H12 or A12 position of the 96-well plate, or the A24 position of the 384-well plate.

PCR plate with cut corners
ANSI/SBS format
In order to be compatible with different automated liquid handling high-throughput systems, PCR plates should comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Society of Biomolecular Sciences (SBS, now under the Laboratory Automation and Screening Society (SLAS)). The ANSI/SBS-compliant board has standard dimensions, heights, hole positions, etc., which facilitates automated processing.
Hole edge
The common feature of PCR plates is a raised edge around the wells. This design can facilitate sealing with a Sealing Film to prevent evaporation.

The raised edge of the hole in the PCR plate.
mark
The alphanumeric markings on the PCR plate will help identify the location of individual wells and corresponding samples. It is usually a raised letter with white or black writing for easy viewing.

However, raised marks in automated processes may interfere with the sealing process. For automation applications, lettering (pictured below) can improve the sealing of the outer edge of the board.

Dividable board
Certain 96-well PCR plates are designed to be separable. This design allows a whole 96-well plate to be easily divided into smaller plates, which can reduce the waste of consumables and reduce costs when a whole plate is not needed. Plates with 24-hole splits are the most common, but 32-hole and 8-hole splits can also provide convenience and flexibility.

Dividable PCR plate
Bar code
In high-throughput experiments, PCR plates with half skirts and full skirts can be labeled with barcodes for easy recording and tracking. For safer and more reliable tracking, the barcode mark should not be scratched off and can withstand chemical attack and a certain temperature range (such as -196°C to 120°C). The location of the barcode reader may vary depending on the automation platform. In these cases, 4-sided barcodes or custom barcodes are alternative solutions.

Barcode (A) PCR plate with barcode. (B) Common barcode format.