Innovative, high-quality and reliable microplate reader instrumentation
Available now from GPE Scientific
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What is a Microplate Reader?
A microplate reader is a laboratory instrument that is used to measure chemical, biological or physical reactions, properties and analytes within the well of a microplate. A microplate consists of small wells in which separated reactions take place. These reactions convert the presence of an analyte or the progression of biochemical processes into optical signals. The microplate reader detects these signals and thus quantifies the parameter of interest.
Scientists in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries strive to improve routine laboratory processes and efficiency by using products or instruments able to save time. A microplate reader can handle up to 3456 samples in minutes or even seconds. A plate reader helps to minimize operational time and to save reagent costs, allowing researchers to dedicate more time to data analysis and generation of actionable insights.
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What is a microplate reader used for?
A microplate reader is used for the quantification of several biological and chemical assays in a microplate. Nowadays, the availability of a plethora of reagent kits enables the exploitation of a microplate reader in different fields and for many different applications.
Besides biological, biochemical and pharmaceutical research, both in academic and industrial environments, plate readers are also used in environmental research, and in the food or cosmetics industry.
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Which assays would you like to do?
When a plate reader is to be procured, there are already applications known that are to be measured. However, it makes sense to pay more attention to this question in order to find the right and future-proof solution for the laboratory.
On the one hand, you will have to run basic assays to quantify biomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins, or cell viability. For all these applications, several solutions are available that are based on different principles, detection modes and sensitivities. Therefore, it is important to know in advance the exact name and supplier of the kit or the chemistry you want to use.
On the other hand, there are thousands of tests that answer specific biological questions. There may be solutions to problems that you usually solve with cumbersome tests, although simpler solutions based on microplates are available.
Therefore, reviewing your day-to-day lab work and gathering information on how colleagues use microplate readers is a fundamental step before you buy a plate reader.
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