Microplate Readers

Microplate readers are increasingly important as more labs turn to automation and other options for saving time, cost, and labor. Microplate readers allow a steady stream of microplates (ranging anywhere from 6 to 1536 wells, with 96-well plates being the most common) to be read for the value(s) being measured in the samples. Microplate readers differ mainly by their modes of detection, such as absorbance, fluorescence, or luminescence. Absorbance detection is commonly used in ELISA assays, in quantifying protein or nucleic acid concentrations, or in measuring enzymatic activity. Microplate readers that detect fluorescent and luminescent signals are vital for reading samples labeled with fluorescent or luminescent tags, or in homogeneous time resolved fluorescence (HTRF) experiments. The less common microplate nephalometer measures particulate matter suspended in a liquid or gas. Some microplate readers are able to measure multiplexed signals. Microplate readers are also integral to automated workstations, in which they are often loaded automatically by fluid dispensing robotic systems. In addition, “multi-mode” microplate readers have more than one detection mode.