Principle And Applications Of Microplate Reader

The microplate reader is one of the important scientific instruments used in various areas of biological research and observational studies. It is also known as a photometric micro plate reader or the elisa plate reader.  The detection of cancer through the microplate reader is one of the most widely used applications in the research lab.   In other words, the microplate reader is called the specialized spectrophotometer which is tailored to design the results of the observational studies.  It is commonly called the observational tool for the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the studies.  The reading of results of the various biological specimens within the microwells of the plate reader. Other specimen types are also evaluated using the plate reader technique.  The researchers and scientists use the microplate reader for assessing the various specimens within its microwells.  

A typical microplate elisa reader has almost 96 wells which are used to contain the sample reactions for the assessments.   The most important microplate reader – the elisa plate reader is used for the detection of an antigen or antibodies captured on a solid surface by the use of direct or secondary antibodies. These antibodies are labeled to mark the presence of the antigen.  In the elisa plate reader, the reaction rates produced are read by the spectrophotometers and used in the research.   Microplates are the fundamental part of biological research where many assessments are done using specialized spectrophotometers.  

A Purpose Of An Microplate Reader

In the biological and scientific labs, there are many uses of multimode readers.  They help analyze the reactions within the multi-tier wells of the plate reader. An elisa test is also not possible without the use of microplate readers and spectrophotometers.  Like this, many such applications are there of microplate readers.  However, the main reason remains the elisa test using the elisa plate reader.  By this method, the results can be interpreted with a direct technique of reading the extracted results.  The elisa technique has direct application in the serology and immunology areas.  

The microplate reader technique confirms the presence of antibodies and antigens of an infectious agent in the organisms and other animals.  Here, the antibodies from a vaccine or auto-antibodies are also detected.  This is an example of rheumatoid arthritis.

Principle Of Microplate Reader

It is believed that a microplate reader is called a specialized spectrophotometer.  The only difference between the two:  the conventional spectrophotometer and microplate reader is the presence of colorimetric agents in the microplate reader. While in the conventional spectrophotometer, it has a wide range of wavelengths which lacks in the multi-plate reader. The microplate reader also has diffracting gratings to interpret results. This is more important in the elisa techniques for the detection of various types of cancers.  The wavelength range in the best microplate reader is between 400- 750 nm.  Though it is seen that some of the microplate readers operate in the ultraviolet range for the analysis. It is carried out in the analysis between 340 to 700 nm light rays.  

The optical system in the microplate reader is exploited by many manufacturers for providing good assessment results. They use optic fibers to supply light rays to the plate reader wells that contain the biological samples. These specimens or samples are placed in the different wells of the microplate reader for analysis.  The light rays passing through the biological specimens have a diameter range of  1 to 3 mm. A detection system of the elisa plate reader is used to detect the light rays coming from the sample reactions. It also amplifies the signal and determines the reaction sample’s absorbance rate. Further, a  reading system of plate readers converts the light beams into data sets for clear and concise interpretation.  Further, it also allows the reliable test result interpretation of the samples. Some microplate readers also use the double beam light systems for illuminating wells filled with the samples.

Test biological samples are located in delicately designed plates or wells of a microplate reader. With a specific number of wells,  the procedure or test is carried out with full caution in the microplate reader.  The microplates of 8 columns by 12 rows have a total of 96 wells in a typical micro plate reader. This is the common number of wells in a multiplate reader.  In some plate readers, there are also plates with a greater number of wells that can accommodate more reaction samples.

In the case of specialized applications of plate readers, the recent trend is to maximize the number of wells that are 384-well plates.  This is the intermediate number of wells in a microplate reader.  The increment is done to reduce the number of reagents used in the samples.  So, that the reaction sample can be in enough amounts throughout the assessment processes.  The exact location of the optical sensors in the microplate reader varies depending on the manufacturers. In some, it can be located above the sample plate, and in some, it can be indirectly underneath the microplate’s wells regions.

Now in recent times, the microplate readers have different control features which are regulated by microprocessors fitted to the computer screen.  These connection interfaces are connected to evaluate information from the various reaction samples used in the microplate reader.  These systems are easy to handle features like quality and process control programs in the reader.  This all is done using a computer, which allows complete test automation in the microplate reader.

Applications Of Microplate Readers

When it comes to microplate readers, there are many applications.  But the most important is the following :

In ELISA Test Detection

The ELISA technique microplate reader is important from a biochemical point of view.  The process  for the elisa  plate reader  technique is as follows :   

1. The micro plate reader wells are coated with antibodies or antigens. This comprises reaction samples.

2. The samples,  colorimetric standards, and controls are added to the plate wells. They are further incubated at a temperature range in between room temperature and 37 °C.  This is done for a determined time in the microplate reader.  The time is set by the test’s characteristics.

3. During the incubation period, the sample antigens bind to the antibody-coated well plate. One more binding process can happen between the sample and the antigens. As per the process of plate reading, the analysis is done for the samples.  

4. After the incubation of the microplate reader, the unbound antigen is washed and removed from the micro plate reader by the washer using a washing buffer.

5. Next in the process of microplate reader reading is the presence of a secondary antibody, called the conjugate. This is added to the reaction samples.    All this step is repeated for a perfect reading from the microplate reader.  

Conclusion

The microplate readers are an important tool of the scientific and biological world.  One can check the microplate elisa reader price offline as well as in online mediums.  The important aspect of a multimode microplate reader is the elisa test which is helpful in the detection of cancers also. Moreover, it is also useful in the detection of rheumatoid arthritis disease.   Many such applications of microplate readers persist in the science lab.