High performance films for automated microplate sealing

Porvair Sciences Ltd, specialists in microplate technology since 1992, has announced the addition of several new products to its comprehensive range of high performance microplate sealing films and foils.

EZ-Pierce Zone Free™ is a new sealing film with a 70 µm top layer and inert white polypropylene and acrylic adhesive sublayer. This easy-piercing sealing film allows direct sample recovery with single or multichannel pipettors and robotic probes. The adhesive-free zone above each well prevents adhesive fouling of the pipette tip or probe, ultimately minimising the amount of adhesive that comes into contact with the sample.

Designed to protect the contents of 96-well microplates from contamination during multiple manual reagent additions over time, new X-Pierce pre-cut pierceable films are 100 µm thick vinyl with a 20 µm thick adhesive layer. A pre-cut "X" over each well creates four flaps that easily bend downward when pushed by a robotic probe or pipette tip, allowing sample access without coring or adhesive fouling. A thin adhesive layer and special hairline cuts separating the X-Pierce flaps combine to prevent probes from contacting adhesive and becoming occluded. The flaps return to their original position after sampling for continued protection. For long-term sample protection after sampling, a continuous sealing film should be applied as a second layer.

To complement its popular plate sealers, Porvair Sciences offers an extensive range of adhesive and thermal sealing films and foils. Porvair sealing films and foils offer a convenient and effective method for sealing 24-, 48-, 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates. Sealing a microplate minimises evaporation and provides protection for samples during assay, storage, and shipment.