Choosing the correct ELISA plate is critical for achieving reliable and reproducible results. It is a systematic decision based on four key parameters, summarized in the table below.
| Selection Criterion | Options & Key Characteristics | Recommended Application Scenarios |
| Well Number | 96-Well: The industry standard. Offers a great balance between throughput and reagent consumption, suitable for both manual and automated workflows. | Standard ELISA, cell viability (MTT, CCK-8), protein assays. |
| 384-Well: Designed for high-throughput screening (HTS) or when sample/reagent volume is limited. Requires compatible automation and detection equipment. | High-throughput drug screening, genomic/proteomic studies. | |
| Well Bottom Shape | Flat Bottom (F-Bottom): Provides the most consistent optical pathlength for accurate absorbance measurements in plate readers. The clear choice for quantitative assays. | All absorbance-based assays (ELISA, colorimetric detection). |
| Round Bottom (U-Bottom): Facilitates mixing and observation of cell pellets or precipitates. Not optimal for optical reading. | Qualitative assays, cell washing/observation steps (not for final readout). | |
| Surface Binding | High-Binding: Surface is specially treated to passively adsorb large proteins (>10 kDa) with high efficiency. Maximizes coating for sensitive detection. | Standard ELISA, capturing antibodies/antigens. |
| Medium-/Low-Binding: Reduces non-specific adsorption. Ideal for capturing small proteins, peptides, or easily denatured targets. | Small molecule or peptide assays, reducing background. | |
| Material & Color | Clear Polystyrene (PS): Standard material for visible wavelength absorbance measurements. Allows visual inspection. | Colorimetric detection (OD readings). |
| White Opaque: Reflects light back to the detector, maximizing luminescence and fluorescence intensity. Essential for low-light assays. | Chemiluminescence, weak fluorescence. | |
| Black Opaque: Absorbs stray light, minimizing well-to-well crosstalk in fluorescence assays. Critical for FRET or dual-luciferase reporter assays. | Fluorescence intensity (FI), time-resolved fluorescence (TRF). |
Pro-Tips for Selection:
1. Critical for Luminescence/Fluorescence: Never use a clear-bottom plate for these assays. Always match the plate color to your detection mode: white for luminescence, black for fluorescence.
2. Avoid a Common Mistake: Do not use a cell culture plate for ELISA. Its non-binding surface will result in poor protein adsorption and failed assays.
3. Consult Your Protocol: It often specifies the required plate type. When in doubt, contact our technical support team with your assay details for a expert recommendation.
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Post time: Jan-13-2026