The new Eppendorf® Microplates bring a unique clarity into your laboratory! Never before has it been so easy to pipette, check, and re-extract samples in a polypropylene microplate.  The easy to read OptiTrack® alphanumeric labeling on each plate makes identifying individual wells incredibly easy, accelerates the filling and significantly reduces the risk of error. The high level of transparency, unique among polypropylene microplates, ensures that you always find your samples at a glance.  The clear Eppendorf Polypropylene Microplates are ideal for storing substances or for applications requiring high resistance to solvents, such as DMSO. For applications where maximum sample recovery is particularly important, the Microplates 384 are available in Protein and DNA LoBind quality.

Which advantages do Eppendorf Polypropylene Microplates have over plates made from polystyrene?Plates made from polypropylene may be used across a broad spectrum of applications, as they are more resistant to temperature variations as well as various chemicals than plates made from polystyrene. Furthermore, they are more robust, allowing them to be centrifuged at higher g-forces. In addition, biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, bind less strongly to polypropylene.

Are Eppendorf PP Microplates resistant to organic solvents, e.g. DMSO?The Eppendorf PP Microplates are made from polypropylene and are thus resistant to DMSO and other organic solvents, unlike plates made from polystyrene. An overview of chemical resistance can be found in Application Note no. 56. In case of doubt please contact Eppendorf Application Support: support@eppendorf.com.

Are the colored rim and labeling resistant to organic solvents?All areas of the plate, including the colored rim, are resistant to chemicals. The alpha numeric labeling is equally durable. An overview of chemical resistance can be found in Application Note no. 56. In case of doubt please contact Eppendorf Application Support: support@eppendorf.com.

How may the Eppendorf PP Microplates be sealed?Eppendorf offers a variety of sealing options for Microplates. Self-adhesive sealers, films and foils for heat sealing, as well as re-usable sealing mats, are available. Information regarding the compatibility of the different sealing methods is listed in the Application Note no. 208.

Which advantages do the black Eppendorf PP Microplates offer?Plates made from black material are especially well suited for fluorescence assays (e.g. PicoGreen®). The black wells prevent “cross talk” between wells and reduce background signals. The black Eppendorf PP Microplates feature the unique OptiTrack Matrix, the first technology to allow for fast and easy well identification in black plates. Due to carefully selected materials, the plates have very low autofluorescence. The superior signal-to-noise ratio contributes to the increased sensitivity of fluorescence assays (see Application Note no. 203).

Which advantages do the white Eppendorf PP Microplates offer?Plates made from white material may be used for luminescence assays (chemiluminescence, scintillation proximity assays (SPA) etc.), as well as for fluorescence assays (fluorescence intensity, polarization, etc.). The white wells prevent “cross talk” between the wells while amplifying the individual signals. The white Eppendorf PP Microplates feature the unique OptiTrack Matrix, the first technology to allow for fast and easy well identification in white plates. Due to carefully selected materials, the plates offer maximum signal amplification. Due to their very low autofluorescence, the white Eppendorf Microplates are equally well suited for fluorescence assays. Taken together, these features allow for an improvement in the sensitivity of analyses.

May the Eppendorf PP Microplates be stored at –196°C in liquid nitrogen?No, we recommend storage at a minimum of –80°C.

May the Eppendorf PP Microplates be autoclaved?Yes; however, the exact specifications of the Microplates could be compromised. The plates are available in the qualities sterile or PCR clean. Hence, autoclaving is necessary only under exceptional circumstances.

Are the Eppendorf PP Microplates in LoBind quality coated or siliconized?No, the LoBind quality of the Eppendorf PP Microplates is not derived from siliconization or any other type of coating. The functionality is achieved through a carefully selected material, in combination with a special manufacturing process.

How high may Eppendorf PP Microplates be centrifuged?The Eppendorf PP Microplates may be centrifuged up to 6000 x g. Please follow the instructions provided in the manual.

May immunoassays such as ELISA be performed in the Eppendorf PP Microplates?Plates made from polypropylene are not suited for the standard variant, where antigen or antibodies are bound to the well wall. For this application, plates made from polystyrene are used, which have a higher binding capacity for biomolecules. However, for antibody-based fluorescence or luminescence assays (e.g. with beads) Eppendorf PP Microplates with black or white wells are suitable, respectively.

Is it possible to perform absorption measurements in the Eppendorf PP Microplates?Typically, absorption measurements are not performed in plates made from polypropylene, but in plates made from polystyrene, as this material generally has a very high transparency. Since the Eppendorf PP Microplates show considerably higher transparency compared to other plates made from polypropylene (see Application Note no. 202), the Eppendorf Microplates may be used for absorption measurements in certain cases.

Why are the Eppendorf PP Microplates offered in Sterile and PCR clean, but not in Eppendorf quality?The Eppendorf PP Microplates are a very high quality product. In order to underline the quality, all plates are available in the degrees of purity PCR clean or Sterile. This increases the confidence and comfort of the user, who may employ the plates directly for valuable samples in sophisticated applications.

Are Eppendorf PP Microplates also available with barcode?Yes, the option of Eppendorf Microplates with barcode is available. Further information can be found on the product page www.eppendorf.com/microplates.