This plate has a unique shape of the well bottom with a very flat central part. The pyramid shape allows for a lower dead volume when used in automation. Centrifugation leads to a pellet in the central part of the well rather than a corner.
Fig 1, Detail well bottom shape
We are offering the plate in clear, black and white polystyrene while clear plates are suitable for optical applications including imaging.
The pyramid bottom shape results in a very flat optical window that shows good transmission for wavelengths above 310 nm.
Fig 2, Spectral Transmission measured in a CLARIOstar (with kind permission from BMG Labtech)
The plates base is clear from around 340 nm so would not interfere with optical density reading which are usually performed around 600 nm. The high background below 340 nm would preclude their use in DNA or protein work in the UV range.
The centre of the pyramid shape well bottom is very flat, so absorbance measurements would not be compromised.
Fig 3, 3D well scan measured in a CLARIOstar, well scan data of well D06 (with kind permission from BMG Labtech)
Most readers measure absorbance by passing light directly through the sample either bottom to top or top to bottom. The clear plates are suitable for both top and bottom reading modes, while black and white plates can only be used for top reading mode.