Agilent Technologies PlateLoc

PlateLoc Thermal Microplate Sealer
Frequently asked questions
10 Reference for Optimal Thermal Microplate Sealing
To eliminate the chance of mis- loading the seal roll, use the seal- loading card
that comes with every roll of Agilent Technologies seal. This card features
pictures and instructions for loading new rolls of seal. Detailed information
can be found in the PlateLoc Thermal Microplate Sealer User Guide.
Maximum sealing temperature
Q
What is the highest temperature and longest duration I can set on my PlateLoc
Sealer?
A
The maximum temperature is 235 °C. The duration can be adjusted from 0.5 to
12 seconds.
Optimizing the sealing parameters (temperature versus time)
Q
I am not getting an effective seal because the sealing material is not adhering
very well. Can I keep boosting the temperature or is it better to just increase
the time?
A
The most common mistake new users make is to start at too high a
temperature or continue increasing the temperature unnecessarily. Excessive
heat can damage the microplate and prevent future resealing by prematurely
melting the chimney surrounding the top of the sample wells. Refer to the
PlateLoc Seal Selection Guide that can be downloaded from the Agilent
Technologies Automation Solutions website. The selection guide recommends
starting temperatures based on seal type. In general, we recommend sealing at
the lowest temperature possible for the shortest time.
Resealing the same microplate
Q
We are evaluating one of Agilent Technologies peelable seals. How many times
can we seal and reseal a single microplate?
A
If you minimize the temperature and time required to seal the microplate, the
well chimney should usually last a minimum of five sealing cycles. Many more
successful cycles may be possible, depending on the seal material, microplate
material, sealing parameters, etc.
Seal cooling time
Q
We’re trying to optimize sealing parameters, so we seal a microplate, wait for
it to cool, then peel off the seal by hand and examine the well impressions on
the back of the seal. How long should we wait before peeling the seal off?