PCR Plate

Quick Answer: A PCR plate is a one-piece moulded plate of thin-walled wells, usually polypropylene, that holds many polymerase chain reactions side by side in a thermal cycler block. It is chosen when a run has more samples than single tubes or strips can conveniently handle, and for real-time qPCR.

Skirts, Wells and Seals

Most plates of this kind follow the 96-well layout with rows A to H and columns 1 to 12, and 384-well versions exist for automated work. The wells have thin walls so heat passes quickly from the metal block into the reaction mix, keeping cycling times short and temperatures uniform. The well count and profile of this listing should be matched to your cycler block.

The skirt is the frame around the wells. A non-skirted plate has none and can be cut into sections for small runs; a semi-skirted plate has a short rim that stiffens it for pipetting; a fully skirted plate has a full-height rim that makes it rigid enough for robotic handlers and plate readers. Some cyclers accept only one of these styles.

Sealing matters as much as the plastic. Adhesive optical films are used for qPCR because fluorescence is read through them, while cap strips or heat-sealed foils suit end-point PCR and storage. Whichever seal is chosen, press it firmly around every well rim so no reaction evaporates during the high-temperature steps.

Specifications

Handling Tips

• Keep plates in their packaging until needed to avoid dust and nuclease contamination.
• Spin a sealed plate briefly in a plate centrifuge to bring droplets down and clear bubbles before cycling.
• Write on the skirt or plate side, not across the wells, since marks on the seal can interfere with fluorescence reading.
• Discard after one run; thin PCR wells are not meant for washing and reuse.

Applications

• Genotyping panels where dozens of samples are amplified with one primer pair
• Real-time qPCR for gene expression or pathogen detection, under an optical seal
• Colony PCR to screen many bacterial transformants in one run
• Setting up sequencing reactions before clean-up

Why Choose LabEquip

Research groups, diagnostic training labs and university molecular biology courses move to plates once their runs outgrow single tubes. LabEquip lists this plate in its Biology Lab Products range alongside PCR tube strips for smaller runs; share your cycler model on the contact page to match the plate format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does skirted mean on a PCR plate?

It describes the frame around the wells. Non-skirted plates have no frame, semi-skirted plates have a short rim, and fully skirted plates have a full-height rim that makes them rigid enough for automated handling and plate readers.

Can I use a clear plate for qPCR?

Yes, clear wells work in most real-time instruments, but white wells reflect fluorescence back toward the detector and can give stronger, more even signals in instruments that read from above. Follow your instrument maker’s advice on well colour.

How do I stop reactions evaporating from the wells?

Use a good seal pressed firmly around each well with a roller or paddle, and keep the heated lid of the cycler switched on. Evaporation usually shows as lower volumes in the edge wells after the run.

Can a plate be cut into smaller pieces?

Non-skirted and some semi-skirted plates can be cut with scissors into sections for runs that do not need every well. Fully skirted plates are too rigid to cut cleanly and are used whole.

Is a PCR plate reusable?

No. The thin wells deform during cycling and cannot be cleaned reliably of template DNA, so reuse risks contamination and false positives. Plates are treated as single-use consumables.

Which skirt style will fit my thermal cycler?

Most standard 96-well blocks accept non-skirted and semi-skirted plates, while some instruments and robots need a fully skirted plate. Give the cycler make and model when you enquire and the plate type can be checked against it.

Last Updated: September 2026