Manual Microarrayer Accessories

  Microplate Indexing System 

Our 96 and 384 well microplate indexing systems for 8 (VP 478) and 32        (VP 478A) pin replicators have moveable registration platforms that allow you to access both 96 and 384 well microplates in 12 sectors (4 rows and 3 columns) this registration ability offers several advantages: 

1. Eliminates the possibility of getting specimens from the wrong wells.  

2. Keeps the pins in the center of the well so the size of the spots remain uniform.  This is very important especially in 384 well microplates.  

3. Keeps track of which set of wells you are spotting from and where the next group of wells will be.  

4. Accelerates the rate of the arraying process.

5. Prevents the pins from being damaged on the bottom and sides of the wells. 

  384 Well Microplate Indexing System

VP 472A

The VP 472A Microplate Indexing System aligns the 32 Pin Replicator           (VP 478A) to appropriate wells  in a 384 well microplate.  This provides a very simple method of placing the replicator pins into the center of the wells by using a 4 set series of guide pins on the top of the Indexing system and the pair of alignment holes in the bottom of the Replicator.  This registration system also prevents the pins from being damaged at the bottom of the wells.

The VP 472A Microplate Indexer will accommodate all 384 well microplates that conform to the Society of Biomolecular Screening Standards.  Many of the 384 well polypropylene PCR plates are smaller (length and width) than the SBS Standard and need to be shimmed for the correct registration.  We show you a simple but effective way to do this. 

Because of the unique way the pins are positioned in the two Glass Slide Replicators, 8 pin (VP 478 - 9 mm pitch, 96 well) and 32 pin (VP 478A - 4.5 mm pitch, 384 well), they each have to be used with their specific Microplate Indexing System. 
 

 

  96 Well Microplate Indexing System

VP 472

The VP 472 Microplate Indexing System aligns the 8 Pin Replicator (VP 478) to appropriate wells in a 96 well microplate.  This provides a very simple method of placing the replicator pins into the center of the wells by using a 4 set series of guide pins on the top of the Indexing System and the pair of alignment holes in the bottom of the Replicator.  This registration system also is adjustable so you can remove your specimen from the very bottom of your microplate or PCR plate well, i.e. you can harvest from very small volumes even the dregs of the well. 

The VP 472 Microplate Indexer will accommodate all Standard height 96 well microplates that conform to the Society of Biomolecular Screening Standards.  Many of the 96 well polypropylene PCR plates are smaller (length and width) than the SBS Standard and need to be shimmed for the correct registration.  We have a simple solution for this.
 

Several polypropylene PCR plates are so tall the standard FP1S6 pins won't touch the bottom of the wells.  For customers who need to make arrays from the bottom of these tall plates, we offer a longer pin.  The FP1S6T has a 28 mm exposed pin length and will reach the bottom of any PCR well.
 

  VP 471 Cooling Blocks

Some of our customers work with very small volumes of specimens (nucleic acids, proteins, etc.), so they are sensitive to changes in concentration of their specimen due to evaporation of the liquid in the microplate wells.  To reduce the rate of evaporation, we have provided an Aluminum Cooling Block and Insulated Housing which keeps the microplates cool (VP 471).  We have insulated the aluminum block so only the microplate is chilled.  Furthermore, this insulated frame mates to the microplate indexers.  So while you are spotting specimens onto the glass slides, the specimens remain chilled in the microplate, slowing the rate of evaporation.  Simply refrigerate the Aluminum Cooling Block prior to use.  Extra Aluminum Cooling Blocks may be purchased separately (VP 471A) so you can always have one of them cold.

 
The photo on the right illustrates a VP 472 Microplate Indexer nesting on top of the VP 471 Aluminum Cooling Block and Insulated Housing.

The photo on the right illustrates a VP 472 Microplate Indexer nesting on top of the VP 471 Cooling Block Kit.

Return to Glass Slide Indexer/Micro Arrayer page

  Glass Slide Replicator Wash & Blot Station

VP 475

The VP 475 Glass Slide Replicator Wash and Blot Station is used to facilitate and speed the washing of the replicator pins between specimens.  Any fluids can be used in the polypropylene reservoirs however for most nucleic acid applications we recommend

1) 5% bleach / water
2) distilled water
3) distilled water
4) 99% pure isopropanol.  

Each reservoir has its own blotting station and the pins are blotted prior to submerging in the next reservoir.  Also the depth of fluid in each reservoir is slightly greater as you progress from left to right so that wash solution goes farther up the pin to insure a through washing operation. 

The blotting surface is a 5 cm wide and 31 cm long strip of lint free blotting paper (VP 522A) placed under the blotting jig.  The VP 522A is placed over the foamed rubber pad in the blotting station and can be used numerous times before it has to be replaced.

We strongly recommend that you use a lint free blotting paper such as
VP 522A  to clean the replicator pins between spotting operations.  The presence of lint on the pins will affect the spot size on the slide.  We also recommend that you use the VP 110 Pin Cleaning Solution to periodically clean the Replicator pins.

The photo the right illustrates a disassembled VP 475 and foam rubber pad under the VP 522A lint free blotting paper.
 

  Replicator Pin Drier

VP 474

A natural addition to the Wash and Blot Station is our new Pin Dryer.  At the end of each cleaning cycle the isopropanol in the final wash reservoir must be evaporated and the pins dry before continuing to the next set of wells.

VP 474 Pin Dryer is the answer.  The Pin Dryer has a built in on switch that is activated when a Replicator is placed in the cradle and automatically turns off when the Replicator is removed.  It's small foot print is easily accommodated inside the new VP 473 Humidity Chamber/ Hood.  Another advantage of the Pin Dryer is that it's minimal air flow does not overwhelm the humidifiers ability to maintain a humid environment.  Yet another advantage is that drying the pins is now just a one hand job as opposed to two with the hair dryer.  Operates using 110 volts AC.

  Plexiglass Hood & Humidity Chamber

Some spotting applications are best done with higher humidity and greater consistency is achieved when the humidity is constant.  Dr. John Quakenbush's group at TIGR recently published on their observations with temperature and humidity on spot quality and consistency in BioTechniques, "A Concise Guide to cDNA MicroarrayAnalysis" (2000), 29(3): 548-562) and the protocols are available at their website.  The best thing to do is to download the PDF version of the paper.
 

VP 473

VP 473 To facilitate our customers' request for a low cost humidity chamber to do spotting in, we have built a  plexiglass hood, 36" wide, 22" deep and 14" tall.

VP 476

VP 476 The Sunbeam Model 697 has two speeds, the high speed will operate for 6 hours without a refill and the low speed will operate for 12 hours.  It comes with a light that illuminates the mist stream so it is easy to determine if it is working.  The water tank is easy to remove and refill.   You can also purchase this item at a variety of department  stores, but we offer it to you as an ordering convenience.  Operates using 110 volts AC.

VP 476A

VP 476A is a compact combination temperature gauge and hygrometer which allows you to determine if the humidity is high enough for consistent spotting on glass slides. You can also purchase this item at a variety of department  stores, but we offer it to you as an ordering convenience.

Click here for a list of published articles that cite using the products on this page.