Types of Deep Well Plates

Are you having trouble choosing the right deep well plate for your lab's specific needs?With so many formats, materials, and designs on the market, making the right choice can be challenging—especially when accuracy, automation compatibility, and contamination control all matter. Below is a clear breakdown of the most common deep well plate types, how they differ, and what to consider when selecting the best option for your workflow.

 

Common Types of Deep Well Plates

Deep well plates come in various well counts, depths, and shapes. Selecting the right one depends on your workflow volume, reagent usage, and compatibility with downstream equipment. Here are some of the most commonly used types:

1.96-Well Deep Well Plate – Holds between 1.2 mL to 2.0 mL per well. This is the most commonly used format for mid-throughput DNA/RNA extraction, protein assays, and sample storage.

2.384-Well Deep Well Plate – Each well holds less than 0.2 mL, making it ideal for automated, high-throughput workflows where reagent conservation and miniaturization are key.

3.24-Well Deep Well Plate – With well volumes up to 10 mL, this format is preferred in bacterial culture, protein expression, and buffer exchange workflows.

Bottom Designs:

1.V-Bottom – Funnels liquid to the tip, improving recovery post-centrifugation.

2.U-Bottom – Better for resuspension and mixing with pipette tips or orbital shakers.

3.Flat-Bottom – Used in optical analysis such as UV absorbance, especially in ELISA-based systems.

 

ACE Biomedical’s Deep Well Plate Categories

ACE Biomedical manufactures a wide range of deep well plates to meet diverse laboratory applications, including:

1.96-Round Well Plates (1.2 mL, 1.3 mL, 2.0 mL)

2.384-Well Cell Culture Plates (0.1 mL)

3.24 Square Deep Well Plates, U-Bottom, 10 mL

5.V, U, and Flat Bottom Variants

All ACE Biomedical deep well plates are DNase-/RNase-free, non-pyrogenic, and manufactured in sterile conditions. They are compatible with major robotic platforms like Tecan, Hamilton, and Beckman Coulter, ensuring seamless integration into automated workflows used in hospitals, diagnostic labs, and research centers.

Deep Well Plate
Deep Well Plate

The Advantage of Deep Well Plates

Why are deep well plates so widely adopted in modern labs? The advantages span across performance, cost, and workflow flexibility:

1.Space & Volume Efficiency – A single 96-well deep well plate can handle up to 192 mL of liquid, replacing dozens of tubes and reducing storage space.

2.Improved Throughput – Compatible with high-speed robotic pipetting and liquid handling systems, enabling consistent processing with minimal human error.

3.Contamination Control – Raised well rims, sealing mats, and cap mats help prevent cross-contamination between wells, a critical factor in sensitive diagnostic and genomic workflows.

4.Cost Reduction – Using less plastic, fewer reagents, and eliminating redundant steps translates into measurable cost savings in both clinical and research settings.

5.Durability Under Stress – ACE Biomedical’s deep well plates are engineered to resist cracking, deformation, or leaking under centrifugation or freezing conditions.

A study conducted by a biotechnology company found that switching from tubes to deep well plates in an RNA extraction pipeline reduced handling time by 45% while increasing sample throughput by 60%, ultimately shortening the turnaround time for patient results.

 

What to Consider When Selecting a Deep Well Plate

For procurement professionals and lab managers, selecting the right deep well plate involves more than just comparing prices. The following key factors should always be evaluated:

1.Application-Specific Requirements – Determine whether your workflow requires high-throughput screening, long-term storage, or sensitive fluorescence detection.

2.Compatibility with Existing Equipment – Ensure the plates meet SBS/ANSI standards and work with your centrifuges, sealers, and automation systems.

3.Sterility and Certification – For clinical use, ensure plates are sterile and certified RNase-/DNase-free.

4.Lot Consistency and Traceability – Trustworthy suppliers like ACE Biomedical provide batch traceability and CoAs.

5.Sealing Method – Make sure the plate rims suit your lab's sealing films, mats, or caps to avoid sample evaporation.

Mistakes in plate selection can result in downstream failures, loss of time, or compromised data. That’s why technical support and plate validation from experienced manufacturers is essential.

 

Deep Well Plate Material Grades

The material used in a deep well plate significantly influences its durability, performance, and chemical compatibility. Common materials include:

Polypropylene (PP)

1.Excellent chemical resistance

2.Autoclavable and ideal for nucleic acid workflows

3.Low biomolecule binding

Polystyrene (PS)

1.High optical clarity

2.Suitable for light-based detection

3.Less chemically resistant

Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer (COC)

1.Ultra-pure and low autofluorescence

2.Best for fluorescence or UV assays

3.Higher cost, premium performance

Using the right material helps reduce background interference and preserves sample integrity. For example, polypropylene deep well plates are widely used in PCR cleanup because they handle temperature fluctuations and don’t absorb valuable analytes.

 

Enhanced Sample Protection and Workflow Efficiency

In high-sensitivity workflows—such as viral RNA detection, pathogen screening, or pharmacogenomics—protecting sample integrity is vital. Deep well plates play a crucial role in ensuring reproducibility and accuracy, especially when used in conjunction with automation platforms.

ACE Biomedical’s deep well plates feature uniform well geometry, tight manufacturing tolerances, and raised rims that are optimized for sealing films and cap mats. This helps prevent edge evaporation, aerosol contamination, and well-to-well crossover—issues that can compromise qPCR or sequencing results. Whether in a BSL-2 diagnostic lab or a drug screening facility, plate sealing reliability can determine experimental success.

Moreover, our deep well plates are compatible with both manual and robotic multichannel pipettes, improving pipetting efficiency and reducing human error. Combined with barcode traceability options, labs can streamline sample tracking, documentation, and archiving.

 

Certified Quality and International Compliance

ACE Biomedical deep well plates are produced in ISO 13485-certified cleanrooms under strict GMP conditions. Each production batch undergoes:

1.RNase/DNase and endotoxin testing

2.Material analysis and QC inspection

3.Centrifuge stress and leak tests

4.Sterility validation for sensitive workflows

We provide full documentation with lot traceability and Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for all SKUs. This supports labs working under GLP, CAP, CLIA, and ISO 15189 requirements, making our products suitable for both research and regulated diagnostics.

 

Deep Well Plate Applications

Deep well plates are essential tools across many disciplines:

1.Molecular Biology – DNA/RNA purification, PCR prep, magnetic bead cleanup

2.Pharmaceutical R&D – Compound screening, IC50 testing, automation-ready workflows

3.rotein Science – ELISA, protein expression, and purification workflows

4.Clinical Diagnostics – Viral transport, elution, and storage in qPCR testing workflows

In one real-world example, a global pharmaceutical company improved its screening output by 500% after transitioning from glass tubes to 384-well deep well plates, simultaneously reducing reagent costs by 30% per assay. That kind of impact illustrates how plate choice directly influences lab performance and operating cost.

 

How ACE Biomedical Deep Well Plates Compare to Others

Not all deep well plates perform equally. Cheaper options may offer inconsistent well volumes, warping under centrifugation, or compatibility issues with robotic grippers. ACE Biomedical sets itself apart with:

1.Precision-molded medical-grade virgin polymers

2.28% lower coefficient of variation (CV) across wells

3.Leak-proof sealing compatibility under -80°C freezing or 6,000 x g centrifugation

4.Lot-level inspection and dimension control

5.Crystal-clear surfaces for optical protocols

In comparative testing with two leading brands, ACE Biomedical plates showed superior flatness, consistent height across plates (important for robotic handling), and better sealing under heat pressure.

 

ACE Biomedical Offers High-Quality Deep Well Plates for Demanding Applications

At ACE Biomedical, delivering high-quality deep well plates is our priority. Our products are manufactured in ISO-certified cleanrooms to guarantee purity and reliability, engineered to comply with global laboratory standards such as SBS/ANSI, and available in a variety of formats and materials to meet diverse lab requirements. Fully compatible with automated pipetting systems for seamless workflow integration, our deep well plates are sterile packaged to ensure contamination-free use in sensitive applications. Partnering with hospitals, clinics, and research institutions worldwide, ACE Biomedical supports vital scientific research, accurate diagnostics, and innovative discoveries with trusted deep well plate solutions. Choosing ACE Biomedical means choosing precision, durability, and dependable performance for every lab operation.

Designed for Future-Ready LaboratoriesAs laboratories worldwide evolve toward smart automation, digital traceability, and sustainable operations, ACE Biomedical’s deep well plates are ready to meet tomorrow’s demands. We continuously invest in mold precision, cleanroom upgrades, and R&D partnerships to ensure that our consumables integrate seamlessly into next-generation workflows.

For customers requiring OEM or private labeling, we offer flexible customization—from well volumes and materials to packaging and branding. Whether you are a distributor, diagnostics company, or research institute, our team provides technical support and supply chain reliability to scale with your business.


Post time: Jun-24-2025