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SealPlate® For ELISA, incubation & storage
Films for processing robotics & autosampling
AeraSeal™ for Cell & Tissue Culture
AbsorbMax™ for Fluorescence & Photoprotection
AlumaSeal™ CS for Cold Storage
AlumaSeal®Foils for PCR & cold storage
ThermalSeal® Transparent films for PCR & storage
Accessories
Alpha Laboratories have partnered with experts in Plate-Sealing Excel Scientific are manufacturers of a variety of adhesive sealing films for evaporation prevention and sample protection during processing, storage, and shipment in 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well micro-plates and larger well tissue culture plates. A responsive company with a commitment to superior performance, Excel’s approach to product design is application-based. The materials, properties, adhesive composition and manufacturing of each film are tailored to optimize performance in a specific laboratory micro-plate application.
These excellent sealing-film products share the following features:
Applications for sealing films mirror the applications for multi-well plates and tissue culture plates that have become ubiquitous in today’s laboratories. These include enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for amplification of nucleic acids for analysis and quantification, both classic and real-time. Other films are designed to support manual and robotic processing and storage of samples in high-throughput screening (HTS), to maximize signal to noise in fluorescence and luminescence assays, and to promote uniform gas exchange in cell and tissue culture procedures.
Sample packages of most sealing films are available at no charge to end-users and may be ordered by contacting the Alpha Laboratories sales office.
“SealPlate”, “ThermalSeal”, and “AlumaSeal” are registered trademarks, and “MarkWells”, “ThinSeal”, “ColorTab”, “MiniStrips”, “AlumaSeal II”, “AlumaSeal 96”, “AlumaSeal 384”, “AlumaSeal CS”, “ThermalSeal RT”, “ThermalSeal RT2RR””, “ThermalSeal RTS”, “AbsorbMax”, “BrightMax”, “AeraSeal”, “EZ-Pierce”, “X-Pierce”, and “Zone-Free” are trademarks of Excel Scientific, Inc. Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. In certain instances seal performance may depend on the specific sample vessel used as well as specific conditions.
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SealPlate® 50 µm polyester films minimize evaporation, prevent spillage and contamination between wells, and provide a secure seal, not just a cover. Secure sealing of all wells eliminates “edge effects” in sensitive ELISA assays. SealPlate films can also be used with tissue-culture plates for short-term storage, incubation, and containment of biohazards. SealPlate films cannot be pierced.
Each SealPlate film measures 79.4 x 146.1 mm, including two removable end tabs.
ThinSeal™ polyester films are just 25 µm thick, clearer and can be pierced with single channel pipettes or probes for sample recovery. ThinSeal dimensions are 79.4 x 141.0 mm.
U.S. and foreign patents pending
SealPlate ColorTabTM films include a colour dot and white writing area on each end tab for plate ID labelling. They are otherwise identical to classic SealPlate films. Assorted packages include each of the five dot colours in individual bags of ten within the outer box of 50.
SealPlate MiniStripsTMfilms are designed for sealing only one or two 8-well rows at a time on strip-well or standard plates whenever rows must be selectively protected or accessed. Each film is 19.1 x 103.2 mm, including two removable positioning tabs. Long dimension with tabs removed is 82.6 mm. MiniStrips are supplied in sheets of four from which strips can be peeled individually or two-at-a-time for application to plates. (NOTE: Spacing does not permit simultaneous application of more than two strips.) Compared to the original single-strip configuration, the new four-per-sheet format facilitates extraction from the package, handling, and removal of backing paper before application to the plate. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 100.
Alpha Laboratories supplies three types of polymeric plate-sealing films that are easily pierced by robotic probes and pipette tips for sample recovery. EZ-Pierce™ and Zone-Free™ films consist of 70 µm thick polyethylene film with an acrylic adhesive and two removable end tabs for easy positioning on microplates. The Zone-Free films have an adhesive-free area above each well for 96-well plates. X-Pierce films are clear vinyl with a precut “X” over each well for 96-well plates.
EZ-Pierce are plain, unprinted polyethylene films, available sterile and non-sterile. Dimensions are 82.6 by 142.9 mm, including end tabs. The long dimension with the end tabs removed is 125.1 mm. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
Printed with a 96-well alphanumeric template, these films also have colour dots and white writing areas on end tabs for plate identification. Otherwise identical to plain EZ-Pierce films above. End tabs can be sealed and left in place for identification even if the center portion of the film is removed. Five dot colours (green, lavender, orange, red, blue) in individual bags of ten within the outer box of 50.
Zone-FreeTM films feature a 70 µm adhesive-free polyethylene top layer with a patterned inert white polypropylene/adhesive sub-layer. The easy-piercing top layer allows direct sample recovery with pipette tips or robotic probes without adhesive fouling and minimizes adhesive contact with samples. Dimensions are 79.4 by 142.9 mm for 96-well plates. Long dimension with end tabs removed is 122 mm. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
Also useful for sample protection during manual reagent additions and preventing splash-over when sonicating with microtips, X-Pierce™ films are 100 µm vinyl with a 20 µm adhesive layer. They are designed for temporary protection of samples in 96-well plates. A precut “X” over each well creates four flaps that easily bend downward when pushed by a probe or pipette tip allowing sample access without coring or adhesive fouling. The flaps return to their original position after sampling for continued protection. For long-term protection, a continuous film should be applied as a second layer. Dimensions are 79.4 x 145.5 mm, 124.5 mm between end tabs. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
Patented.
A 114 µm hydrophobic porous film with medical-grade adhesive for tissue culture plates, bio-blocks, and 96-well plates where gas exchange is necessary for cell or bacterial growth. AeraSeal films minimize evaporation, cross-contamination, and spillage. They allow uniform air and CO2 exchange for all wells, unlike plate lids which favor exchange for wells near plate edges. Dimensions 82.6 by 142.9 mm for standard-size tissue culture plates. Non-perforated end tabs will easily tear off over the end of the plate if removal is desired. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
AbsorbMax™ films are 200 µm thick black vinyl adhesive films for use primarily with 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well black microplates. They may be applied to the top or bottom of the plate. Edge cutouts assist in positioning and accommodate ribs on the plate bottom. A single-split backing aids in applying the film properly. There are no end tabs. The light-blocking and absorbing properties of AbsorbMax films make them ideal for protecting light-sensitive samples during storage. In fluorescence applications they reduce stray light and well-to-well crosstalk. Dimensions 76.2 by 114.3 mm. AbsorbMax films will fit within the rim of raised-rim plates. Recommended temperature range: -40 °C to +80 °C. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
AlumaSeal CS™ foils are 50 µm thick and formulated for best performance in cold storage down to -80 °C. Unlike other AlumaSeal foils, these are not recommended for PCR or thermal cycling. A single, non-perforated end tab simplifies application. Simply hold the tab and strip the backing as the body of the foil lays on the plate to avoid curling. Dimensions are 82.6 by 132.6 mm, including the 9.5 mm end tab. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
These AlumaSeal® foils combine soft non-permeable aluminum with strong medical-grade adhesives to eliminate the need for heat-sealing devices or mats when protecting samples and preventing evaporation during PCR. Compared to other aluminum foils, these soft foils have less tendency to roll back when removing the backing paper and conform well to plates during application. With excellent vapour-barrier properties and being easily pierced, AlumaSeal foils are ideal for long-term sample storage and recovery.
AlumaSeal II™ foils are 38 µm thick. Each foil measures 82.6 x 142.9 mm, including two full-width end tabs, and offers sufficient sealing area for all PCR plates. Length between the perforations with end tabs removed is 125.4 mm. Sterile product is packaged in 100 µm tamper-evident bags of 25.
AlumaSeal 96™ foils are 38 µm thick and designed to fit within the rim of 96-well raised-rim plates. These foils have one partial-width end tab with no perforations. They are available non-sterile only. Dimensions are 127.0 x 77.8 mm (including the single 9.5 mm end tab).
AlumaSeal 384™ foils are 38 µm thick and designed for use with 384-well plates. They can also be used on 96-well plates without raised rims. These foils have one end tab with no perforations. They are available non-sterile only. Film dimensions are 137.3 x 82.6 mm (including the single 13.5 mm end tab).
ThermalSeal®films consist, unless otherwise noted, of 50 µm thick sheets of transparent polymer – polyolefin, polyester, or polypropylene depending on the specific film – with adhesive formulations optimized for specific PCR applications. They cannot be pierced, but easier to apply than AlumaSeal films because they have no tendency to roll back when peeled from their backing sheets. The exceptionally high optical clarity of ThermalSeal RTS and RT films provides superior performance for real-time qPCR applications.
ThermalSeal RT films combine optically transparent polyester with a strong, ultra-smooth, non absorbing, non-fluorescing medical-grade adhesive for superior performance in real-time qPCR applications. A plastic liner, easily removed before use, contributes smoothness and extreme optical clarity to the adhesive. Dimensions 79.4 by 142.9 mm for sealing PCR plates. Length between the perforations with end tabs removed is 121.9 mm. Temperatures from -40 °C to +120 °C. The ultra high clarity of ThermalSeal RT films has also made them useful for protein crystallization studies.
This film has the same consistent ultra-high optical clarity as ThermalSeal RT™ films for more reproducible, reliable, and consistent qPCR measurements. Inert, strong, temperature-resistant adhesive assures reliable sealing around each well. End tabs easily removable at perforated boundaries prevent lifting and higher evaporation rates that can occur when films overlap the plate rim. Dimensions 77.8 by 130.8 mm. With end tabs removed, length is 118.1 mm with 45° corners.
These Polypropylene films are ideal for thermal cycling. (Not recommended for PCR plates with narrow or irregular sealing surfaces: AlumaSeal, ThermalSeal A, or ThermalSeal RT series films are better in such instances.) Each film measures 79.4 x 135.1 mm and offers sufficient sealing area for all PCR plates. Length between the perforations with end tabs removed is 123.1 mm. Recommended for temperatures from -40 °C to +120 °C. MiniStrips seal just one or two 8-well rows at a time.
ThermalSeal A™ polypropylene films have a much stronger and thicker adhesive layer than the classic version. ThermalSeal films fit raised-rim plates and provide more secure sealing of all wells because the center of the film does not extend over the plate rim. Each film measures 77.8 x 135.5 mm overall. Length with end tabs removed is 118.1 mm. Recommended temperatures: -40 °C to +125 °C. One sealing paddle for ensuring a firm seal on raised-rim plates is included in each package.
ThermalSeal RTS films are based on patented 3M® 9795, a 50 µm polyolefin film with 50 µm inert encapsulated silicone adhesive. They are optically clear with low auto-fluorescence. The adhesive is non-tacky until pressed on the plate to form the strongest available heat-resistant seal around each well. Adhesive over sample wells remains encapsulated and inert. ThermalSeal RTS films fit within the edges of raised-rim plates. The non-tacky adhesive surface simplifies handling. Dimensions 76.2 by 133.4 mm. With end tabs removed, length is 113.0 mm. Recommended for temperatures from -70 °C to +100 °C.
MarkWells™ labels are handy adhesive labels for application on the underside of flat-bottom 96-well plates. Each well is identified by a black-on-clear alphanumeric index that can be easily captured in microscopic images. Labels position easily by alignment with inside of plate edges. Dimensions of each label, not including the tab, are 79.4 by 117.5 mm.
U.S. and foreign patents pending.
Completing application of a plate-sealing film by pressing with the accessory plate roller assures a secure and uniform seal around all wells on 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well microplates and larger-well tissue culture plates.
An alternative to the plate roller for pressing films to assure a secure uniform seal around all wells on 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well plates. These paddles are especially recommended for sealing films on raised-rim plates because they fit within the rim of the plate.