Is it possible to harvest a partially filled microtiter plate?
Harvesting partial plates is possible. Keep in mind that the vacuum will follow the path of least resistance. With the Inotech harvesting system, all wells are aspirated simultaneously; empty wells will bleed off vacuum at the expense of the full wells. If the vacuum source is sufficient, all wells will be aspirated; however, some wells may take more time to empty. After the subsequent washing steps, all wells should show equal aspiration time. To prevent aspiration delays: • Have liquid in all wells of the microtiter plate prior to harvesting. Whether it is media or water, having solution in each well will give uniform aspiration for all wells. • By quickly depressing the blue valve, wash solution may be added to each well prior to the initial aspiration. Care should be taken so as not to overflow the wells with harvesting material.
