Labcyte® Consumables
ECHO QUALIFIED WITH SUPERIOR ECHO PERFORMANCE

Labcyte®
BROCHURE
Version 3.0 | APRIL 2017

LABCYTE INC.
170 Rose Orchard Way
San Jose, CA 95134
USAToll-free: +1 877 742−6548 | Fax: +1 408 747−2010BROCHURE | LABCYTE® CONSUMABLESLABCYTE OVERVIEWLabcyte Overview
About Labcyte Inc.
Labcyte innovations have enabled scientists to enhance personalized medicine programs,
streamline DNA/RNA diagnostic testing, optimize drug discovery pipelines, and accelerate life
science research. Labcyte customers have published papers in peer-reviewed journals and received
patents that clearly demonstrate discoveries and results that would have been impossible withtraditional liquid-handling approaches — all at a fraction of the cost.

Echo® Acoustic Liquid Handling Systems
The Echo Liquid Handlers revolutionize liquid handling by using acoustic energy to transfer fluids.
The instrument focuses sound waves directly under a microplate well and ‘listens’ for the reflection(or echo) to determine the fluid height and composition. Sound waves then eject precisely-sized
droplets from the source microplate to a destination microplate, slide or other surface.
The Echo systems do not use tips, pin tools or nozzles — completely eliminating contact between
the instrument and the sample. Fluids are transferred in nanoliter increments. Larger volumes areachieved by transferring hundreds of droplets per second.

Echo® 525

Echo® 555

Echo® 550

The Echo Acoustic Advantage⊲ Low transfer volumes enable the miniaturization of assays⊲ Provides unsurpassed accuracy and repeatability of results at all volumes⊲ Preserves sample integrity and viability during transfer⊲ Increases flexibility in transferring liquids at different positions and volumes⊲ Reduces operating costs by minimizing reagent usage, eliminating disposable tips, and reducing waste⊲ Dynamic Fluid Analysis™ allows the transfer of multiple fluid types and concentrations from a single plate2

PRECISION DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING

Precision Design and Manufacturing
Echo® Qualified Microplates must meet the highest specifications to achieve the performance expected from Echo Liquid Handlers. Only plates that are
exceptionally flat with extremely low inter- and intra-plate CVs are considered qualified for use on Echo systems.

Designed to minimize dead volume for acoustic transfer

Echo Qualified Low Dead VolumeThe Echo® Qualified Low Dead Volume (LDV) Microplates are designed

When used as an assay microplate, the LDV microplate improves results

to minimize dead volume for acoustic transfer. Wells taper to minimize

through increased signal to baseline ratios. The LDV family of microplates

surface area at the bottom of the microplate, ensuring maximal volumes

have exceptional flatness, which reduces assay noise by providing

can be transferred.

a consistent measurement position for detection instrument using
photomultiplier tubes or CCD devices.

3BROCHURE | LABCYTE® CONSUMABLESECHO® QUALIFIED SOURCE MICROPLATES

Echo® Qualified Source Microplates
Reliable Acoustic Liquid Transfers Require the Best Microplates
Echo Liquid Handlers are designed to use Labcyte® Reservoir, 384-well, and 1536-well Source Microplates for precise and accurate liquid transfer. Echo
Liquid Handlers are tuned and calibrated to Echo Qualified Source Microplates to ensure the highest transfer performance. Echo Qualified Source
Microplates are lot tested for every critical microplate parameter vital to acoustic liquid handling precision and accuracy.

Key Features⊲ Designed and manufactured for use with Echo Liquid Handlers⊲ Echo Qualified• Lot tested for dimension, functional performance, andsealing• Low intra- and inter-plate CVs• Enables high precision transfers for a broad volume range
and fluid types• High accuracy and linearity of DMSO hydration
measurements⊲ Anti-static – microplates are deionized, then packed inanti-static bags
⊲ Solvent resistant - made of cyclic olefin copolymer or
polypropylene⊲ DNase/RNase free⊲ Compatible with automation - Meets ANSI/SLAS 1-2004,2-2004, 3-2004 and 4-2004 standards

Echo® Qualified 384LDV Microplate

Only microplates that are labeled “Echo Qualified” are suitable for use on Echo Liquid Handlers. Other microplates that are positioned as “acoustic”
compatible are not manufactured to the same specifications as Echo Qualified Microplates. Labcyte qualifies each lot of microplates on Echo systems
to ensure that each microplate will deliver the superior precision and accuracy expected from Echo systems. Using inferior microplates can lead tovariation in droplet volume and/or missed ejections, both of which cause poor precision and accuracy.

12.00%

10.00%

5.00
8.00%

4.50

6.00%

4.00
3.50

4.00%

3.00
2.00%

2.50

0.00%

2.00

14.00%

65.00

Precision (%CV)

Measured Volume (nL)

5.50

Measured Volume (nL)

6.00

Transfer Volume Precision and Accuracy – 50 nL

12.00%
60.00
10.00%
55.00

8.00%
6.00%

50.00

4.00%
45.00
2.00%
40.00

0.00%

Plate Type
VolumePlate Type
Precision

FIGURE A: Echo Qualified Microplates yield greater precision and accuracy at low and high transfer volumes

4VolumePrecision

Precision (%CV)

Transfer Volume Precision and Accuracy – 5 nL

SUPERIOR PRECISION AND ACCURACY

Superior Precision and Accuracy
AUDITING PRECISION

AUDITING ACCURACY

30 nL Transfer Volume

30 nL Transfer Volume

14.00%

712.00%

6Accuracy (StdDev)

Precision (%CV)

16.00%

10.00%
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%

5432
10.00%

070

80

90

70

100%DMSO

80

90

100%DMSOFIGURE B: Echo Qualified Microplates yield greater precision and accuracy of DMSO hydration measurements

Measured %DMSO on Day 43%DMSO AUDIT AFTER 43 DAYS
100

Value-added Quality Control

90In addition to precise and accurate transfer of fluids, the combined useof the Echo Liquid Handler with Echo Qualified Microplates has auditing
functions that provide quality control of fluid samples. The Echo Liquid

80Handler applies a low-energy sound pulse to the fluid sample in each well,and the reflected signal is used to calculate the following:70⊲ Aqueous solutions: approximate fluid volume in the well based on themeasured fluid height6050⊲ DMSO-based solutions: fill height and DMSO/water concentration

40708090

100

Actual %DMSO on Day 1⊲ Glycerol-based solutions: fill height and percentage of glycerol
concentration (up to 50%)
⊲ Protein crystallography fluids: fill height and impedance
measurement in mega Rayls (unit of acoustic impedance)

FIGURE C: Echo Qualified Microplates yield DMSO hydration measurements withgreater linearity

Deionized and Anti-Static
Echo Qualified Microplates are deionized during manufacturing and packaged in anti-static bags to ensure precise drop placement during liquidtransfers. A buildup of static charge can alter the directionality of the liquid transfer and lead to inaccurate transfers and cross-contamination.

5BROCHURE | LABCYTE® CONSUMABLESECHO® QUALIFIED 384LDV AND 1536LDV MICROPLATES, AND 384PP 2.0 AND RESERVOIR

384LDV and 1536LDV Microplates (Cyclic Olefin Copolymer)
The Echo Qualified 384-well and 1536-well LDV Plate designs minimize dead volume when used with the Echo Liquid Handler. The enhanced designof the Echo Qualified 1536LDV Microplate reduces dead volume by 50%, increases working range by 12.5% and increases throughput by 15% whencompared to other 1536-well acoustically compatible microplates.

Key Features⊲ Free of halogen, BPA, heavy metals, and oxidizers⊲ Known to have fewer leachables than polystyrene⊲ High rigidity and strength⊲ Resistance to heat distortion of up to 170°C

The construction of microplates from cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)
provides optimal acoustic transfer with uniform well geometry, a key
to achieving a lower dead volume. The COC microplate construction
also provides superior structural integrity and rigidity, and ischemical resistance to most standard laboratory organics including
DMSO, making them ideal for chemical compound storage.
Echo® Qualified 1536LDV Microplate

384PP 2.0 and Reservoir Microplates (Polypropylene)
Echo Qualified Source Microplates meet tight specifications forflatness and rigidity and are required to ensure accurate andprecise transfer with the Echo Liquid Handler. Because of their highresistance to solvents including DMSO and buffers, the 384PP 2.0
Microplate is ideal for compound and sample storage.
The Echo Qualified Reservoir is designed to enable convenient andaffordable large reagent-volume transfers on the Echo 525 LiquidHandler. Its 6-well design enables the transfer of over 15 mL froma single Reservoir plate, and its low dead volume enables efficient
dispensing of costly and precious reagents and samples. The working
volume for each of the six wells is over 2.5 mL and the dead volume(less than 10% of the maximum working volume) is recoverable. Thewelded lid minimizes evaporation and prevents cross-contaminationand splashing when centrifuged or handled.

Echo® Qualified 384PP 2.0 Microplate

6

ECHO® QUALIFIED RESERVOIREcho® Qualified Reservoir
The Echo Qualified Reservoir is designed to enable convenient and affordable large volume transfers on the Echo 525 Liquid Handler. Its 6-welldesign enables the transfer of over 15 mL from a single Reservoir plate. The low dead volume of the Reservoir enables scientists performing genomic,proteomic and cell-based assays to efficiently dispense costly and precious reagents and samples. The working volume for each well is 2.55 mL and thedead volume of the Reservoir is less than 9%.

Key Features⊲ Echo Qualified

Manufactured and lot tested to ensure the highest Echo LiquidHandler performance⊲ Dispense up to 2.55 mL per well*⊲ Maximum 250 μL dead volume per well**(< 9% of maximum fill volume)⊲ Recoverable dead volume⊲ DNase/RNase free
⊲ Robotics and automation compatible⊲ Heat seal and MicroClime® Lid compatible⊲ Meets ANSI/SLAS 1-2004, 2-2004, and 3-2004 standards* Maximum volume may increase, depending on fluid type** Dead volume may decrease, depending on fluid typeEcho® Qualified Reservoir

ECHO® RESERVOIR TRANSFER ACCURACY
Volume of Solution Transferred (μL)

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.500.00
0100200300400

Destination Well of Transferred Solution (#)

FIGURE D: Dispensing full range (2.8 to 0.2 mL) from Reservoir to successive 384-well plates

7BROCHURE | LABCYTE® CONSUMABLESECHO® QUALIFIED 384LDV PLUS AND 384PP PLUS MICROPLATES

384LDV PLUS and 384PP PLUS Microplates
The Echo® Qualified 384LDV PLUS and 384PP PLUS Microplates
are designed for use with the Echo 525 Liquid Handler. Thesemicroplates have been specially optimized for high precision,aqueous transfers into 1536-well microplates using the Echo 525Liquid Handler. The design and construction of the Echo Qualified
384LDV PLUS Microplate minimize dead volume, enabling efficientaqueous liquid transfers.

Echo® Qualified 384LDV PLUS Microplate

Tissue Culture-treated Microplates
Tissue culture treated source microplates enable assay workflows to besimplified when used with the Echo Liquid Handler. Cells can be grown,conditioned and lysed in a single tissue culture treated microplate well. TheEcho Liquid Handler can then dispense the sample to an assay plate fortesting. The tissue-culture treated microplates are available in 1536-well, lowdead volume and 384-well polypropylene microplate formats.

Key Features⊲ Echo Qualified

Manufactured and lot tested to ensure the highest Echo LiquidHandler performance⊲ Transfer cell lysate with an Echo Liquid Handler⊲ Supports both adherent and suspension cell growth⊲ Supports growth of a wide variety of adherent cell lines,including CHO and HepG2⊲ Buffer working range:

2 – 5 μL (1536-well); 15 – 65 μL (384-well)⊲ RNase and DNase free, sterile, and lidded

Echo Compatibility Chart
Echo Plate TypeEcho® 520

Echo® 550

Echo® 555

Echo® 525

Catalog Number

384PP 2.0

PP-0200

384PP TC

PPT-0200

384PP PLUS

PPL-0200

384LDV

LP-0200

384LDV PLUS

LPL-0200

1536LDV

LP-0400

1536LDV-TC

LPT-0400

Reservoir

ER-0050TABLE 1: Echo Liquid Handler source plate selection table

8

LABCYTE® ASSAY PLATESLabcyte® Assay Plates
The Labcyte® LDV Microplates improve assay results through increased signal to noise ratios. The exceptional flatness of this microplate reduces assay
noise by providing a consistent measurement position for detection instrumentation using photomultiplier tubes or CCD devices. This microplate isconstructed of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) which provides optical clarity and improved signal levels for luminescence and fluorescence based assays.

Key Features⊲ Made of cyclic olefin copolymer⊲ Superior signal to background ratios⊲ Consistent color and clarity⊲ Highly uniform thickness of well walls and bottoms⊲ Compatible with heat sealing devices⊲ Designed for robotic handling and barcode customization⊲ Meet Standards ANSI/SLAS 1-2004, 3-2004, and ANSI/SLAS4-2004

Echo® Qualified 384LDV Microplate (Black)

Black and White Cyclic Olefin Copolymer
Black and white COC microplates reduce background to improveassay sensitivity, minimize crosstalk, and prevent light piping
between wells. The black COC microplates are highly suitable foruse in Fluorescence Polarization (FP) based and Homogeneous
Time Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) screening assays. For both
applications, these microplates demonstrated higher Z’ values whencompared to those of black polystyrene microplates and may be afactor in improving the assay window for FP and HTRF-based assays.
White COC microplates are designed for luminescence andscintillation proximity assay applications. White COC microplates
minimize crosstalk, reduce background, offer higher reflectivity toenhance signal, and improve dynamic range and signal-to-noiseratio.

Echo® Qualified 1536LDV Microplate (White)

9

BROCHURE | LABCYTE® CONSUMABLESMICROCLIME® ENVIRONMENTAL LID

MicroClime® Environmental Lid
The MicroClime® Environmental Lid minimizes edge effects and preserves the concentrations of solutions in microplate wells. The MicroClime
Environmental Lid incorporates a novel, fluid-absorbing matrix that creates a vapor barrier, protecting the sample from the exterior environment fromevaporation or hydration and greatly reducing edge effects. By eliminating edge effects, the MicroClime lid enables the use of every microplate well,thereby increasing microplate efficiency by 37%.

Key Features⊲ Eliminates microplate edge effects⊲ Increase microplate efficiency by up to 37%⊲ Compatible with a wide range of solvents⊲ Can be filled manually or with automated bulk fillers

EAMicroClime® Environmental LidBCD

The liquid in the MicroClime Lid evaporates to fill the headspace with aA and C: Regions of saturated vapor

vapor-saturated atmosphere, retards the evaporation in the wells, and acts

B: Sealing surface

as a barrier to infiltration of external gases.

D: Microplate well
E: Fluid-saturated polypropylene felt

99 99

96 96

96 96

97 97
95 95
94 94

97 97
95 95
94 94

93 93

93 93

92 92

92 92

91 91

91 91

90 90

90 90

FIGURE F: MicroClime Lid eliminating DMSO hydration edge effect. Every well oftwo 384-well microplates was filled with 30 µL of dry DMSO (45% r.h., 22°C). The
plate on the left was covered with a standard lid and the plate on the right wascovered with a MicroClime Lid filled with DMSO. The water concentration of eachwell was measured acoustically after 20 hours.

100-10 -10-15 -15-20 -20-25 -25

00-5 -5% Change% Change

99 99

0-5 -5% Change% Change

98 98%DMSO%DMSO

10010098 98%DMSO%DMSO

100100-10 -10-15 -15-20 -20-25 -25-30 -30-30 -30-35 -35-35 -35

FIGURE G: MicroClime Lid eliminating aqueous evaporation edge effect. Eachwell of two 384-well plates were filled with 50 µL of water. The plate on the left
was covered with a standard lid and the plate on the right was covered with a
MicroClime Lid that had been filled with water. Graphs show the loss of depth(volume) in the edge wells over a 72-hour period.

PRODUCT SELECTION GUIDE

Product Selection Guide
MicroClime® Lid Products
ProductQuantity

Catalog Number

MicroClime® Environmental Lid – Introductory Pack

10 / packLL-0310-IP

MicroClime Environmental Lid Sterile – Introductory Pack

10 / pack

LLS-0310-IP

MicroClime® Environmental Lid

50 / case

LL-0310MicroClime Environmental Lid Sterile

50 / case

LLS-0310®

®

Labcyte® Microplate Products
Echo®
Qualified
384-well LDV

Echo®
Qualified
384-well LDV
PLUS

Echo®
Qualified
1536-well LDV

Echo®
Qualified
1536-well LDV,Clear,
TC-treated

Echo®
Qualified
384-well PP

Echo®
Qualified
384-well PP
PLUS

Echo®
Qualified
384-well PP,
TC-treated

Echo®
QualifiedReservoir

Catalog Number

LP-0200 (clear)
LP-0210 (black)

LPL-0200

LP-0400 (clear)
LP-0410 (black)LP-0420 (white)

LPT-0400

PP-0200

PPL-0200

PPT-0200

ER-0050# of wells

384

384

1536

1536

384

384

384

6 (2 X 3)

Echo models(source plate)

520 / 550 / 555

525

520 / 550 / 555

520 / 550 / 555

All - 520 / 525 /
550 / 555

525

All - 520 / 525 /
550 / 555

525

Working volume

DMSO:
2.5-12 µL

4.5 – 14 µL

1 – 5.5 µL

1 – 5.5 µL

20 – 50 µL

20 – 50 µL

20 – 50 µL

250 – 2,800 µL

Buffer:3-12 µL
Buffer/protein:
6-14 µL
Dead volume(Echo)< 2.5 µL

4.5 µL< 1 µL< 1 µL< 20 µL< 20 µL< 20 µL

250 µL

Well profile

LDV

LDV

LDV

LDV

Flat bottom

Flat bottom

Flat bottom

TaperedWell shape

Diamond

DiamondSquareSquareSquareSquareSquareRectangularMaterial

COC

COC

COC

COC

PP

PP

PP

PP

Color Options

Clear/Black

Clear

Clear/ Black/
White

Clear

Clear

Clear

Clear

Clear

Coating

None

Surface
TreatedNone

Tissue culture
treatedNone

SurfacetreatedTissueculture treatedSurfacetreatedLidded

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Quantity per case50/case50/case50/case50/case100/case

100/case

100/case

50/case11LABCYTE INC.
170 Rose Orchard WaySan Jose, CA 95134
USAToll-free: +1 877 742−6548 | Fax: +1 408 747−2010

SALES
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OtherAll product names and brands are properties of their respective owners.
© 2017 LABCYTE INC. All rights reserved. Labcyte®, Echo®, MicroClime®, the Labcyte logo, and Access™
are registered trademarks or trademarks of Labcyte Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries.
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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