Patent ID: 8647593

Claim:
A microplate assembly for assaying biological material, comprising: a microplate comprising: wells for holding biological particles, an upper platform, the wells being located in the upper platform, a perimeter wall extending downward from the upper platform and including an upper wall portion and a stepped-out bottom flange; and a microplate holder for retaining the microplate, the microplate holder comprising: a bottom wall comprising at least one magnet, a first end wall located at a first end of the bottom wall, a second end wall located at a second end of the bottom wall, at least one first detent comprising a catch located on an inner surface of the first end wall, substantially open side portions extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, and at least one second detent comprising a second catch located on an inner surface of the second end wall, wherein the catch of the at least one first detent and the catch of the at least one second detent on the microplate holder are arranged to engage the bottom flange on the microplate, thereby securing the microplate in the microplate holder, wherein the first end wall or the second end wall on the microplate holder comprises a cut-out portion suitable for gripping the microplate, wherein the bottom wall further comprises: a third end of the bottom wall between the first end of the bottom wall and the second end of the bottom wall; and a fourth end of the bottom wall, opposite the third end, and arranged between the first end of the bottom wall and the second end of the bottom wall, and wherein one of the open side portions extends as a single open side portion across substantially the entire third end of the bottom wall and another open side portion extends as a single open side portion across substantially the entire fourth end of the bottom wall.