ELISA Plate Layout & Dilution Planner
Plan a 96-well ELISA plate layout with standards, blanks, and samples. Compute a basic standard curve dilution series from starting concentration, dilution factor, and number of points.
Input Parameters
Results
Enter your standards, blanks, and samples to generate a 96-well ELISA plate layout and simple dilution series.
Understanding ELISA Plate Layout
What is ELISA Plate Layout?
ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) plate layout refers to the arrangement of samples, standards, blanks, and controls on a microplate (typically 96-well). Proper planning ensures:
- Efficient use of plate capacity
- Appropriate number of replicates for statistical reliability
- Consistent organization for data analysis
Key Components
- Standards: Known concentrations of the analyte used to build a standard curve for quantifying unknown samples
- Blanks: Wells with no analyte, used to measure background signal and establish the zero point
- Samples: Unknown samples to be quantified against the standard curve
- Controls: Quality control samples of known concentration to validate assay performance (not included in this basic planner)
Standard Curve Dilution Series
A standard curve typically uses a geometric (serial) dilution series, starting from the highest concentration:
Where C is the starting concentration and df is the dilution factor. For example, with C = 1000 and df = 2, the series would be: 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5, ...
Why Replicates Matter
Running samples and standards in replicates (typically 2–3 wells each) allows:
- Detection of pipetting errors or outliers
- Calculation of mean values and standard deviations
- Improved confidence in results
Purpose of Blanks
Blank wells contain all assay components except the analyte. They measure background signal from the plate, reagents, and detection system. The blank value is typically subtracted from all other readings during data analysis.
96-Well Plate Format
The standard 96-well microplate has:
- 8 rows (A through H)
- 12 columns (1 through 12)
- Total of 96 wells
This planner fills wells row by row, starting from A1 and proceeding to H12, in the order: blanks, standards, then samples.
Limitations
- Does not account for edge effects or specific plate positions
- Does not specify physical dilution preparation steps
- Does not include positive/negative controls or QC samples
- Does not validate against specific kit requirements
Important Disclaimer
This tool is for research and educational purposes only. It provides simple layout and dilution math and does not replace ELISA kit instructions, validated protocols, or expert guidance. Do not use this tool for clinical or diagnostic decision-making. Always follow your lab's SOPs, kit manufacturer instructions, and applicable regulatory guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plan Your ELISA Plate Layout
Organize standards, blanks, and samples efficiently on your 96-well plate
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