A microplate washer is a laboratory instrument used to perform washing operations during the ELISA technique. Washing is one of the crucial stages during the realization of the ELISA technique, because, to obtain the best results, that is, the maximum relationship between the specific signal and the background signal, careful washing is essential; for this purpose special solutions are used, among the most used is the phosphate buffer solution or PBS.
The ELISA technique is based on an antigen-antibody reaction performed on a polystyrene surface. Unbound immunoglobulins (antibodies) by reaction to the antigen are eliminated during the washing process. Washing in the ELISA technique is an operation that can be performed manually, but if you have high demands and if you work with potentially contaminated substances, it is better to use automated washing equipment such as the microplate washer.