Dual-Action™ Manifold

Hybrid Optics

BioTek’s dual-action manifold design allows independent control and positioning of both the aspirate and dispense sections of the manifold, providing three major benefits:

  1. Rapid washing of either 96- or 384-well plates on one platform
  2. Ideal positioning for gentle washing of sensitive cell-based assays and
  3. Overfill/overflow washing with continuous fill and aspiration at the tops of the wells, vigorous washing for ELISA assays.

Dual Action

BioTek's dual-action manifold allows independent control of dispense and aspirate tubes for optimal x-, y- and z- positions. Dispense tubes are angled to 20° for gentle dispensing into well containing delicate cell layers.


BioTek’s 405 Microplate Washer and EL406 Washer Dispenser incorporate the dual-action manifold in standard or optional configurations. As cell-based assays become more prevalent, the benefits of the dual-action manifolds with their angled tubes are more important. The angled dispense tubes can be positioned to provide a gentle flow down the sides of a 96- or 384-well plate so as not to disrupt the cell layer.

Cell layer

The photo above shows a) cell layer before dispense and b) after dispense with angled tubes. Photos c) show a cell layer before and d) after dispense with straight tubes


Dual-Action Manifold Benefits:

  • Wash 96- and 384-well microplates on one instrument without changing the manifold
  • Optimal positioning of aspirate tubes for more or less residual after dispense
  • Optimal positioning of dispense tubes for cell-based assays or for standard washing
  • Angled dispense tubes won’t disrupt cell layers
  • Allows vigorous overfill/overflow washing

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