Mixing in 384-well plates: issues, measurements, and solutions.

Mixing in standard 384-well plates is different from mixing in 96-well formats. The aspect ratio of a typical well, the balance of surface tension and mass of the fluids, and the scale of diffusion all add to the increased difficulty in mixing fluids in higher-density plates. Here we examine two methods to measure mixing and some common techniques for mixing in 384-well plates. While conventional shaking can suffice, alternative methods can accelerate and improve the efficiency of mixing in 384-well plates.