Storage of Coated ELISA plates - Storage of Coated ELISA plates (Dec/17/2010 )

Hello all

Has any one found a cheap and reliable way to store coated or coated/blocked ELISA plates, preferably in liquid form in the fridge.

We tried the dry and freeze method and it works but it seems to introduce a lot of variability especially around the plate edges. Also it is a pain and takes up -70 freezer space and they may get thrown around when other people get their stuff out.

There are a number of commercial products out there that make a lot of claims. Has anyone tried any of them? Applichem and Candor have products but they cost anywhere from 5-20$ per plate. They also claim to increase signal to noise and reduce plate to plate variability. Maybe they will make me breakfast too ..

Even with these products I would probably have to do stability studies anyway.

What are peoples thoughts on how long a properly sealed antibody coated ELISA plate can last in the fridge without significant loss of binding? It may be Ab specific, but I have tested week old plates and there didn't seem to be any obvious signal drop, but that is all I have had the nerve and time to do.

Two suggestions:
1. You can leave your blocking solution in the plate and seal the plate and store in humid chamber to avoid evaporation. Plates will probably last a couple of weeks or longer.

2. Better long term approach. After you block your plates, decant and blot...fill the wells with a PBS/sucrose solution. Leave for 30 min - 2 hr then decant...do not blot....invert and dry overnight at RT. The sucrose will form a layer over the abs/ag/blocking protein and protect the proteins. Then place the plates in a plastic bag with dessicant.

there are other 'blocking/storage' buffers from several other manufacturers but the sugar coating worked for us for a commercial product and was very cheap!