Thermo Scientific Wellwash and Wellwash Versa Microplate Washers

Overview

The Thermo Scientific™ Wellwash™ and Wellwash Versa™ microplate washers are engineered for precision, reproducibility, and operational robustness in high-throughput immunoassay workflows—particularly ELISA, cell-based assays, and ligand-binding studies. These instruments operate on the principle of controlled aspiration and dispense using positive-displacement fluidics, ensuring consistent volume delivery and removal across all wells of 96-well and 384-well microplates. Unlike pressure-driven systems, the Wellwash platform utilizes gravity-fed, non-pressurized bottle reservoirs—eliminating risk of over-pressurization, aerosol generation, or cross-contamination while maintaining compliance with biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory requirements. The core architecture integrates a stepper-motor-driven wash head carriage, programmable Z-axis height control for precise tip positioning, and calibrated peristaltic or syringe-based fluid handling modules to guarantee volumetric accuracy within ±3% CV across defined operating ranges.

Key Features

• Intuitive color touchscreen interface with multilingual GUI (English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese), enabling rapid method setup without software training.
• Modular wash head compatibility: Wellwash supports standard 1×8 and 1×12 configurations; Wellwash Versa expands flexibility with dual-channel 2×8/2×12 heads, 1×16 configuration for strip-well formats, and a dedicated 2×8 cell wash head optimized for adherent monolayers in 96-well plates.
• Three independent wash channels on Wellwash Versa allow sequential or simultaneous delivery of distinct reagents (e.g., buffer, detergent, stop solution), supporting multi-step washing protocols required in multiplexed or sandwich ELISA workflows.
• Precision residual volume control: Advanced sweep-aspiration algorithm combined with adjustable aspiration speed and tip immersion depth reduces carryover to <1.5 µL per well—critical for minimizing background signal and improving assay signal-to-noise ratio.
• Programmable linear shaking with three amplitude levels (low/medium/high) enhances particulate removal and improves binding uniformity during incubation steps prior to washing.
• USB port enables secure transfer of validated wash protocols between instruments, firmware updates, and export of audit-ready log files—including timestamps, operator ID, cycle parameters, and error codes.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

Both models accommodate ANSI/SLAS-standard microplates (96-well and 384-well), including flat-bottom, U-bottom, V-bottom, and tissue-culture-treated plates. The Wellwash Versa’s cell wash head features low-shear fluid dynamics and variable aspiration velocity profiles, enabling gentle removal of supernatant without disrupting confluent epithelial or fibroblast monolayers—a capability verified per ISO 20776-1:2021 guidelines for cell-based diagnostic assay preparation. Instrument design conforms to IEC 61010-1:2010 safety standards for laboratory equipment. Optional IQ/OQ/PQ documentation packages support regulatory submissions under FDA 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, and GLP/GMP environments. All firmware versions maintain full traceability and revision-controlled change logs.

Software & Data Management

The embedded operating system stores up to 100 user-defined protocols with parameter locking options (e.g., soak time, cycles, dispense/aspirate heights). Each protocol includes metadata fields for assay type, plate format, and responsible analyst. Audit trail functionality records all parameter modifications, run executions, and system alerts with immutable timestamps. Log files export in CSV format compatible with LIMS integration and electronic lab notebook (ELN) platforms. No cloud connectivity is required—data remains local unless explicitly exported via USB, satisfying data sovereignty requirements in regulated laboratories.

Applications

• Routine ELISA processing in clinical diagnostics and biopharmaceutical QC labs.
• Cell-based assays requiring post-incubation supernatant removal without monolayer detachment (e.g., cytokine release assays, receptor internalization studies).
• High-sensitivity immunoassays where residual buffer contributes to elevated background (e.g., chemiluminescent ELISA, electrochemiluminescence platforms).
• Automated validation of antibody capture efficiency in early-stage therapeutic development.
• Multi-step wash protocols involving sequential buffers (e.g., PBS → glycine-HCl → blocking agent) enabled by Wellwash Versa’s triple-channel architecture.

FAQ

What is the maximum soak time supported by the Wellwash platform?

The instrument supports programmable soak intervals from 0 to 60 minutes in 1-second increments.
Can the Wellwash Versa perform simultaneous washing of two different plate types in one run?

No—each run is configured for a single plate format and wash head geometry; however, dual-head operation allows parallel processing of two identical plates using synchronized protocols.
Is the cell wash head compatible with 384-well plates?

No—the 2×8 cell wash head is mechanically designed for 96-well spacing only; 384-well applications require standard 1×8 or 1×12 configurations with adjusted aspiration parameters.
Does the system support remote monitoring or network connectivity?

No—Wellwash instruments operate as standalone devices with no Ethernet or Wi-Fi interfaces; all data exchange occurs via physical USB media to ensure air-gapped security in regulated environments.
Are calibration certificates included with shipment?

Factory calibration reports are provided; full metrological calibration (traceable to NIST standards) and verification of residual volume performance are available as optional add-on services.