Hard-shell PCR plates are used in high-throughput DNA sequencing centers because they have an automation-friendly design. The skirt and deck are molded from a rigid thermostable polymer, which prevents the distortion and shrinkage experienced when one-component polypropylene microplates are exposed to the high temperatures of PCR or heat sealing. In a separate step, the thin-wall wells are molded of virgin polypropylene selected for low DNA binding. This two-component plate meets the requirements of DNA sequencing centers to ensure smooth operation with capillary sequencers and robotic liquid handling instruments.
