Fibronectin- and vitronectin-coated microplates can be used as a solid support to facilitate the adhesion of cells to the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) via cell surface integrin family receptors. The resulting focal adhesions or focal contacts are important for the maintenance of tissue architecture and for supporting a variety of cellular processes. The clear, polystyrene tissue culture plates are pre-coated with 0.2 micron filtered serum-derived human fibronectin or vitronectin and/or blocked with bovine serum albumin fraction V under aseptic conditions.