SPE Deep Well Plates for High-Throughput Sample Preparation
Automation-ready 48 and 96 deep well plates for forensic toxicology, clinical drug testing, and pharmaceutical analysis. Made from solvent-resistant polypropylene, with 30+ sorbent chemistries and customizable configurations.
SPE Deep Well Plates Built for Efficiency
UCT SPE deep well plates are made from solvent-resistant, low-extractable polypropylene and available in 48 and 96 well configurations. Every plate is compatible with most robotic and liquid handling technologies, supporting automation-driven workflows from method development through routine screening and confirmation testing.
A comprehensive selection of sorbent chemistries, spanning reversed phase, normal phase, ion exchange, and mixed-mode, is available in deep well plate format. Custom configurations are available upon request.
Unlocking the Benefits of SPE Well Plates
Well plates deliver measurable workflow improvements across throughput, cost, and analytical quality.
High Throughput
Process multiple samples simultaneously, dramatically increasing throughput in sample preparation compared to individual tube-format SPE.
Automation Compatible
Compatible with most robotic and liquid handling systems. Automated liquid handlers can be easily programmed to handle well plates, improving workflow reproducibility.
Small Sample Volumes
Well plates facilitate extraction of smaller sample volumes, benefiting workflows where sample availability is limited, especially in real-world forensic and clinical cases.
Cost-Effective
Reduced solvent consumption and lower sorbent mass per well contributes to significant cost savings across large-volume screening workflows.
Prevents Cross-Contamination
Available in a long-drip tip option that prevents sample or solvent leakage between wells, which is critical for high-stakes forensic and clinical testing.
Versatile & Customizable
Choose from 48 or 96 well formats, multiple sorbent chemistries and bed weights, 1 mL or 2 mL well volumes, and removable well configurations for maximum flexibility.
Traditional SPE & Filtration Formats
UCT well plates cover two main workflows: traditional SPE for extraction and cleanup, and filtration for rapid matrix simplification before instrument analysis.
Standard Well Plates: Traditional SPE
The workhorse of high-throughput sample preparation. Standard well plates are packed with the same sorbent chemistries as UCT’s individual SPE columns, enabling direct method transfer without redevelopment.
- Solvent-resistant, low-extractable polypropylene construction
- Available in 48 and 96 well configurations
- Compatible with most robotic and liquid handling technologies
- Comprehensive sorbent chemistry selection for screening and confirmation
- Long-drip tip option to prevent cross-contamination
- Custom product configurations available upon request
Removable Well Plates: Method Development
UCT’s removable well plate format adds a layer of flexibility for labs optimizing new methods or running variable batch sizes. Individual wells can be removed, allowing labs to run exactly the number of samples needed without wasting sorbent.
- Available in various chemistries and bed weights
- Choose from 1 mL and 2 mL well plate options
- Innovative design supports method development flexibility
- Customize batch size by removing wells as needed
- Available in various chemistries
Clean Screen® FASt: Filtration
Clean Screen® FASt eliminates the centrifuge and sample transfer steps typically required before injection, reducing hands-on time and instrument maintenance costs.
- Eliminates centrifuge and sample transfer steps
- Reduces matrix suppression and removes particulates >1 µm
- Lowers costs by decreasing turnaround time
- Reduces LC column and instrument maintenance requirements
Refine™: Advanced Filtration
Refine™ takes filtration further with a hydrophobically treated dual frit design that simultaneously handles enzyme hydrolysis, sample precipitation, and filtration in a single well, eliminating multiple preparation steps.
- Hydrophobically treated dual frit prevents sample/solvent leakage
- Long-drip tips compared to standard well plate depth
- Reduces matrix suppression without loss of target analytes
- Accommodates in-well urinary enzyme hydrolysis
- Withstands high incubation temperatures
- Simultaneous in-well sample precipitation and filtration
UCT Well Plate Product Lines
The same trusted sorbent chemistries from UCT’s SPE column portfolio, now available in high-throughput well plate format for forensic, clinical, and pharmaceutical applications.
Clean Screen®
UCT’s flagship mixed-mode sorbent line for drug extraction from biological matrices, validated across forensic and clinical drug testing applications. Available in DAU, THC, XCEL I, and XCEL II phases.
Browse ProductsClean-Up®
Diverse sorbent chemistry options covering reversed phase, normal phase, ion exchange, and mixed-mode mechanisms. The broadest sorbent selection in UCT’s well plate portfolio.
Browse ProductsStyre Screen®
Polymeric phase sorbents with high sample load capacity and broad pH compatibility. Styre Screen® well plates use DVB, HLB, and HLD polymeric chemistries, plus a C18+BCX mixed-mode option, for selective analyte retention.
Browse ProductsXtrackT®
Large particle size sorbent designed for samples with high particulate load or challenging matrix components. XtrackT® well plates provide robust extraction performance where standard particle sizes may plug.
Browse ProductsClean Screen® FASt
Purpose-built filtration plate for urine LC/MS workflows. Eliminates centrifuge and transfer steps, removes particulates greater than 1 µm, and reduces matrix suppression with no loss of target analytes.
Browse ProductsRefine™
Advanced filtration plate with a hydrophobically treated dual frit design. Supports in-well enzyme hydrolysis, simultaneous precipitation and filtration, and high incubation temperatures, eliminating multiple separate sample prep steps.
Browse ProductsSorbent Chemistry Selection
UCT well plates are available across the full spectrum of SPE sorbent mechanisms. Use this reference to match your target analyte chemistry to the right sorbent type. Copolymeric phases combining two mechanisms are also available. Examples include C8+QAX and C18+BCX.
| Mechanism | Selectivity | Available Sorbents | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reversed Phase | Hydrophobic | C2, C4, C8, C18, C30, Cyclohexyl, Phenyl, DVB, HLB, HLD | Nonpolar to moderately polar analytes; drugs, lipids, environmental contaminants |
| Normal Phase | Hydrophilic | Silica, Diol, Cyanopropyl, Florisil, Alumina, Carbon | Polar analytes from nonpolar matrices; lipid class separations |
| Anion Exchange | Ionic (−) | NAX (aminopropyl), PSA (N-2 aminoethyl), DAX (diethylamino), QAX (quaternary amine), PAX (polyimine) | Acidic analytes (carboxylic acids, phenols, nucleotides); matrix cleanup |
| Cation Exchange | Ionic (+) | CCX (carboxylic acid), PCX (propylsulfonic acid), BCX (benzenesulfonic acid), TAX (triacetic acid) | Basic analytes (amines, drugs of abuse, opioids); urine drug testing |
| Mixed-Mode | Dual mechanism | C8+BCX, C8+CCX, C8+NAX, C8+QAX, C18+BCX, DAU, THC, XCEL I & II | Complex matrices requiring both hydrophobic retention and ionic selectivity; best recovery for ionizable drugs |
Complete Your Well Plate Workflow
Beyond the SPE plate itself, UCT offers collection plates, sealing lids, fritted empty plates, and replacement frits to support fully integrated well plate workflows.
| Product | Format | Description | Key Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Well Collection Plate | 48 well (WIM48CP) / 96 well (WSH96CP) | Stacks under SPE plate to collect eluate | Captures purified extract; eliminates transfer to vials |
| Pierceable Seal Lid | 48 well (WSH48PS) / 96 well (WSH96PS) | Seals wells during incubation or storage; pierceable for automated access | In-well enzyme hydrolysis; sample storage |
| Fritted Empty Well Plates | 48 well (WIM481F) / 96 well (WSH961FR, WSH963FR) | Empty plates with frits for custom sorbent packing; 10 or 20 micron frit options | Custom method development; non-standard sorbent combinations |
| Replacement Frits | 96 well (FRSH1096P, FRSH2096P) / 48 well (FR10481P) | Individual square frits in 10 or 20 micron, for custom packing or frit replacement | Frit replacement and custom packing for fritted empty well plates |
Featured UCT Well Plate Solutions
Not sure where to start? These are some of the most commonly used UCT well plate products across forensic, clinical, and pharmaceutical laboratories.
| Product | Phase / Chemistry | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Screen® DAU | Mixed-mode (C8 + BCX) | Broad drugs-of-abuse screening from urine and blood |
| Clean Screen® THC | Mixed-mode (hydrophobic + anion exchange) | THC, 11-OH-THC, and THC-COOH from urine and blood |
| Clean Screen® XCEL I | Mixed-mode (XCEL I) | Rapid broad-spectrum drug extraction: opioids, amphetamines, benzodiazepines |
| Clean Screen® XCEL II | Mixed-mode (XCEL II) | Enhanced selectivity for THC-COOH extraction from urine |
| Clean-Up® C18 | Reversed phase (C18) | General reversed-phase SPE; pharmaceutical and clinical analytes |
| Styre Screen® HLB | Polymeric (HLB) | Pharmaceutical analysis; broad analyte coverage with pH stability |
| Clean Screen® FASt | Filtration (proprietary) | Rapid urine filtration for LC/MS, no centrifuge, no transfer steps |
| Refine™ | Filtration (hydrophobic dual frit) | In-well enzyme hydrolysis + simultaneous filtration |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about UCT well plates and high-throughput SPE workflows.
What are removable well plates and when should I use them?
Removable well plates allow individual wells to be taken out of the plate, so labs can run exactly the number of samples needed without wasting sorbent. They are particularly useful during method development or when batch sizes vary between runs. Available in 1 mL and 2 mL options with multiple chemistries.
What is the difference between Clean Screen® FASt and Refine™?
Clean Screen® FASt is a filtration plate designed for simple filtration of urine samples before LC/MS. It eliminates centrifuge and transfer steps and removes particulates greater than 1 µm. Refine™ is a more advanced filtration plate with a hydrophobically treated dual frit that supports in-well enzyme hydrolysis, sample precipitation, and filtration simultaneously at high incubation temperatures.
Are UCT well plates compatible with automation?
Yes. All UCT well plates are compatible with most robotic and liquid handling systems. Automated liquid handlers can be programmed to handle UCT well plates, improving workflow efficiency and reproducibility across large sample batches.
What material are UCT well plates made from?
UCT well plates are constructed from solvent-resistant, low-extractable polypropylene, ensuring chemical compatibility with the organic solvents used in SPE workflows and minimizing background interference in sensitive LC/MS analyses.
Can I get custom well plate configurations?
Yes. UCT offers customized product configurations upon request, including custom sorbent chemistries, bed weights, well volumes, and plate configurations. Contact your local UCT sales representative to discuss custom options for your specific application.
Ready to Scale Up Your Sample Prep?
Browse UCT’s complete well plate product line or contact your local sales representative for product selection and method transfer support.
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