✅ Acclimatise plates before use

This article is part of our Application Protocol Help Centre series🔗 designed to help you get the best performance from your Delvotest® system. By following a unified application protocol across multiple laboratories, you can significantly reduce variability, enhance reliability, and achieve more consistent results. In this article, we focus on acclimatising your Delvotest® plates before use—one of the core principles for operational success🔗—ensuring that temperature conditions are optimised for accurate, reliable outcomes.

Allow adequate time for acclimatisation
Only remove the necessary number of Delvotest® plates and/or plate-strips from the refrigerator (4~8°C), allowing them to reach room temperature before starting your application. Cold plates can lead to inconsistent antibiotic diffusion and compromised reactions. Bringing them to room temperature ensures that the test components function as intended, resulting in more dependable results.

Return unused plates promptly
Any Delvotest® plates and/or plate-strips not used should be promptly returned to the refrigerator to preserve their integrity. This minimises the risk of component degradation from higher temperatures, maintaining accuracy and reliability for future tests.

Minimise time outside refrigeration
Avoid storing Delvotest® plates and/or plate-strips at temperatures above 8°C for longer than 3 hours. Prolonged exposure can delay incubation times and reduce test consistency. Adhering to this guideline ensures reliable, repeatable results.

Maintain integrity when using plate-strips
If using only a portion of a plate (i.e., plate-strips), ensure the aluminium foil covering the unused blocks remains intact. Cut precisely between blocks without impairing the seal, and secure the coverage with adhesive tape or another suitable method. This prevents exposure to air, moisture, or contaminants, preserving the plate’s sensitivity and accuracy for future use.

Next Steps

In the next article, we’ll explore another fundamental principle—handling plates with care—to maintain the integrity of your Delvotest® tests.

⏭️ Next article: Handle plates with care🔗