A microplate that Looks out of a microplate Reader A microplate that Looks out of a microplate Reader

Microplate reader bacterial growth

Learn more about how microplate readers can be used for assays of bacterial growth. What is the best option for your research?

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Streamline your bacterial growth assays with a microplate reader

Microplate readers from BMG LABTECH for OD600 detection

  • Quantify microbial growth in microplates
  • Higher throughput and less handling than cuvette-based solutions
  • Compatible with microplate formats up to 1536-wells
  • Precise temperature control up to 45°C and multiple shaking options
  • Automatic kinetic detection over hours to days
  • Not only microbial growth: detect ELISAs, enzyme kinetics, and all chromophores with a single instrument without the need to purchase extra filters
  • Ultrafast UV/vis spectral acquisition: from 220 – 1000 nm in < 1 second/well
  • Modular and upgradeable to a multi-mode plate reader
  • Made-in-Germany dependability
Microplate reader Omega series

Application Notes

See how scientists and researchers are using BMG Labtech’s instruments to measure bacterial growth.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is OD600 and why is it used for bacterial growth assays?

    OD600 (optical density at 600 nm) is a standard, non-destructive way to estimate microbial cell density by measuring light scattering in the visible range. It is widely used because it is fast, reproducible, and correlates well with cell concentration for many bacteria when measurements are kept within the linear range.

  • How does a microplate reader improve OD600 bacterial growth measurements compared with cuvette spectrophotometers?

    A microplate reader enables simultaneous measurement of dozens to thousands of samples in multi-well formats, dramatically increasing throughput and reducing pipetting and handling time. Integrated temperature control and automatic kinetic reads allow continuous growth curves to be recorded over hours to days without manual intervention.

  • What microplate formats and wavelengths are suitable for OD600 growth assays?

    Standard polystyrene microplates are commonly used for OD600 bacterial growth assays, with absorbance measured around 600 nm using a UV/vis detector or dedicated OD600 filter. Our readers support ultrafast spectral acquisition from 220–1000 nm, allowing flexible wavelength selection and multi-assay use on the same instrument.

  • Can the same microplate reader be used for other assays besides bacterial growth?

    Yes. A single microplate reader can typically run OD600 growth assays alongside ELISAs, enzyme kinetics, and other chromogenic or fluorogenic assays without changing hardware. Modular, multi-mode readers allow upgrades to additional detection modes (e.g. fluorescence, luminescence) as assay needs evolve.

  • What features should I look for in a microplate reader for long-term bacterial growth experiments?

    Key features include precise temperature control (up to at least 37–45 °C) to maintain homogeneous cultures and reliable kinetic measurement over many hours or days. Low evaporation designs, compatible plate lids, and software that automates data export and growth-curve analysis further improve data quality and workflow efficiency.
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