Expert view: Critical consumables: meeting the need for a steady supply of microplates

High-throughput labs rely on a steady supply of quality microplates for most assays. Microplates enable dozens to hundreds of assays per plate, with automated workflows analysing hundreds to thousands of plates per day.

Microplates, like pipette tips and reservoirs, are an essential tool for any high-throughput lab. These labs rely on a predictable inventory as critically as they rely on device quality. Unlike industries that grow at slow, consistent rates with predictable annual cycles and long-term trends that can be accurately forecasted, the pharmaceutical industry must swiftly adjust and respond to unexpected changes in pace due to evolving regulations and an unpredictable global environment.

Project accelerations and shifting goals have become the norm in the pharmaceutical industry. Key suppliers must therefore be prepared for these regular changes. While the largest suppliers can maintain inventory for demand fluctuations, the ability to ramp up
production quickly is vital for keeping high-throughput labs running smoothly. During periods of rapid project acceleration, close relationships between key suppliers and pharmaceutical companies, including their contract research organisation (CRO) partners, are a requirement for meeting data deadlines; this can spell the difference between success and killing projects altogether.

Microplates differ from other critical commodities in that they represent some of the world’s most technically advanced injection-molded plastics. Few suppliers have the technical expertise to meet the needs of cutting-edge drug development applications, such as membranebased assays for sample preparation, biochemical and cell-based assays. Close partnerships enable these suppliers to develop a deep understanding of both critical workflows and design manufacturing processes to meet the demands of rapid project acceleration. The era of the simple supplier-and-customer paradigm is in the past. Today, timely medical breakthroughs require scientific and technical alliances between life science suppliers and the pharmaceutical industry.