
Overview
Hard-Shell PCR plates represent an innovative concept in PCR plate design. The skirt and deck are molded from a rigid thermostable polymer. This hard shell prevents the distortion and shrinkage that may occur when regular single-component polypropylene PCR plates are exposed to the high temperatures of thermal cycling or heat sealing. Bio-Rad offers a variety of Hard-Shell 96-well and 384-well PCR plates.
Hard-Shell 96-Well PCR Plates
![]() High-Profile 96-Well Semi-Skirted Plates |
![]() Low-Profile 96-Well Skirted Plates |
![]() Low-Profile 96-Well Semi-Skirted Plates |
![]() 96-Well 480 Plates |
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Catalog number | HSS-9xxx | HSP-9xxx | HSL-9xxx | HSR-99xx |
Well height | High-profile | Low-profile | Low-profile | Low-profile |
Skirt | Semi-skirted | Full-skirted | Semi-skirted | Semi-skirted |
ANSI/SBS standard dimensions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Thermal Cycler Compatibility | ||||
Bio-Rad® C1000™, C1000 Touch™, S1000™ | ◊ | • | ◊ | |
Bio-Rad® T100™ | • | |||
Bio-Rad® DNA Engine®, DNA Engine Tetrad® and Tetrad 2, DNA Engine Dyad®, Dyad Disciple™ | ◊ | • | ||
Bio-Rad® iCycler® | • | |||
Applied Biosystems 0.2 ml tube cyclers (2720, 9700, Veriti) |
• | |||
Applied Biosystems 0.1 ml tube cyclers (9800 fast, Veriti fast) |
• | |||
Eppendorf Mastercycler series | ◊ | • | ◊ | |
Real-Time PCR Detection System Compatibility | ||||
Bio-Rad® CFX Connect™, CFX96™, CFX96 Touch™ | • | ◊ | ||
Bio-Rad® CFX96 Touch Deep Well™ | ◊ | • | ||
Bio-Rad® iCycler iQ®, iQ™5, MyiQ™, MyiQ™2 | • | |||
Bio-Rad® Chromo4™ | ◊ | • | ||
Bio-Rad® DNA Engine Opticon® and Opticon 2 | • | |||
Applied Biosystems standard systems (7300, 7500, 7900HT) |
• | |||
Applied Biosystems fast systems (7500 fast, ViiA 7 fast) |
• | |||
Roche LightCycler 480 | • | |||
Eppendorf Mastercycler ep realplex | ◊ | • | ◊ | |
Stratagene Mx series | • | |||
Other Instrument Compatibility | ||||
Applied Biosystems DNA sequencers (3700, 3730, etc.) |
• | |||
Idaho Technology LightScanner | • |
• Recommended ◊ Compatible
Hard-Shell 384-Well PCR Plates
![]() 384-Well Standard Plates |
![]() 384-Well 480 Plates |
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Catalog number | HSP-3xxx | HSR-48xx |
Well height | Standard 384-well height | Standard 384-well height |
Skirt | Full-skirted | Full-skirted |
ANSI/SBS standard dimensions | Yes | Yes |
Thermal Cycler Compatibility | ||
Bio-Rad C1000, C1000 Touch, S1000 | • | ◊ |
Bio-Rad DNA Engine, DNA Engine Tetrad and Tetrad 2, DNA Engine Dyad, Dyad Disciple | • | ◊ |
Applied Biosystems 384-well cyclers | • | ◊ |
Eppendorf Mastercycler series | • | ◊ |
Real-Time PCR Detection System Compatibility | ||
Bio-Rad® CFX384™, CFX384 Touch™ | • | ◊ |
Applied Biosystems 384-well systems (7900HT, ViiA 7) |
• | ◊ |
Roche LightCycler 480 | • | |
Other Instrument Compatibility | ||
Idaho Technology LightScanner | • |
• Recommended ◊ Compatible

Hard-Shell PCR Plates are precisely manufactured for optimal fit and cycling performance, a crucial feature for all highly sensitive NGS library preparation protocols.
High quality
- Maximum sample recovery – thin-walled wells molded of virgin polypropylene facilitate low DNA binding
- Protect precious sample – Certified free of DNase, RNase and human DNA
User Friendly
- Easy well identification – black alphanumeric labeling facilitates sample loading
- Color code experiments – various color skirts available
- Broad cycler compatibility – plates specifically designed for optimal fit in thermal cyclers from all major brands
Automation compatible
- Superior stability – patented rigid design prevents warping during thermal cycling
- Adherence to ANSI/SBS standards – ensures precise positioning for automation
- convenient database tracking – barcoded plate options available
- ideal for heat sealing – firm skirt and raised rim compatible with automated heat sealers
Bio-Rad offers a large selection of thin-wall polypropylene PCR tubes and PCR microplates precisely manufactured for optimal fit and cycling performance in Bio-Rad thermal cyclers and real-time systems. Choose from a variety of sealing methods including caps and plate seals – adhesive seals, and heat sealing films and foils – to complement all thermal cycling workflows.
Thermal Cyclers | |||||
![]() MJ Mini™ Gradient Thermal Cycler |
![]() T100™ Thermal Cycler |
![]() DNA Engine® Thermal Cycler Family |
![]() C1000 Touch™/S1000™ Thermal Cyclers |
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PCR Tubes | |||||
0.5 ml individual tubes | • | • | 96–deep well reaction module only |
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0.2 ml individual tubes | • | • | • | • | |
High-profile tube strips | • | • | • | • | |
Low-profile tube strips | • | • | • | ||
48-Well and 96-Well Plates | |||||
Hard-Shell® low-profile 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates | • | ||||
Hard-Shell high-profile 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates | • | • | • | ||
Hard-Shell low-profile 96-well skirted PCR plates | • | • | |||
Multiplate™ high-profile unskirted PCR plates | • | • | • | • | |
Multiplate low-profile unskirted PCR plates | • | • | • | ||
iQ™ 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates | • | • | • | ||
384-Well Plates | |||||
Hard-Shell 384-well skirted PCR plates | • | • | |||
PCR Tube Caps | |||||
Domed cap strips | • | • | • | • | |
Optical flat cap strips | • | • | • | • | |
Adhesive Seals and Heat Sealing Films | |||||
Microseal® 'A' film | • | • | • | ||
Microseal 'B' adhesive seals | • | • | • | ||
Microseal 'C' optical seals | • | • | • | ||
Microseal 'F' foil | • | • | • | ||
PX1™ PCR plate sealer | • | • | • | ||
Optically clear heat seal | • | • | • | ||
Pierceable foil heat seal | • | • | • | ||
Peelable foil heat seal | • | • | • |
Real-Time PCR Detection Systems | |||||
![]() MiniOpticon™ System |
![]() iCycler iQ®, iQ™5, MyiQ™, and MyiQ™2 Systems |
![]() Chromo4™ System |
![]() DNA Engine Opticon® 2 System |
![]() CFX96 Touch™, CFX96 Touch Deep Well™, CFX384 Touch™, and CFX Connect™ Systems |
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Tubes | |||||
High-profile individual tubes | • | • | • | CFX96 Touch Deep Well only |
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Low-profile tube strips | • | • | • | • | |
48-Well and 96-Well Plates | |||||
Hard-Shell low-profile 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates |
• | ||||
Hard-Shell high-profile 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates | • | • | CFX96 Touch Deep Well only |
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Hard-Shell low-profile 96-well skirted PCR plates | • | • | • | ||
Multiplate high-profile unskirted PCR plates |
• | • | • | CFX96 Touch Deep Well only |
|
Multiplate low-profile unskirted PCR plates | • | • | • | • | |
iQ 96-well semi-skirted PCR plates | • | • | |||
384-Well Plates | |||||
Hard-Shell 384-well skirted PCR plates | • | • | |||
Lids and Adhesive Seals | |||||
Optical flat cap strips | • | • | • | • | • |
Microseal 'B' adhesive seals |
• | • | • | • | |
Microseal 'C' optical seals | • | • | • | • | |
Heat Sealer and Optically Clear Heat Seal | |||||
PX1 PCR plate sealer | • | • | • | • | |
Optically clear heat seal | • | • | • | • |
These foils and optically clear seals have a strong adhesive that minimizes sample evaporation and peels off easily for simple sample retrieval.

Optically Clear Adhesive Seals
Microseal 'B' PCR Plate Seals
Optical seal — same seal can also be used for qPCR, including qPCR-based library quantification assays
Widely adopted for research — Bio-Rad’s most popular seal

Foil Adhesive Seals
Microseal 'F' PCR Plate Seals
Ideal for sample storage — highly solvent resistant and suitable for storage down to –80°C
Pierceable aluminum — easily retrieve sample by piercing with pipette tip
Low-profile, skirted 384-well PCR plates, designed for high-throughput instruments, are available in polypropylene and Hard-Shell versions, including Hard-Shell Plates optimized for the Roche LightCycler 480 system.
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