Vacuum Assist for a Microplate

Abstract

A vacuum assist apparatus can comprise a microplate. The microplate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells can be formed in the first surface of the microplate. Each of the plurality of wells can be sized to receive an assay therein. A support base can comprise a fluid passage. The microplate can be positioned adjacent and in contact with the support base. A pressure device, in fluid communication with the fluid passage, can exert a vacuum within the fluid passage to actively retain the microplate in the contact with the support base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to aid in genomic analysis, the apparatus comprising:
 a substrate comprising one or more material retention regions, for retaining a material;   a marking indicia located on or within the substrate; and   a reader for reading the marking indicia.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking indicia is an RFID tag and the reader station is an RFID reader. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID reader automatically reads the RFID tag to provide a unique identification and/or data handling parameters of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking indicia is configured to identify the substrate with a unique identification. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the substrate identification correlates acquired data with a corresponding assay. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking indicia can assist in achieving a predetermined position of the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the marking indicia can be selected so as to reduce thermal and/or chemical interference.