A 12-channel pipet dispensing red liquid into a 96-well PCR plate

When performing high-throughput cloning, having the right competent cells in the right format helps optimize your workflow. Invitrogen MultiShot formats of chemically competent cells are designed for compatibility with multichannel pipettes and automated liquid handling robots to streamline the bacterial transformation process.

MultiShot chemically competent cells are available in three packaging formats: StripWell, FlexPlate, and standard 96-well PCR plates. These formats offer flexibility in the number of transformations that can be performed at once while maintaining the same cloning workflow.

Invitrogen MultiShot high-throughput chemically competent E. coli

Watch the video to see how the StripWell and FlexPlate formats are used in the lab for different workflows.

Compare competent cell formats for high-throughput cloning

Choose a format based on your need for flexibility and throughput.

 
StripWell format

FlexPlate format

96-well plates
Format description12 capped 8-tube strips in lidded storage rackFoil-sealed 96-well break-away PCR plate that can be separated into 12 8-well segments5 foil-sealed 96-well plates
Best forFlexible number of transformation reactions from 1 to 96High throughput cloning with ability to use part of the plate (multiples of 8) in a PCR plate formatFull-plate high throughput and automated cloning workflows
Volume of competent cells per tube/well50 μL/tube20 μL/well15 μL/well

Heat-sealed plates for competent cell storage

Be confident in your competent cell supply. FlexPlate-formatted competent cells are heat-sealed using a foil seal that does not delaminate even at very low temperatures and is easy to remove. Competent cells can also be accessed by piercing the foil using a needle or pipette tip.

E. coli strains available as MultiShot competent cells

All Invitrogen MultiShot competent cells are conveniently supplied as a kit including SOC medium and control plasmid.

E. coli strainStripWell formatFlexPlate format96-well plate format
TOP10C409601C4081201C40005
DH5α T1RC449601C4481201
DH10B T1RC6481201
Mach1 T1RC869601C8681201
OmniMAX 2 T1RC8581201
Stbl3C739601C7381201
BL21 Star (DE3)C609601
See all products in this formatStripWell competent cellsFlexPlate competent cells

Competent cells: Featured products

In addition to competent cells, we offer a broad suite of products for the cloning workflow.

Resources

Have any questions on competent cells or transformation? Click on the resources listed below to access overviews, videos, genotype guides, and educational resources.

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Stay up-to-date on industry trends in molecular cloning with on-demand webinars.

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Short articles and digital handbook for cloning applications

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Get support for your cloning experiments

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Which Competent Cell Strain is Right for You?

  96-well plate format for HTP cloning Versatile stripwell tubes for medium to HTP applications Highest efficiency in versatile stripwell format
Top Seller   yes
Format96-well plates for automated applications12 strips of 8 tubes in a 96-well plate format12 strips of 8 tubes in a 96-well plate format
FlexibilityUse as needed8 reaction combinations
Volume / well15 µL50 µL50 µL
Kit size5 plates1 plate1 plate
Transformation efficiency>1x108 cfu/µg>1x108 cfu/µg>1x109 cfu/µg
(highest)
T1 and T5 Phage resistant (ton A)yes
Time to pick coloniesOvernightOvernightSame day
Time to purify plasmid DNA after inoculationOvernightOvernightAs soon as 4 hrs
mcrA for efficient transformation of methylated DNA from genomic preparationsyesyes
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