Dot blot is originally performed on a piece of nitrocellulose membrane or PVDF membrane. After the protein samples are spotted onto the membrane, the membrane is placed in a plastic container and sequentially incubated in blocking buffer, antibody solutions, or rinsing buffer on shaker. Finally, for chemiluminescence imaging, the piece of membrane need to be wrapped in a transparent plastic film filled with enzyme substrate.
Vacuum-based dot blot apparatus (Bio-dot or Bio-slot from BioRad) has been used to facilitate the rinsing and incubating process by using vacuum to extract the solution from underneath the membrane, which is assembled in between several layers of plates to ensure good seal between sample wells, hold waste solution, and deliver suction force. For chemiluminescence signal detection, apparatus need to be dissembled and the membrane need to be taken out and wrapped in a transparent plastic film.
Vitrozm's 96 well Zoom Blot method uses an absorption plug to wick away the solution from the membranes, which are individually assembled in each well. The Zoom Plate is a self-standing device ready to use and disposable, without using any external vacuum or set up apparatus, making dot blot much easier and faster. The user never need to handle a piece of membranes as in older methods. Zoom Blot's 96 well plate format allows convenient signal detection and quantification using 96 well plate reader or imaging system.