High density plate filler

A filling apparatus for filling a microplate, said microplate having a plurality of wells, each of said plurality of wells being sized to receive an assay therein, said filling apparatus comprising:

• a first layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said first layer further having an assay input port for receiving the assay extending from said first surface to said second surface;
• a second layer having a plurality of staging capillaries, each of said plurality of staging capillaries having an inlet and an outlet and being sized to receive the assay, said second layer further having a plurality of microfluidic channels fluidly coupling said plurality of staging capillaries with said assay input port, said plurality of microfluidic channels being sized to draw the assay from said assay input port to said plurality of staging capillaries;
• and
• a plurality of open sections formed in said first layer generally above said plurality of microfluidic channels to provide ambient atmosphere generally above said plurality of microfluidic channels to permit uniform dispensing of said plurality of staging capillaries during centrifugation.