Assay plates are specialized laboratory tools used to conduct various biological and chemical tests. Typically made of plastic or glass, these plates contain multiple wells, allowing researchers to perform experiments on multiple samples simultaneously. They are commonly used in fields like biochemistry, pharmacology, and molecular biology to assess the effects of substances on cells or to measure the activity of enzymes. These plates come in different formats, such as 96-well or 384-well configurations, depending on the number of samples needed. Assay plates facilitate high-throughput screening, enabling scientists to quickly gather data and make informed decisions in drug discovery and other research areas.