Automatic electrophoresis apparatus and method

An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The machine includes apparatus for automatic pipetting of liquid samples from the sample plate to the surface of the support strip, apparatus for applying electrophoresis current to the strip while simultaneously cooling it, apparatus for applying and spreading flourescent staining reagent to the strip, and apparatus for incubating the strip and subsequently drying it. A T.V. camera, mounted to a flourescent scanning box enclosing the application plate, in cooperation with digital processing equipment, electronically scans electrophoresically longitudinally displaced components of the samples for determining relative component densities. An alternative scanning apparatus including a collimator and photomultiplier is also disclosed.