Electrophoresis plate

An electrophoresis plate includes a substrate and an electrophoresis medium layer on the substrate. The electrophoresis plate may be used for medical testing by placing fluid specimens in wells on the electrophoresis medium layer so that the specimens can be separated into different fractions by applying an electric field across the electrophoresis medium layer. The electrophoresis medium layer includes liquid in a microporous gel such as agarose. The electrophoresis plate is packaged with a protective plastic film across the electrophoresis medium layer, but removal of the protective film prior to use of the electrophoresis plate leaves liquid that has been expressed from the electrophoresis medium layer on the surface of the electrophoresis medium layer. A surfactant such as methyl cellulose is included in the electrophoresis medium layer so that the expressed liquid will wet the electrophoresis medium layer in a uniform film instead of forming irregular pools or patches which would have to be removed before the electrophoresis plate is used.