96-Well solid-phase extraction: a brief history of its development.

This communication describes the invention and further development of the first 96-well solid-phase extraction system and the original purposes to which it was put. We also describe the adaption of this system for bioanalysis of pharmaceutically active small molecules and the needs underlying it. The system has become a world-wide standard for high-throughput bioanalysis and has been extended by others to include, for example, disk-phase extraction and supported liquid-liquid extraction, as well as 384-well systems. The factors that enabled this leap forward in productivity are discussed.