An apparatus for sealing a microplate (10) comprises a seal material (28) and a seal advancer (46). The seal advancer is capable of capturing the seal material and pulling the seal material into the apparatus. The seal advancer may further include a moveable seal transfer plate (132) having at least one vacuum pad. The seal transfer plate (132) is capable of holding the seal material against a top surface of the seal transfer plate. When the seal transfer plate (132) moves, the seal material sticks to the top surface moving along with the moving seal transfer plate (132). The apparatus further includes a touch screen monitor capable of displaying temperature and time parameters. The apparatus also includes a heat plate (136) for sealing the seal material (28) onto a top surface of the microplate (10) and a plate carrier (140) for moving the microplate into the apparatus.
