New Microplate Reader Systems Primed to Boost Biotech Research

Many biotechnical research projects depend on microplate readers for various types of analytical determinations, and several outstanding new instruments are available to fill this requirement.

BioTek Instruments, Inc. (Winooski, VT, USA) is a recognized leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of microplate instrumentation and software. This spring [2010] they are introducing two new microplate reader technologies. The first, the Synergy H4 Hybrid microplate reader, is a patent-pending device that combines sensitive filter- and flexible monochromator-based optics in one high-performance unit, which offers full microplate-based fluorescence, absorbance, and luminescence capabilities.

The other new instrument, the Epoch Multi-Volume spectrophotometer system, consists of the Epoch microplate reader and the Take3 Multi-Volume plate. Epoch uses monochromator-based optics for absorbance measurements from 200 nm - 999 nm in 6- to 384-well microplates; and the Take3 allows for measurement of up to 16 low-volume (2 µL) samples, 1-cm cuvettes, or BioTek's proprietary BioCell 1-cm quartz vessel. Preprogrammed and user-generated programs are controlled via Gen5 data analysis software.

In addition to the new systems, BioTek recommends its ELx405 magnetic bead washer derived from BioTek's gold-standard ELx405 microplate washer. This instrument offers high-strength biomagnetic separation in 384-well and 96-well microplates. A specialized magnet allows uniform and rapid separation of micrometer- and nanometer-scale magnetic beads, and it may be removed to accommodate other microplate-based assay protocols.

Finally, the EL406 combination microplate washer dispenser offers fast and efficient microplate washing and dispensing of 1536-, 384-, and 96-well microplates. By combining microplate washing with peristaltic and microprocessor-controlled syringe drive-reagent dispensers, researchers can save time and valuable laboratory space.

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