Fluorometer / Fluorescence Detection Instruments

Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. This phenomenon has been taken advantage of by scientists, incorporated as a useful tool in many practical applications. These tools include fluorescence lamps- a tube lined with a coating of a fluorescent material, called the phosphor, which absorbs ultraviolet light and re-emits visible light, fluorimeters, devices used to measure parameters of fluorescence, spectrofluorometers - instruments which takes advantage of fluorescent properties of some compounds in order to provide information regarding their concentration and chemical environment in a sample, fluorescence microscopes-microscopes that use fluorescence to generate an image and polarimeters- instruments used to measure the angle of rotation caused by passing polarized light through an optically active substance. Florescence labeling dyes are used in applications such as ELISA assays, PCR, and DNA sequencing. Detection instruments are a necessary to visualize and analyze the protein-protein interactions, the length of the DNA fragment and the microscopy of tissue and cells. The appropriate instrument will depend on the type of application, space available in the lab, budget, throughput and the number of trained users.