Description
The SPECTROstar Omega can measure distinctive user-defined (fixed) wavelengths or it can capture a full UV/Vis absorbance spectrum (220 to 1000 nm) at a resolution of 1 nm. Read times faster than 1 second per well are possible. Combined with precise temperature control, on-board injectors, shaking, high reproducibility and a wide dynamic range, the SPECTROstar Omega provides users with unmatched flexibility and sensitivity to perform any absorbance based assay needed.
Stable and uniform incubation up to 45°C is achieved by temperature-regulated heating plates above and below the entire microplate movement area. The top incubation plate is at a slightly higher temperature than the bottom plate to help reduce condensation when lids or sealers are used. Incubation up to 65°C is available for applications with elevated temperature needs. When the extended incubation functions are combined with the Atmospheric Control Unit (ACU) and unrivalled shaking capabilites, the SPECTROstar Omega provides a true "walk away" solution for long term cell based assays. The microprocessor controlled ACU independently regulates O2 (1-19%) and CO2 (0-20%) within the microplate reader, making it possible to reproduce certain physiological conditions needed for cell based assays and much more.
The SPECTROstar Omega can be equipped with one or two integrated reagent injectors that can deliver agonists, substrates, enzymes - even cells, for advanced microplate assays. Injection speed and timing is fully adjustable within the control software. Up to four different volumes, between 5 to 350 µL in 0.5 µL increments, can be delivered to each well; thereby allowing the user to produce dilution schemes, concentration ranges, etc.
Endpoint, slow and fast kinetic measurements: Kinetic data can be collected as fast as 50 reading points per second or as slow as one reading point every 2½ hours. You can capture a fast calcium signal that happens in a few seconds or measure bacterial growth over a period of days. Furthermore, data can be collected at different rates within the same experiment; this allows the user to collect more data points at regions of interest (e.g. growth phase) and less data points in areas of little change (e.g. lag phase).
Applications include:
• 260/280 DNA quantitation
• Protein quantitation (Bradford, Lowry)
• Reporter gene assays (beta-Gal)
• Cell proliferation and apoptosis
• ELISA, enzyme immunoassays (alkaline phosphatase, horseradish peroxidase)
• Enzyme activity assays
• Microbial growth
BMG LABTECH's standardized reader footprint and robotic software interface make it easy to integrate the SPECTROstar Omega into all existing major robotic systems. The Stacker with 50 plates capacity and optional barcode reader, is the modular attachment that can be integrated with the SPECTROstar Omega for medium throughput plate handling. The SPECTROstar Omega comes standard with BMG LABTECH's established Omega Reader Control Software and comprehensive Data Analysis Software, MARS. The highly intuitive software provides limitless possibilities for test set up where it is needed, but also offers a ""Quick-Start"" mode for running routine analysis with just 3 mouse clicks. In MARS, a Wizard guides the user through the entire data analysing process. Additionally, a template manager can be used for building complex data processing protocols. Improved robotic integration capabilities via DDE and ActiveX interfaces, digital signature and FDA 21 CFR part 11 compliance complete this software package.