The Flexible Luminometer for Measuring Flash and Glow Luminescence

The LUMIstar OPTIMA is a fully automated microplate luminescence reader that is designed for the widest possible range of applications based on luminescence labels:

• Reporter gene assays luciferase, ß-galactosidase, gene activities with luminescence substrates (e.g. luminol, acridinium esters, dioxetanes, etc.)
• Luminescent Immunoassays
• Cell-based assays (e.g. cytotoxity and proliferation, intracellular Ca²⁺ with aequorin)
• ATP assays
• GUS assays (β-glucuronidase)
• ROS (reactive oxygen species)
• Enzyme activity assays
• Nucleic acid detection (PCR Quantification)

For BMG LABTECH application notes that can be performed on the LUMIstar OPTIMA, please click here.

BMG LABTECH's Digital Photon Integration (DPI) technology and the programmable Gain control give the LUMIstar OPTIMA the best sensitivity, with extended linear dynamic range. By incorporating on-board reagent injectors, flash kinetic reactions can be measured in as little as 20 ms. The faster transport system allows 96-well plates to be read in as little as 20 seconds.

The most flexible hardware and software features for all your applications!

Upgrades

The LUMIstar OPTIMA is entirely upgradeable to the powerful FLUOstar or POLARstar OPTIMA with simultaneous dual emission and fluorescence polarization detection mode. Please see the FLUOstar or POLARstar OPTIMA web page for more information.

Built-in filter wheel

Be in line with new luminescence assays with the need for measuring at distinct wavelengths.

Incubation

Temperature-regulated heating plates above and below the entire plate movement area provide uniform incubation up to 45°C (optional 60°C).

On-board reagent injectors

The LUMIstar OPTIMA can be equipped with two syringe pumps, each simulaneously accesses the measurement position providing unlimited possibilities for fast kinetic assays. The liquid system is totally enclosed, eliminating the fiber-optic effect of liquid tubing. You can adjust injection speed and timing that is appropriate for the assay within the control software. A unique assay development feature in the software allows the researchers to determine optional reagent volumes using individual injection volumes for each well.

Endpoint, slow and fast kinetic measurements

For flash reactions, you can select well-mode for fast injections and as short as 20 ms for interval time. Choose plate-mode for glow reactions that have longer kinetic times or endpoint test runs. Either way, an assay can be defined with up to 250 kinetic points at specified time intervals down to the millisecond range.

Top and bottom reading

Through a simple optical change, it is possible to switch from top to bottom optics. Cell-based assays are closer to the bottom optics, therefore allowing more sensitive measurements. It is also possible to inject into a 384-well plate and it is quickly determined if top or bottom reading returns the best measurement data.

Automatic gain adjustment

The automatic gain calculation provides the optimum dynamic range for each assay.

Robot compatibility

Incorporated into a wide array of robotic systems via DDE interface and the fast loading system. For rapid mid-throughput plate handling, BMG LABTECH offers a Stacker with optional barcode reader that can be integrated with the LUMIstar OPTIMA.

Software

BMG LABTECH´s OPTIMA Windows™ based software has an easy to use control package and powerful data evaluation segment. It is compatible with the new Windows Vista™ operating system and is fully compliant with FDA regulation 21 CFR Part 11.

The control software allows flexible definition of microplate layouts, filter selection, interval and injection times, as well as measurement frequency, heating, and shaking parameters. During measurement, it is possible to observe the data with the Real Time well display feature, which allows viewing of raw values, ratios, curves, or even color coded pictorials.

The evaluation software provides all the macros needed for fast data calculation. Five pre-programmed worksheets allow averaging of replicates, blank subtraction, undilutions, signal plots, slopes, max values, quantitation, averages, %CVs, standard curves, and calculation of unknowns and much more.

Windows Vista is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.