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Four Measurement Principles, Including Full Absorbance Spectrum

The new Omega series of microplate readers is the world's first family of multifunctional readers capable of capturing a full absorbance spectrum (220 to 850 nm) at a resolution of 1 nm. Read times faster than 1 second per well are possible.

FLUOstar Omega, the multi-detection microplate reader for life science laboratories, offers the following four detection modes:

• Fluorescence Intensity - including FRET
• Time-Resolved Fluorescence - including DELFIA™
• High-Performance Luminescence (flash and glow) - including BRET
• UV/Vis Absorbance - measurement of complete spectra or individual wavelengths

With full spectrum absorbance and three other detection modes the FLUOstar Omega provides users with unmatched flexibility and sensitivity to perform any assay needed.

Applications include:

• Ca²⁺ measurements (e.g. Ca2+ flux with Fura-2, Indo-1, FLUO-3/4)
• Enzyme activity
• FRET/BRET assays
• Cell toxicity, proliferation and viability
• Protein and nucleic acid quantitation (e.g. Bradford, Lowry, DNA, 260/280 nm)
• ATP quantification
• Immunoassays, ELISA
• Luciferase, dual luciferase, BRET with sequential dual emission detection
• ORAC and ABEL antioxidant assays
• Fluorescent proteins, including FRETs (e.g. CFP/YFP)

For a list of BMG LABTECH application notes that can be performed on the FLUOstar Omega, please click here.

Key Features

By integrating a high intensity xenon flash lamp with sophisticated light guide technology, the FLUOstar Omega covers a full range of wavelengths from 230 to 900 nm for both excitation and emission. The FLUOstar Omega can read all plate formats from 6 to 384 wells in all four detection modes

The software's automatic optic switching (AOS) feature allows for controlled changes between detection modes and for switching from top to bottom reading. The "QuickStart" mode allows users to read plates with just 3 mouse clicks. Impressive well-scanning software allows cell-based assays to be performed with ease.

Upgrades

The Omega family of readers has a modular design concept. This enables the FLUOstar Omega to be fully upgradeable to the powerful POLARstar Omega, which can perform simultaneous dual emission and fluorescence polarization.

Incubation

Stable and uniform incubation 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 60°C is available for users with elevated temperature needs.

On-board reagent injectors

The FLUOstar Omega can be equipped with one or two integrated syringe injectors (no bulky add-on boxes beside or on top of the microplate reader). The injectors 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).

Multi-color detection

The FLUOstar Omega can be used to measure up to eight fluorophores / lumiphores / chromophores per well. In absorbance mode, the reader simultaneously provides chromatic values at each nanometer from 220 to 850 nm. This allows the user to perform 260/280 nm DNA quantitation, SNPs, and other multichromatic assays easily. In dual excitation (e.g. FURA-2) and in dual emission (FRET and BRET assays) applications, fast filter switching enables rapid measurement at both wavelengths.

Stacker and robot compatibility

BMG LABTECH´s standardized reader footprint and robotic software interface make it easy to integrate the FLUOstar Omega into all existing robotic systems. The Stacker II with a 50 plate capacity and optional barcode reader, is the modular attachment that can be integrated with the FLUOstar Omega for medium throughput plate handling.

Software

BMG LABTECH’s Omega Windows™ based software has an easy to use control package and a complete new 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, absorbance spectra, kinetic curves, or even color coded pictorials.

The new proprietary evaluation software displays and analyzes endpoint, kinetic and spectral data through comprehensive data reduction algorithms and various curve fitting options. Up to 384 complete spectra or kinetic curves can be viewed individually or overlaid. For further data processing, results can be easily exported to Microsoft Excel™.

Windows Vista is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
DELFIA ® is a registered trademark of PerkinElmer, Inc.