Beckman Coulter has introduced four detection cartridges for the Paradigm detection platform, adding capabilities for widely used fluorescence and luminescence applications.
The Alphascreen, Geneblazer and Multitox-Fluor cartridges provide assay-specific settings and protocols to reduce setup time and speed research.
These products, and a new filter-based Fluorescence Intensity cartridge, join a line of 14 other cartridges that can be exchanged in the Paradigm detection platform in less than five minutes and enable a range of cell and molecular biology assays.
The Alphascreen cartridge utilises a 680nm laser diode to provide sensitive detection of protein-protein interaction, receptor-ligand binding, cAMP quantitation and kinase assays.
Designed and optimised specifically for Alphascreen and Alphalisa products, this detection cartridge employs a design that reduces crosstalk while improving performance.
The Geneblazer detection cartridge, designed for use with Invitrogen Corporation's Geneblazer assay technology, provides Fret analysis for GPCR, ion channel, nuclear and cytokine receptor, signal transduction and kinase assays.
The Multitox-Fluor cartridge, designed for use with Multitox-Fluor assays (Promega), provides a dual-label fluorescence-intensity screen for multiplexed viability/cytotoxicity assays.
This dual-label detection cartridge enables efficient multiplexing of assays, using two high-powered LEDs to provide sensitive and simultaneous reads of two distinct labels.
The dual-excitation, dual-emission functionality results in faster reading times.
The Fluorescence Intensity detection cartridges feature a standard dual-emission design that is optimised for Fret measurements of the cellular fluorescence proteins CFP-YFP.
The fluorescence intensity cartridge utilises an energy intensity optimisation technique that allows the user to read up to seven logs of sample concentration in a single pass without any manual intervention.
The optical design of the Paradigm platform allows for direct excitation of adherent cell assays improving signal-to-noise ratios for sensitive cell assays.
The array of detection cartridges offered for the Paradigm is growing, and custom cartridges can be developed for researchers and vendors with specific assay requirements.
The Paradigm detection platform incorporates two photomultiplier tubes to provide simultaneous detection of two labels.
Single- or dual-excitation and emission modes address existing needs and future expansion.
Z-height focusing, in which the lens is adjusted to address low volumes or varied well geometry, is enabled for both top and bottom-read configurations for all appropriate read modes.
