Microscope attachment for range of microplate cytometers helps researchers to quickly clarify early stage assay development data by accurately identifying test wells
TTP LabTech have launched Locator - a new software and microscope attachment for its range of Acumen Explorer microplate cytometers.
With Locator, researchers can quickly clarify early stage assay development data for enhanced screening performance. In standard assay development, post-scan confirmation in selected wells can be compromised by the ability to locate the correct test well reliably.
Locator eliminates this difficulty as Matthew Cook of TTP LabTech's commercial development team explained. "In the high-density 1536 and 3456 well plates, individual wells are almost impossible to reference by eye which can obviously cause problems.
"Locator's software automatically links the well image from the Acumen Explorer with the same well on the microscope thereby eliminating this difficulty".
Following scanning of a microplate on the Acumen Explorer, wells are examined in detail on Locator's powered stage fitted to a fluorescent microscope.
The stage automatically positions the microplate so that the fluorescent object selected using the Explorer software appears in the central area of the microscope eyepiece.
As different objects are selected, the stage moves accordingly.
In this way Locator provides a visual image link between the Acumen Explorer software algorithms used for cell analysis and the cellular staining observed microscopically.
In addition, the view in the Acumen Explorer can be observed at the same magnification as on the microscope.
"The combination of Locator and Acumen Explorer provides the investigator with secondary image confirmation of cell-based assays in early stage assay development," said Dr Cook, who continued, "Locator is already enhancing our existing customers' scanning technology".
