Luminescence detection technology
Luminescence-based assays often provide greater sensitivity than absorbance or fluorescence. Luminescence single-mode microplate readers (also called microplate luminometers) are used to detect luciferase-based reporter gene assays, chemiluminescent ELISAs, BRET, and many other assays. ‘Glow’ luminescence assays with long-lived signal can be detected by any luminescence reader, while ‘flash’ assays with short-lived signal require a microplate reader equipped with injectors.
How does luminescence detection work?
Unlike fluorescence, where a molecule emits light upon excitation by an external light source, luminescence is generated by a chemical or biological reaction, for example an enzyme and its substrate. The resulting light can be detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT), in which photons are converted to electrons, with the resulting current proportional to the amount of light. Measurement of the signal is expressed as relative light units (RLU).
How does a luminometer plate reader work?
When a luminescence reaction is set up in a microplate, a luminescence plate reader, also called a luminometer or luminometer plate reader, is used to measure the amount of light produced. The microplate is placed in a light-tight read chamber, and light from each well is detected in turn by a PMT. The luminometer readings are expressed as RLU.
In most luminescence applications the total light produced by the sample is measured, without the selection of particular wavelengths. But for other applications like BRET, a luminescence plate reader can be equipped with filters or monochromators that allow the selection of specific wavelengths in order to measure binding or other biomolecular events.
Luminescence measurement applications and research
Find an extensive collection of application notes, research, and technology related to luminescence microplate reader assays and applications.
- Acridinium Ester Flash Assays
- Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET)
- Cell Titer-Glo (Cell Viability)
- Cytotoxicity Assays
- Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs)
- Flash Injector and Glow Assays
- G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)
- MycoAlert
- Myoplasma Monitoring
- NanoBRET/BRET
- Reporter Gene Assay
- ROS-Glo H2O2 Assay
SpectraMax L Microplate Reader
Sensitive luminometer with programmable injector options for 96- and 384-well microplates
- Detect dim samples with unsurpassed sensitivity
- Avoid saturation issues with nine orders of dynamic range
- Enable robust performance with autorinse injectors
- Validation and compliance tools
Featured luminescence application notes
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