Flash and glow luminescence detection in an upgradeable platform

 

The SpectraMax® L Microplate Reader measures flash and glow luminescence assays in both 96- and 384-well plates. It is upgradeable to include a barcode reader, programmable injectors, and dual-channel configurations for a 2-fold increase for medium throughput. The high sensitivity, low-noise photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), and variable-volume injector configuration make this reader ideal for fast kinetic assays requiring continuous monitoring during injection and measurement.

  • Detect all samples

    Detect all samples

    The analog and photon counting capability provides a dynamic range of nine orders of magnitude, eliminating the need to dilute bright samples while maintaining high sensitivity for dim samples.

  • Get 2-fold improvement in speed

    Get 2-fold improvement in speed

    The 2-channel configuration is available with 0, 2, or 4 injectors. The 4-injector configuration enables a 2-fold improvement in speed for traditional flash and glow assays.

  • Automate injector workflows

    Automate injector workflows

    The autowashing injectors can be programmed to rinse the injectors following each use, reversing the direction of flow so reagents can be recovered.

SpectraMax-L-Lumi

SpectraMax-L-Lumi

Features

  • Reduced Noise Icon

    Reduced noise

    Ultra-fast photon counting technology amplifies the PMT signal with a fast pulse amplifier. This reduced noise capability enables a higher signal-to-noise ratio and low crosstalk.

  • Measure Icon

    PMT calibration

    The automatic PMT calibration method is based on readings of 4 internal LEDs at 395, 470, 527, and 570 nm. The manual PMT calibration method is based on readings of 4 wells from the assay itself.

Latest Resources

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Applications of SpectraMax L Microplate Reader

  • ATP-based cell viability assays

    ATP-based Cell Viability Assays

    Luminescent ATP assays for cell viability and cytotoxicity provide a sensitive and rapid way to measure the number of viable cells in culture and quantify the cytotoxic effects of experimental treatments. These assays can be done in a high-throughput format using SpectraMax® microplate readers.

    Learn about the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay and more:

    Cell Health

    cell-viability-proliferation

    Cell viability refers to the number of healthy cells in a population and can be evaluated using assays that measure enzyme activity, cell membrane integrity, ATP production, and other indicators. These methods can employ luminescent, fluorescent, or colorimetric readouts as indicators of general cell viability or even specific cellular pathways. Cytotoxicity and cell viability assays are often used to assess a drug or other treatment’s effect, and are valuable tools in the search for new therapeutics, as well as advancing our understanding of how normal cells function.

    Learn more 

  • Cellular Signaling

    cellular signaling

    Cellular signaling allows cells to respond to their environment as well as to communicate with other cells. Proteins located on the cell surface can receive signals from the surroundings and transmit information into the cell via a series of protein interactions and biochemical reactions that comprise a signaling pathway. Multicellular organisms rely upon an extensive array of signaling pathways to coordinate the proper growth, regulation, and functioning of cells and tissues. If signaling between or within cells is dysregulated, inappropriate cellular responses may lead to cancer and other diseases.

    Learn more 

    Chemiluminescent ELISA

    Chemiluminescent ELISA

    Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of secreted polypeptides that have been implicated in mammalian vascular development and in disease processes involving abnormal blood vessel growth.

    Learn more about chemiluminescent ELISA method using our luminometer and data acquisition and analysis software:

  • Cytotoxicity

    Cytotoxicity

    Cytotoxicity is often measured in response to an experimental treatment or potential drug. Having a way to easily screen cytotoxicity in treated cells is critical to identifying new therapeutic treatments or understanding cellular signaling pathways that affect cell health. Common indicators of cytotoxicity include the ATP level in a cell population and integrity of cellular membranes, both of which can be measured using a variety of microplate-based assays.

    Read Application Note 

    Cytotoxicity Assays

    Cytotoxicity Assays

    Cytotoxicity is often measured in response to an experimental treatment or potential drug. Having a way to easily screen cytotoxicity in treated cells is critical to identifying new therapeutic treatments or understanding cellular signaling pathways that affect cell health. Common indicators of cytotoxicity include the ATP level in a cell population and integrity of cellular membranes, both of which can be measured using a variety of microplate-based assays.

    Learn more about cytotoxicity in cells:

  • ELISA

    Elisa

    Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are used to measure the amount of a specific protein, using a microplate format, and results are most often detected via absorbance in the visible wavelength range. Chemiluminescent and fluorescent ELISA formats offer enhanced sensitivity for accurate quantitation of less abundant analytes.

    Learn more 

    Luminescence

    Luminescence

    Learn about luminescence detection – what it is, how it works, and the advantages of luminescence over other detection modes. We’ll cover key luminescence-based assays including dual-luciferase reporter gene, chemiluminescent ELISA, cytotoxicity, and BRET.

    Learn more  

  • Microbiology and Contaminant

    microbiology-contaminant-monitor

    Microbes, including bacteria, have been estimated to make up about 15 percent of the earth’s biomass, and microbes in the human body outnumber human cells by 10 to 1. These microorganisms provide great benefit to us and are also vital to many fields of research from medicine to alternative energy production. On the other hand, monitoring for microbes and the toxic substances they produce is necessary to ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products. Scientists whose research relies on mammalian cells must carefully monitor these cultures for unwanted microbial contaminants to ensure that their experimental results are reliable.

    Learn more 

    Mycoplasma Monitoring

    Mycoplasma Monitoring

    Mycoplasma, the smallest and simplest of the prokaryotes, are common contaminants of cell cultures. Symptoms of mycoplasma contamination include a reduction in the rate of proliferation and changes in cellular responses, including gene expression

    Learn how the MycoAlert Assay and MycoAlert PLUS Assay from Lonza provide a rapid and convenient way to detect viable mycoplasma in cell cultures using a luminescence microplate reader

  • NanoBRET/BRET

    NanoBRET/BRET

    BRET (bioluminescence resonance energy transfer) is a technique for measuring protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions that involves the interaction of a bioluminescent donor and a fluorescent acceptor.

    Detection of NanoBRET signals, and analysis of the resulting data, requires sensitive instrumentation and advanced software. Register to learn more:

    Protein Detection, Quantitation and Analysis

    Protein Detection

    Protein detection, quantitation, and analysis are central to the investigation of a wide variety of biological processes. Measuring the concentration of protein is necessary to processes ranging from protein purification and labeling to sample preparation for electrophoresis. Protein can be quantitated directly via absorbance at 280 nm, or indirectly using colorimetric (BCA, Bradford, etc.) or fluorometric methods offering advantages such as greater sensitivity. To identify and measure a specific protein within a complex sample, for example, serum or cell lysate, an ELISA may be used.

    Learn more 

  • Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

    Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

    Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. In eukaryotes, these molecules are mainly created during aerobic respiration and can cause problems, such as DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, resulting in cellular damage.  

    We demonstrate how SpectraMax microplate readers can be used to accurately quantify ROS levels using a luminescence-based assay:

    Reporter Gene Assay

    SpectraMax DuoLuc Reporter Assay High Resolution

    Reporter gene assays enable researchers to determine whether a gene is expressed and at what level. They are used to study signaling pathways, gene regulation, structure of regulatory elements, and much more. A reporter gene vector consists of a promoter or gene of interest, along with a reporter gene such as firefly luciferase, which codes for a protein whose activity can be easily measured. The vector is transfected into mammalian cells, and when the gene of interest is active in the cells, the reporter gene is also expressed and can be measured using appropriate detection reagents.

    Read Application Note 

  • Single/Dual -Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays

    Single and Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays

    Reporter gene assays are important tools for studying gene expression associated with the activation of cellular pathways. Cells are transfected with a plasmid containing the reporter gene and a sequence of interest, typically a promoter or other transcriptional control element. When the promoter is activated, the reporter gene is expressed and its levels can be measured.

    Learn more about dual luciferase reporter gene assay:

Specifications & Options of SpectraMax L Microplate Reader

Resources of SpectraMax L Microplate Reader

Presentations
Videos & Webinars
Discovery and Functional Fine-Mapping of Expression Quantitative Trait Loci in Primary Liver Tissue

Discovery and Functional Fine-Mapping of Expression Quantitative Trait Loci in Primary Liver Tissue

  • Citation
    Dated: Dec 15, 2020
    Publication Name: Molecular Devices

    Cytotoxicity in Cells: Easy Determination Using Lonza ViaLight Plus and ToxiLight BioAssays on the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

    Bioluminescent cytotoxicity assays offer the user increased detection limits, speed, and accuracy, and have been well documented (Crouch et al., 1993). Healthy cells maintain a high constant ATP concentration in culture. During proliferation, the total ATP in the culture increases in line with cell number. Conversely, dying cells are unable to… View more

    Bioluminescent cytotoxicity assays offer the user increased detection limits, speed, and accuracy, and have been well documented (Crouch et al., 1993). Healthy cells maintain a high constant ATP concentration in culture. During proliferation, the total ATP in the culture increases in line with cell number. Conversely, dying cells are unable to maintain their high ATP level, as synthesis becomes compromised, and so levels are seen to reduce. The level of ATP present within a culture is indicative of the number of viable cells present, and ATP assays have been shown to be one of the most predictive general cytotoxicity methods

    Contributors: Claire Scholfield Ph.D, Tracy Simmons Ph.D, Susan Gill M.Sc., Lonza Walkerville, Inc.; and Cathy Olsen Ph.D, Molecular Device  
    Go to article

  • Citation
    Dated: Dec 15, 2020
    Publication Name: Molecular Devices

    Chemiluminescent VEGF ELISA Using the SpectraMax L Microplate Luminometer

    Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of secreted polypeptides that have been implicated in mammalian vascular development and in disease processes involving abnormal blood vessel growth. VEGFs are expressed during embryogenesis, where deletion of even a single VEGF allele severely disrupts vasculogenesis and is embryonic lethal… View more

    Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of secreted polypeptides that have been implicated in mammalian vascular development and in disease processes involving abnormal blood vessel growth. VEGFs are expressed during embryogenesis, where deletion of even a single VEGF allele severely disrupts vasculogenesis and is embryonic lethal. VEGF165 is the most abundant and biologically active isoform of VEGF found in mammals.1 The QuantiGlo Chemiluminescent VEGF Immunoassay is a solid phase ELISA that measures VEGF165 levels in cell culture supernatants, serum, plasma, saliva, and urine. It uses the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique in which a monoclonal antibody specific for VEGF is coated onto a microplate and standards and samples are added to the wells.2 Unbound material is washed away, and a horseradish peroxidase-linked polyclonal antibody-specific for VEGF is added to the wells.

    Contributors: Cathy Olsen, Ph.D., Molecular Devices,  
    Go to article

  • Citation
    Dated: Apr 03, 2011
    Publication Name: Nuclear Medicine and Biology

    Luminescence imaging using radionuclides: a potential application in molecular imaging

    Nuclear and optical imaging are complementary in many aspects and there would be many advantages when optical imaging probes are prepared using radionuclides rather than classic fluorophores, and when nuclear and optical dual images are obtained using single imaging probe. View more

    Nuclear and optical imaging are complementary in many aspects and there would be many advantages when optical imaging probes are prepared using radionuclides rather than classic fluorophores, and when nuclear and optical dual images are obtained using single imaging probe.

    Contributors: Jeong Chan Park, Gwang Il An, Se-Il Park, Jungmin Oh, Hong Joo Kim, Yeong Su Ha, Eun Kyung Wang, Kyeong Min Kim Jung Young Kim, Jaetae Lee Michael J.Welch f, Jeongsoo Yoo  
    Go to article

SpectraMax® L Microplate Reader

Product Product Number
SpectraMax L Microplate Reader SpectraMax L
Config
BRET1 Filter Set (480nm/535nm) 0310-5706
BRET2 Filter Set (410nm/515nm) 0310-5707
Barcode reader 0310-5743
SpectraTest LM1 Luminescence Validation Plate 0200-6186
StakMax Handling Stacker Base Unit STAKMAX
Microplate Reader Shelf 9000-0756