Automated pipetting ensures consistent performance over multiple assay conditions on a microplate

 

The FlexStation® 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader measures absorbance, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, luminescence, and time-resolved fluorescence. Programmable liquid handling allows for perfectly timed, automated biochemical and cell-based assays. The reader adds up to three transfers of assay reagents from a 96- or 384-well source plate to enhance assay design using integrated fluidics.

  • Enable more assay conditions

    Enable more assay conditions

    Define individual reagents to be delivered to each well reducing reagent consumption and allowing for more assay conditions to be explored on a single microplate.

  • Automation

    Automate pipetting

    Improve assay quality and increase throughput with automated pipetting ensuring consistent addition time and minimizing errors, thus providing tighter assay CVs within and between experiments.

  • Validate your reader

    Validate your reader

    Get fluid transfer validation with our PathCheck Feature to quantify pipettor head performance. Use it with SoftMax® Pro Software and IQ/OQ/PQ validation protocols for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Features

  • Automation Icon

    Onboard pipettor

    Integrated 8-channel or 16-channel pipettor increases assay flexibility by transferring reagents from 96 or 384 distinct wells in a source plate to the read plate. 

  • Streamline Icon

    Optimal assay excitation

    Dual monochromators allow users to target the optimal assay excitation and emission wavelengths and eliminate the need to change expensive band pass filters between experiments.

  • Throughput Icon

    Low volume applications

    SpectraDrop™ Micro-Volume Microplate offers a high-throughput solution for low volume measurement, accelerating sample preparation time and increased productivity in DNA, RNA and protein research.

  • Connectivity Icon

    Robot integration

    The FlexStation 3 reader can be integrated with all leading partner robots and with our out-of-the-box automation solution for savings on up-front integration time and resources.

Assure data integrity and compliance with confidence

Our comprehensive suite of proven compliance solutions for GMP/GLP labs can advance your efforts to quickly and confidently establish a compliant laboratory.

  • Best-in-class microplate readers and washers support all your assay needs
  • IQ/OQ/PM services preserve instrument documentation in a digital and compliant format
  • Software installation services verify and document that required components are installed to operational specifications
  • Software validation service supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 guidelines
  • Validation plates test the performance of your microplate reader using traceable materials for reliable results
GxP compliance solutions for GMP-GLP labs

 

Latest Resources

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Applications of FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

  • Absorbance

    Absorbance

    Learn all about absorbance detection – how it works, how it’s measured, and how it can be used to calculate concentration. We also provide information on common absorbance applications and assays including ELISAs, nucleic acid and protein quantitation, and microbial growth.

    Learn more 

    Action Potential

    what-is-action-potential

     An action potential is a rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or membrane potential across a cellular membrane with a characteristic pattern. Examples of cells that signal via action potentials are neurons and muscle cells.

    Action Potential  

  • Action Potential Analysis

    Patch-Clamp Action Potential Search for Cellular Events

    Action potentials represent important cellular events. Without action potentials, hearts would not beat, and neurons would not fire, so measuring these events is essential. The Action Potential Search tool in Clampfit 11 Advanced module detects all action potentials in the data file. It applies user defined and programmatically determined metrics including amplitude, AP duration, rise and decay time, rise and decay slope, peak to peak frequency and time, amplitude delta per peak, afterpotential amplitude and duration, and threshold potential.

    Tech Tips with Jin Yan: Axon pClamp™ 11 Software Feature for Action Potential Analysis

    Watch video  

    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 

  • 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 

    Enzyme Activity

    Enzyme Activity

    Enzyme activity can be monitored in real time using a chromogenic substrate which, upon its addition to the enzyme, produces a change in color that is detectable on an absorbance microplate reader. Using an instrument with onboard liquid handling capability, substrate can be added automatically while the reaction is monitored, enabling detection of the earliest part of the reaction and thus more accurate estimates of binding affinity.

    Read Application Note 

  • Fast Kinetic Calcium Mobilization Assays

    Kinetic Calcium Mobilization Assays

    Gq protein-coupled receptor (GPCRs) activation can be monitored by measuring the increase in intracellular calcium with fluorescent dyes. A calcium-sensitive dye is taken into the cytoplasm of the cell. Upon ligand binding to the receptor, calcium is released into the cytoplasm of the cell. The dye binds to the intracellular calcium and an increase in fluorescence is measured.

    Read Application Note 

    Fluorescence

    Fluorescence

    Learn all about fluorescence detection – what it is, how it works, and the instruments used to measure the fluorescence of a sample. We also cover many fluorescence-based assays including cell viability, GPCR activity, and fluorescent nucleic acid quantification.

    Learn more  

  • Fluorescence Polarization (FP)

    Fluorescence Polarization

    Fluorescence polarization (FP) is a technique that is widely used to monitor binding events in solution. It can be used to assess biomolecular interactions, including protein-antibody binding and DNA hybridization, as well as enzyme activity, and it has been adapted to basic research as well as high-throughput screening.

    Learn more  

    IgG Quantification

    Immunoglobin High throughput IgG Quantification

    In therapeutic protein engineering and cell line development, IgG quantification is the process of measuring the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG), a common class of therapeutic proteins, produced by a genetically modified cell line. This is important for evaluating and monitoring the productivity of the cell line and selecting the best candidate for further development of therapeutic antibodies.

  • 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 

  • 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 

    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 

  • TRF, TR-FRET & HTRF

    Time-resolved

    Learn all about time-resolved fluorescence – TRF and TR-FRET including HTRF assays. We’ll provide applications resources to aid in your research, including kinase assays, cellular signaling pathways, protein-protein interactions, cell cytotoxicity, and more.

    Learn more  

Specifications & Options of FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

 

*Using lowest settings and speed read when available.

Resources of FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Presentations
Videos & Webinars
Small Lab, Big Challenges

Small Lab, Big Challenges - How the Right Reader can Impact Productivity

Choosing the Right Microplate Reader

Critical Considerations for Choosing the Right Microplate Reader

Expanding Assay Applications with Multi-Mode Readers

Expanding Assay Applications with Multi-Mode Readers from ELISA to AlphaScreen

FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

FlexStation 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

  • Citation
    Dated: Jan 12, 2022
    Publication Name: Humana Press

    Ratiometric Ca2+ Measurements Using the FlexStation® Scanning Fluorometer

    Many commercial organizations currently use the Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR®: Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) to conduct highthroughput measurements of intracellular Ca2+ concentration (see Chapter 7 ), taking advantage of its rapid kinetics, reliability, and compatibility for automation. For the majority of industrial applications… View more

    Many commercial organizations currently use the Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR®: Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) to conduct highthroughput measurements of intracellular Ca2+ concentration (see Chapter 7 ), taking advantage of its rapid kinetics, reliability, and compatibility for automation. For the majority of industrial applications, the primary limitation of FLIPR (i.e., its requirement for single wavelength fluorescent probes using visible light excitation) is not a significant issue. Indeed, visible light probes offer certain benefits over their ultraviolet (UV)-excited ratiometric counterparts, such as reduced sample autofluorescence and higher absorbance, thereby allowing relatively low concentrations of dye to be used. However, under certain circumstances researchers may prefer to conduct high-throughput experiments with ratiometric dyes, particularly when issues of dye leakage, photobleaching, or signal-to-noise ratio become a concern.

    Contributors: Ian C. B. Marshall, Izzy Boyfield, Shaun McNulty  
    Go to article

  • Citation
    Dated: Aug 17, 2011
    Publication Name: Jove Journal

    Cell-based Calcium Assay for Medium to High Throughput Screening of TRP Channel Functions using FlexStation 3

    The Molecular Devices' FlexStation 3 is a benchtop multi-mode microplate reader capable of automated fluorescence measurement in multi-well plates. It is ideal for medium- to high-throughput screens in academic settings. It has an integrated fluid transfer module equipped with a multi-channel pipetter and the machine reads one column at a time to… View more

    The Molecular Devices' FlexStation 3 is a benchtop multi-mode microplate reader capable of automated fluorescence measurement in multi-well plates. It is ideal for medium- to high-throughput screens in academic settings. It has an integrated fluid transfer module equipped with a multi-channel pipetter and the machine reads one column at a time to monitor fluorescence changes of a variety of fluorescent reagents. For example, FlexStation 3 has been used to study the function of Ca2+-permeable ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors by measuring the changes of intracellular free Ca2+ levels. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a large family of nonselective cation channels that play important roles in many physiological and pathophysiological functions. Most of the TRP channels are calcium permeable and induce calcium influx upon activation. In this video, we demonstrate the application of FlexStation 3 to study the pharmacological profile of the TRPA1 channel, a molecular sensor for numerous noxious stimuli. HEK293 cells transiently or stably expressing human TRPA1 channels, grown in 96-well plates, are loaded with a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fluo-4, and real-time fluorescence changes in these cells are measured before and during the application of a TRPA1 agonist using the FLEX mode of the FlexStation 3. The effect of a putative TRPA1 antagonist was also examined. Data are transferred from the SoftMax Pro software to construct concentration-response relationships of TRPA1 activators and inhibitors.

    Contributors: Jialie Luo, Yingmin Zhu, Michael X. Zhu, Hongzhen Hu  
    Go to article

  • Citation
    Dated: Dec 15, 2005
    Publication Name: Journal of Neuroscience Methods

    FlexStation examination of 5-HT3 receptor function using Ca2+- and membrane potential-sensitive dyes: Advantages and potential problems

    The FlexStation is a 96 or 384 fluorescent plate reader with the capability of adding solutions during readings; it therefore has the potential to provide high throughput analyses of the functional characteristics of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that can be examined using changes in fluorescence. The 5-HT3 receptor is one such protein, as… View more

    The FlexStation is a 96 or 384 fluorescent plate reader with the capability of adding solutions during readings; it therefore has the potential to provide high throughput analyses of the functional characteristics of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that can be examined using changes in fluorescence. The 5-HT3 receptor is one such protein, as its activation results in a change in membrane potential due to the opening of a Ca2+-permeant, cation-selective channel; it can therefore be studied using both Ca2+- and membrane potential-sensitive fluorescent dyes. Here we have used the FlexStation to examine the function of recombinant 5-HT3 receptors expressed in HEK293 cells using both these classes of dye. The results show that the pharmacological characteristics of the receptor obtained using the FlexStation is similar to those reported using other functional methods, although caution must be applied when using the membrane potential dye as large changes in membrane potential can yield inaccurate EC50s. Modifying the constituents of the buffer, however, so that the change in membrane potential was reduced, yielded EC50 values that were similar to previously reported data. We conclude that the FlexStation is a useful tool for high throughput studies when examining the function of neurotransmitter receptors that result in either a change in Ca2+ concentration or membrane potential.

    Contributors: Kerry L .Price, Sarah C.R. Lummis  
    Go to article

FlexStation® 3 Series Multi-Mode Microplate Readers

Product Part Number
FlexStation 3 Microplate Reader with SoftMax Pro Software Includes: FlexStation 3 Base System, 1 year warranty covering parts & labor. **Does not include 8 or 16 channel pipettor head, must be purchased separately and MUST be ordered at the time of ordering the instrument. Flex3
SpectraDrop™ Micro-Volume Starter Kit 0200-6262
SpectraDrop™ Micro-Volume HTS Kit 0200-6267
FlexStation 3 Benchtop Multi-Mode Microplate Reader IQ/OQ Validation Protocols 0112-0160

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