Page 2
For contact information please visit www.bmglabtech.com or send an email to germany@bmglabtech.com Copyright 2009 BMG LABTECH. All rights reserved. All BMG LABTECH brand and product names are trademarks of BMG LABTECH. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Page 3
BMG LABTECH PHERAstar FS Operating Manual The PHERAstar FS is a multifunctional microplate reader that can perform a wide variety of applications for ® fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, time-resolved fluorescence, HTRF , luminescence, ® AlphaScreen and full spectrum absorbance. The PHERAstar FS has high-end performance in all plate formats and in all detection modes.
PHERAstar FS Operating Manual BMG LABTECH TABLE OF CONTENTS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OVERVIEW PHERA RONT AND IGHT IDE OF STAR PHERA ACK OF STAR INSTALLATION RANSPORT OCKS 3.1.1 NLOCKING THE LATE ARRIER 3.1.2 OCKING THE LATE ARRIER 3.1.3 NLOCKING AND EMOVING THE...
Page 6
US patent 5,527,684 and its foreign equivalents, for which Cisbio international has granted a license to BMG LABTECH. Its application is strictly limited to the use of HTRF® reagents and technology, excluding any other TR- FRET technologies.
Figure 2: Optic module door Sliding Door Magnetic Reagent Clamp Injectors Needle Holder for Holder Compound Vessels Waste Priming Container Buttons Figure 3: Right side of the PHERAstar FS, showing the reagent injection system 2009-09-22 0471B0001A 7/26...
BMG LABTECH 2.2 Back of PHERAstar FS Air inlet USB connection to PC Main power on/off switch Figure 4: Back of PHERAstar FS Miscellaneous labeling such as serial Number, CE-marking, and voltage information USB connection to PC RS-232 connection to Stacker...
Optic Module transport system protection plate must be unlocked and removed. If the PHERAstar FS has to be moved or shipped to another location, it is very important to lock and secure the two transport systems in order to avoid damage (see chapter 3.1.1 and 3.1.4 below).
PHERAstar FS Operating Manual BMG LABTECH Figure 6: Unlocking the plate carrier 3.1.2 Locking the Plate Carrier Upon closing the software or pushing the plate carrier in/out button for more than three seconds (figure 10), the plate carrier will move into the respective lock position. Push the screw down and turn it clockwise to lock the plate carrier (figure 7).
Connection check Connect the USB cable to the USB port labelled “PC” located on the back of the PHERAstar FS and to the USB port on the PC. If a Stacker is included in the package, please see section 4.7 below. Once the USB cable is installed open the PHERAstar FS Control Software and perform the connection check.
4.2 Plate Carrier In/Out Button The plate carrier in/out button on the front (figure 10) is an easy way to get the plate carrier in and out. The plate carrier in/out button works independently from the PHERAstar FS Control Software. Operating lamp...
Figure 12: Optic module, front view and side view When the PHERAstar FS is in its permanent position and powered ON, the optic modules can be installed. The PHERAstar FS has five positions for optic modules. Once the optic module door has been opened the optic module transport will automatically move to a position where it can be accessed.
BMG LABTECH 4.4.1 Built-in Barcode Reader for Optic Modules With the built-in optic module barcode reader the PHERAstar FS will automatically detect the optic modules installed and automatically transfer the information into the optic module list. If changes have been made, they will automatically be recognized.
HTRF and dual luminescence assays). The optic module is an important part of the PHERAstar FS and all parts used in the optic module are carefully selected and accurately aligned and tested for optimal performance. 4.5.1 Fluorescence Intensity and TRF Optic Module Standard fluorescence intensity optic modules are available in an almost unlimited variety of different configurations (contact sales rep with your wishes).
PHERAstar FS Operating Manual BMG LABTECH ® 4.5.3 Time-Resolved Fluorescence Optic Module, FRET and TR-FRET, for example HTRF ® The time-resolved fluorescence optic module (figure 20) is optimized for HTRF . The beam splitters, dichoic mirror, as well as the filters, are all specially selected to give the very best performance.
BMG LABTECH PHERAstar FS Operating Manual If the assay demands a specific wavelength to be measured, this can be carried out by having a filter in front of the measurement channel. And if the demand is to measure two different wavelengths, this can be carried out by including a dichroic mirror and a second filter in front of the emission channel B, for example BRET assays.
4.6 Reagent Injection System The PHERAstar FS is equipped with an internal on board reagent injection system located on the right side of the instrument (figure 24). Use the sliding door to open, close, and to gain access to the reagent injection...
The Sliding Door can be opened by pressing onto the two ends of the handle and sliding it upwards. The door will stay at the position it is released. The PHERAstar FS can not start a test run if the sliding door is in the open position.
PHERAstar FS Operating Manual BMG LABTECH 4.6.4 Holder for Compound Vessels BMG LABTECH provides the PHERAstar FS user with two different compound holders (figure 27). They accommodate the most commonly used compound storage tubes, flasks, and even custom-made probe holders for small volumes.
Page 21
BMG LABTECH PHERAstar FS Operating Manual Be sure to REMOVE the waste container after internal priming. Otherwise the door can not be closed and this will prevent the PHERAstar FS from performing a test run. External priming requires that the needle holder and the magnetic clamp are removed.
4.7 PHERAstar FS - Stacker Connection On the back of the PHERAstar FS there are 2 connectors, one for the PC and one for the Stacker. The respective cables are provided with the instruments. The USB cable will connect only the PC to the PHERAstar FS (‘Connection to PC‘) whereas the male-to-female RS232 cable (included with the Stacker)
4.8 Automatic Height Sensor The PHERAstar FS measures the focusing in steps of 0.1 mm for both top and bottom reading modes. To make the focus alignment (also known as Z-focus) as fast as possible, an initial plate height monitoring takes place upon every plate-in command.
Page 24
BMG LABTECH 5.2 Transport System Offset The offset values are unique for each instrument and are stored in the PHERAstar FS chipset (EEPROM) before shipment. No further actions are needed. However, wrong definitions of a microplate format can lead to cross-talk.
PHERAstar FS Operating Manual 6 Instrument Disinfection If shipment of the PHERAstar FS is needed it is important to disinfect the PHERAstar FS and complete the disinfection certificate. If a disinfection certificate does not follow the reader the instrument shipment may be held by the customs authorities.
Page 26
Disinfection Certification This instrument and its inventory have never been in contact with any dangerous biological material, or if so, the instrument and its inventory have been disinfected according to the instructions given in the Operating Manual. ________________________________________________ Name: Firm: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the PHERAstar FS and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers