Chapter 1: Introduction; Computer Integration - Molecular Devices SpectraMax Plus 384 User Manual

Chapter 1: Introduction

The SpectraMax® 340PC384, SpectraMax® 190, and VersaMax™ microplate
spectrophotometers provide rapid and sensitive measurements of a variety of analytes
across a wide range of concentrations. The SpectraMax® Plus 384 adds the ability to read
cuvettes. These instruments measure the optical density (OD) of samples at selected
wavelengths in a single read mode.
SpectraMax Plus 384 reads 96-well plates, 384-well plates, and cuvettes.
SpectraMax 190 reads 96-well plates.
SpectraMax 340PC384 reads 96-well plates and 384-well plates.
VersaMax reads 96-well plates.
The high sensitivity and flexibility of these instruments make them useful for applications in
the fields of biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, and microbiology.
Typical applications include ELISA, nucleic acid, protein, enzymatic type homogeneous and
heterogeneous assays, microbial growth, endotoxin testing, and pipettor calibration.
The instruments support the UV and Visible Absorbance read mode with the following read
types.
Endpoint: at a single point in time.
Kinetic: over a specified period of time.
Spectrum: over a specified wavelength range.
The shake feature enables you to mix the contents of the wells in a plate before each read
cycle, which makes it possible to perform kinetic analysis of solid-phase, enzyme-mediated
reactions (shake is not critical for liquid-phase reactions).
Temperature controls enable the instrument to regulate the temperature of the plate
chamber from 4°C above ambient to 45°C.
Documentation

Computer Integration

Each Molecular Devices microplate reader is shipped with a license key for the SoftMax® Pro
Data Acquisition and Analysis Software that you install on the computer that you use to
operate the instrument. The SoftMax Pro Software provides integrated instrument control,
data display, and statistical data analysis.
You should install the SoftMax Pro Software on the computer before you set up the
instrument. Please be aware that some updates to the SoftMax Pro Software require a
purchase. Contact Molecular Devices before you update the software. To download the
latest version of the software, visit:
https://www.moleculardevices.com/products/microplate-readers/acquisition-and-analysis-
software/softmax-pro-software#Order.
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