Chapter 1: Introduction - Molecular Devices SpectraMax M3 User Manual

Chapter 1: Introduction

The SpectraMax® M3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader, SpectraMax® M4 Multi-Mode
Microplate Reader, SpectraMax® M5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader, and SpectraMax® M5e
Multi-Mode Microplate Reader are dual monochromator, multi-detection instruments with
a triple-mode cuvette port and a 6-well to 384-well plate read capability.
The flexibility and high sensitivity makes these instruments appropriate 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.
Read Modes
Read Modes
Absorbance
Fluorescence Intensity
Luminescence
Time-Resolved
Fluorescence
Fluorescence Polarization
The SpectraMax M5e is certified for use with Cisbio Bioassays' HTRF (Homogeneous Time-
Resolved Fluorescence) technology. HTRF is a proprietary Time-Resolved Fluorescence
technology that overcomes many of the drawbacks of standard Fluorescence Resonance
Energy Transfer (FRET) techniques, such as the requirements to correct for autofluorescence
and the fluorescent contributions of unbound fluorophores.
Read types include: See
Endpoint
Kinetic
Spectrum
Well Scan
The instrument light source is a high-powered Xenon flash lamp. Two holographic diffraction
grating monochromators allow for individual optimization of wavelengths for both excitation
and emission in the Fluorescence Intensity read mode. Mirrored optics focus the light in to
the sample volume, and cutoff filters reduce stray light and minimize background
interference. You can vary the number of lamp flashes per read to optimize the sensitivity or
read speed.
The instrument dynamic range of detection is from 10
compensation for detector sensitivity, photomultiplier tube voltage and sensitivity, as well
as excitation intensity, effectively eliminates variations in measured fluorescence values. The
photometric range is 0–4 ODs with a resolution of 0.001 OD.
0112-0115 G
SpectraMax SpectraMax
M3 M4
Read Types on page 37.
SpectraMax SpectraMax
M5 M5e
-6 -12
to 10 molar fluorescein. Internal
1
9