Plug-in detection cartridges

Beckman Coulter has introduced four detection cartridges for its modular plate reader, the Paradigm Detection Platform, that add new capabilities for widely used fluorescence and luminescence applications.

The AlphaScreen, GeneBLAzer and MultiTox-Fluor cartridges provide assay-specific settings and protocols to reduce set-up time and speed research. These cartridges and a new filter-based Fluorescence Intensity cartridge join a line of 14 previously released cartridges that can be exchanged in the Paradigm Detection Platform in less than 5 minutes and enable a range of cell and molecular biology assays.

The AlphaScreen cartridge utilises a 680 nm laser diode to provide sensitive detection of protein-protein interaction, receptor-ligand binding, cAMP quantitation and kinase assays. Designed and optimised specifically for AlphaScreen and AlphaLISA products, this detection cartridge employs a design that reduces crosstalk while improving performance.

The GeneBLAzer detection cartridge, designed for use with Invitrogen’s GeneBLAzer assay technology, provides FRET analysis for GPCR, ion channel, nuclear and cytokine receptor, signal transduction and kinase assays.

The MultiTox-Fluor cartridge, designed for use with MultiTox-Fluor assays (Promega), provides a dual-label fluorescence-intensity screen for multiplexed viability/cytotoxicity assays. This Dual Label Detection Cartridge, which enables efficient assay multiplexing, uses two high-powered LEDs to provide sensitive and simultaneous reads of two distinct labels. The dual-excitation, dual-emission functionality results in faster reading times.

The Fluorescence Intensity Detection Cartridge features a standard dual-emission design that is optimised for FRET measurements of the cellular fluorescence proteins CFP-YFP. The fluorescence intensity cartridge utilises an energy intensity optimisation technique that allows the user to read up to seven logs of sample concentration in a single pass without any manual intervention and provides uncompromised performance for both top and bottom reads. The optical design of the Paradigm allows for direct excitation of adherent cell assays, improving signal-to-noise ratios for sensitive cell assays.

The array of detection cartridges offered for the Paradigm is growing and custom cartridges can be developed for researchers and vendors with specific assay requirements.