Options and Accessories
2 channel dispenser
The EnSpire dispenser option further expands the system’s range of applications to include any type of assay where a reagent is dispensed as part of the assay process, making it particularly suited to enzyme kinetics and flash luminescence assays. The dispenser design works with existing features of the EnSpire to combine high performance with flexibility, accuracy and convenience. The dispenser option allows volumes as low as 1 μl to be dispensed, especially useful to allow miniaturization of assays where reagent is expensive.
20 or 50 position stacker
The EnSpire stacker option ensures that you can now make maximum use of the system’s high performance features and is ideal for multiple users in a busy research institute where many different assays are being run. Key features include 20- or 50-position plate magazines, positive plate grip mechanism for plate loading, plate re-stacking/re-ordering and lidded plate handling (PerkinElmer plates).
Temperature control
Multiple heating elements ensure stability across the plate and over time. The heated top plate is held at a higher temperature than sample plate, which helps reduce condensation. The upper heating area is large enough so that the plate is beneath the upper heated plate throughout the counting process. Combined with dispenser temperature control and restacking, temperature control gives a powerful enzyme and slow kinetics package.
Bottom reading capability
Microplates
PerkinElmer offers an extensive selection of high quality and validated application-focused microplates in 96-, 384-, and 1536-well formats for use with many assay technologies and instrument platforms to enable superior performance. Special coating, packaging and bar-coding services are also available upon request.
Automation and liquid handling
The EnSpire stacker module includes 20- or 50-plate magazines that are compatible with our PlateStak™ Automated Microplate Handler to allow efficient manual transfer of plates to the EnSpire. For even greater efficiency, EnSpire can be directly integrated to the JANUS® Automated Workstation to offer worry-free microplate handling between detection and liquid handling instruments.
Applications
The EnSpire is proven to support many different assays including:
- Label-free technology, based on the Corning® Epic® System, is suitable for non-invasive cellular receptor and signaling assays, as well as biochemical binding assays, such as protein:protein and protein:small molecule interaction assays.
- Photometric technology enables nucleic acid/protein quantitation, as well as ELISA absorbance assays.
- Fluorescence technology delivers the sensitivity required for quantitation assays.
- Time-resolved fluorescence for high sensitivity even when sample is at a premium, or in low concentration
- Expertise in Alpha Technology combined with instrument innovation delivers the best performance for AlphaLISA®/AlphaScreen® detection.
- Ultra-sensitive luminescence technology enables cell growth and reporter gene assays to be run with higher sensitivity and dynamic range; especially important with low transfection rates.
Specifications
Detection limit specifications with default settings | Label-free | |
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| Detection method | Optical biosensor (Waveguide resonant grating) | | System variability | 5 pm (picometres) | | Fluorometry (Fluorescein) | |
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| 96-well plate | < 1 fmol/well | | 384-well plate | < 1 fmol/well | | Bottom detection 384-well plate | < 5 fmol/well | | Monochromator wave length range | 230-850 nm 0.1 nm step | | Monochromator bandwidth (Exc & Em) | 5 nm | | Time Resolved Fluorescence | |
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| 96-well plate | < 32 amol/well | | 384-well plate | < 6 amol/well | | Photometry | |
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| 96-well plate | 0-4 OD | | 384-well plate | 0-4 OD | | Accuracy @ 2 optical density | < 2 % | | Precision @ 2 optical density | < 0.1 % | | Monochromator wavelength range | 230-1000 nm 0.1 nm step | | Monochromator bandwidth | 5 nm | | Luminometry | |
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| 96-well plate ATP | < 10 pM (Glow) | | 384-well plate ATP | < 10 pM (Glow) | | 384-well plate ATP | < 15 amol/well |
| Dispenser specifications | |
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| Number of injectors | 2 | | Plate formats | 6- to 384-well plates | | Volume range | 1 – 475 μl per stroke, multiple dispense strokes can be programmed | | Dispense volume | 1 μl (min) | | Dispense increments | 0.5 μl steps | | 0.5 μl steps | 0.1 % @ 350 μl
1.1 % @ 10 μl
< 3 % @ 1 μl | | Precision | 0.05% @ 350 μl
1.0 % @ 10 μl
< 3 % @ 1 μl | | Speed | 50-500 μl/sec | | Dead volume (i.e. reagent volume needed to prime the system) | 400 μl | | Residual dead volume | 50 μl | | Software controlled for reagent containers | Software controlled for reagent containers | | Stirring | Software controlled magnetic stirrer 100 to 500 rpm |
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Features/Benefits
Technologies Available on EnSpire
- Label-free Technology
- Alpha Technology
- Ultra-sensitive Luminescence
- Time-resolved fluorescence
- Quad-monochromator
- Fluorescence Intensity
- Absorbance
Features
- Corning® Epic® label-free technology
- AlphaLISA®/AlphaScreen® detection capability with high power laser excitation
- Fluorescence intensity detection capability, top and bottom, with quad-monochromator
- Time-resolved fluorescence
- Ultra-sensitive luminescence, glow and flash
- Choice of filter- or quad-monochromator based absorbance detection
- Integrated computer with touch screen is "easy-to-use", even with gloves
- Integrated data analysis software with data export (Excel® or text files) features
- Eight barcode identified filter positions
- Integrated barcode reading from all four sides of a microplate
- 21 CFR Part 11 support
Options
- 2 channel dispenser
- 20 or 50 position stacker
- temperature control up to 65º C
- bottom reading capability
Benefits
- Quad-monochromator performance means:
- Best possible signal to background for Fluorescence applications cuts assay costs and improves confidence in results
- Scanning capability saves time in identifying lambda max
- Flexibility due to ability to select any wavelength
- Ultra-sensitive luminescence means lower detection limit so you get the most from your precious cells and resources
- AlphaScreen capability allows easy conversion of heterogenous ELISA to homogenous
- AlphaLISA’s homogeneous format is ideal for working with low affinity interactions that can be disrupted by washing
- Intuitive, user friendly software means short learning curve and multiple user access
- Confidently program and run assays within a very short time after install
- Ideal for multi-user environment.
- Touch Screen makes working with the EnSpire fast and pleasant!
- "Start Wizard" for instant protocol creation.
- Positive identification of filters provides fast and safe assay setup